We just learned that the US Department of Transportation has approved Metro-North Railroad’s proposal for its parking structure at the North White Plains train station, which included secure bike-storage as part of the plan.

Metro-North added the secure bike-storage facility following a grassroots campaign led by the Bike Walk Alliance of Westchester & Putnam and the Westchester Cycle Club.

Joining our cause were US Rep. Nita Lowey, of Harrison, Assemblyman Tom Abinanti of Greenburgh, Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, county legislators John Nonna of Mount Pleasant, and White Plains Common Council member David Buchwald, who also chairs the Metro North Railroad Commuter Council.

We learned of the USDOT action today from Virginia Noriega, an aide to Lowey. Letters from many WCC and BWA members also helped in our efforts.

Secure bike-storage at transit hubs is getting built throughout the world, as transportation planners encourage nonmotorized means of transportation. Long Island Railroad has bike lockers at 16 stations that have proved popular.

Metro North had argued that its attempts at secure bike storage in Cortlandt and Scarsdale had failed to attract many cyclists. But we argued that Cortlandt is in a rural area and not that conducive to riding. The Scarsdale storage facility is far from the station and inconvenient.

Our campaign focused on the fact that the North White Plains station is served by the county’s Bronx River Pathway, an off-road bike facility. So it made perfect sense to include a secure bike storage facility in the new structure, to encourage commuters to bike to the train, and be able to leave their bikes in a secure storage facility instead of on an outside bike rack.

Thanks again to all who supported our campaign. Construction is expected to commence in 2013.

Yours riding safely,
WCC Advocacy Director David Wilson

The Complete Streets bill (A8366/S5411.A) needs your calls and emails to get passed TOMORROW! Please call Speaker Sheldon Silver (518) 455-3791 and your Assembly Member and ask that they bring the bill to the floor and support it. Don’t let them adjourn for the summer this weekend without passing a Complete Streets bill. New York needs safer streets for bicyclists and pedestrians, not just cars.

To find your Assembly Member and for more information:
http://blog.tstc.org/2011/06/15/ny-complete-streets-law-headed-in-right-direction/

Cyclists – both young and old – celebrated the East Coast Greenway on Sunday, discovering the joys of getting around on two wheels.

The Bike Walk Alliance’s Family Bike Festival marked the inauguration of the Greenway in Westchester, our sliver of the 2900-mile route from Maine to Florida. Adults and teens rode the Greenway from Rye to Port Chester, and then south to Pelham and back. Kids, meanwhile, learned to ride in the paved playground at the Osborn School on a quintessential spring morning in early June, with high clouds and temperatures in the 70s – a perfect day for a ride.

“Our event today is part of the grassroots effort to engage our communities to encourage cycling, a sustainable mode of transportation that uses no fossil fuels, doesn’t pollute the air, and makes our people healthier,” said David Wilson, executive director of the Bike Walk Alliance and advocacy director of the Westchester Cycle Club. “A bike is independence for a kid. It can be a crucial mode of transportation for some. It’s the machine that provides hours of
invigorating exercise for others as they ride the roads here.”

Several dignitaries were on hand to support non-motorized transportation and alternative means for getting around town. County Legislator Judy Myers presented the BWA with a proclamation. Rye Mayor Doug French welcomed the cyclists and officials to the city. Others in attendance included Assemblyman George Latimer, Rye City Councilwoman Suzanna Keith.

The Rye YMCA and the Rye Shared Roadways Committee helped put on the event.

The children, meanwhile, were learning to ride with a program developed by the American League of Bicyclists. League-certified teacher, Andy Besoll, was up from New Jersey to do the training. Helping Besoll were volunteers from Westchester Cycle Club, the Rye Y, and the Rye Shared Roadways Committee.

The 25 cyclists rode the 28 miles on a route that headed north along Forest Avenue and its stately homes into Port Chester, with its urban landscape. They headed back through Rye into Harrison along Halstead Avenue. They were setting up for the Mamaroneck Harborfest when they turned on Palmer Avenue and headed into Larchmont, where downtown was hopping on Sunday morning. There were 13 in line at Starbucks, and the Harbour House was redolent with omelettes, bacon and fresh coffee. One rider crossed Palmer for an ice cream at Mango.

The group passed six men smoking cigars at a table outside the cigar bar on Palmer as they came upon the 40-story Trump skyscraper in New Rochelle. The cyclists and zigzagged its way down Centre and out Elm to reach Mount Tom before making the descent into Pelham, where the brilliant green of the golf course reminded the riders they were on the Greenway. Finally it was green, and the green continued through Pelham Manor, where the finely manicured lawns were the perfect backdrop for well-appointed mansions. Then they headed back for lunch at the Osborn. But five riders stopped in Mamaroneck to
enjoy the Harborfest before getting back on Halstead and riding safely
by the Rye.

Click the image below to view photos from the event:

Adults and teens ride the East Coast Greenway from Pt. Chester to Pelham and back – 32 miles
Kids, 6-12, learn to ride at Bike Rodeo
Sunday June 5, from 9 to 2 p.m.
Osborn School, 10 Osborn Rd., Rye

Ages 16 and up: $15. Register at www.westchestercycleclub.org/events.php. A light lunch and refreshments will be served.

Celebrate our inaugural ride along the ECG through Westchester’s Sound Shore on its 3,000-mile pathway from Maine to Florida. Westchester has 16 miles along gentle terrain on an on-road route that’s safe for riding.

Learn to Ride – Bring your kids to the Bike Rodeo, led by League of American Bicyclists-certified Andy Besold. Volunteers will teach bike safety and skills. A parent must sign in child at event registration table. Helmets required. Kids register for free at http://ryebikefestival.eventbrite.com/.

Sponsors: Bike Walk Alliance & Westchester Cycle Club

The Bike Walk Alliance invites you to celebrate Westchester Cycle Club’s national Bike Club of the Year designation from the League of American Bicyclists.

The reception is set for Thursday, May 12, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Gnarly Vine in downtown New Rochelle, at 501 Main Street.

Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists and the nation’s leading bike advocate, will be there to make the Bike Club of the Year presentation and talk about national trends in bike issues.

The reception, which follows the third annual Westchester Bike Summit, will feature a wine-and-food pairing. You’ll drink a Pinot Noir with the mushroom and Gruyere quesadillas with truffle oil. There will be a sturdy Malbec with the pulled pork sliders. Shrimp on chili flatbread will be complemented with a Chardonnay, and you’ll wash down the mozzarella and tomato bruschetta with a glass of Pinot Grigio. We’ll have the restaurant to ourselves from 7 to 10 p.m. It’s a cash bar after 9.30 p.m.

You’ll get four drink tickets, which you can mix and match. Beer, Sangria, and soft drinks will also be available.

Tickets are $25. Please register at http://gnarlyvine.eventbrite.com. Sponsorship opportunities are available as well. $500 for our gold level and $250 for our silver level. Contact David Wilson for more info at 914-217-5600. Westchester Cycle Club is the reception’s lead sponsor.

Robert Baron, of Dobbs Ferry, wants the village of Dobbs Ferry and the developer of the Rivertowns Square development to include bike and pedestrian improvements on village streets to improve access to the nearby South County Trailway. Now is the time to lobby village officials to make these improvements part of the approval process. Robert’s letter to town leaders provides a great overview of the issues.