Monday, May 19, 2014

Life is like riding a bicycle: Bike Month Underway

Albany Police Department hosts the PAL Bike Rodeo, where youth learned
proper cycling and safety techniques. 
In April, the Albany Common Council declared May Bike Month in the City of Albany. As part of the festivities, the Albany Bicycle Coalition, the Albany Police Department and the Honest Weight Food Co-op will sponsor numerous special events during the course of the month, including Bike to Work Day and the PAL/APD Bicycle Rodeo. 

 The fact is Albany is a bike kind of city, complete with a Bicycle Master Plan, adopted as part of the Albany 2030 plan. Here, for the uninitiated, are some other Albany bike facts:
  • Since 2008, the City of Albany has improved or added 16.3 miles of bike infrastructure, including paths, signage and bike lanes. 
  • Currently, there are 344 bike racks in the city
  • The city boasts 1446 bike parking spaces
  • All CDTA buses have bike racks
  • The City of Albany got an Honorable Mention by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB)
Complete Calendar of Events for Bike Month
§  Friday, May 16th
o   Bike to Work Day/Green Your Commute Day
§  Bike to Work Challenge information: http://capitalmoves.org/b2w518/
§  Green Your Commute information: http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/96405.html
§  Saturday, May 17th 10:00am to 1:00pm
o   PAL/APD/Department of Recreation Bicycle Rodeo 165 Henry Johnson Blvd.
o   For more information: www.albanypal.org
§  Tuesday, May 20th 6:00pm
o   Honest Weight Food CO-OP’s Bike Month Celebration and Panel Discussion – 100 Watervliet Ave., Albany

§  Wednesday, May 21st
o   National Ride of Silence
§  6:00pm from Corning Preserve Boat Launch
§  6:30pm from West Capitol Park

§ Friday, May 23rd 6pm to 9pm & Saturday May 24th 10am to 4pm
o   New York Bicycling Coalition Traffic Skills 101 ($5 registration fee)– SUNY Downtown Campus     
o   Other locations and more info here: http://nybc.net/traffic-skills-101/

 § Saturday, May 31st 10:00am to 1:00pm
o   PAL/APD/Department of Recreation Bicycle Rodeo – Thomas O’Brien School/Lincoln Park
o   For more information: www.albanypal.org