Date: Fri 29-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

HVCEO-bicycle-route-Hannon

Full Text:

WITH MAP Developing A Bike Route Through The Region Will Take Time

And Some Hard Peddling On The Local Level

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

In compliance with a federal mandate, the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected

Officials (HVCEO) has completed a final draft report of its Regional Concept

Plan For Bike Route Development through the ten towns in the region. But the

plan for some state and local roads to safely accommodate bicyclists will take

time and funding to implement, according to David Hannon, senior planner at

HVCEO.

"This is the first time in history [Congress] has mandated those organizations

utilizing federal funds for transportation projects to look at all modes of

transportation... to ensure the expenditure of taxpayers' resources is

maximized," said Mr Hannon. HVCEO's report makes recommendations , not

mandates, he added.

The plan was created in response to one section of the 1991 Intermodal Surface

Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) that requires regional organizations

like HVCEO to identify and plan for the needs of bicyclists. ISTEA also

provides limited funding for the planning and construction of bicycle

facilities.

According to the report, the goal of the conceptual bicycle plan is "to assist

the Region's towns and cities in their efforts to develop safe, convenient,

comfortable, and secure bicycle riding environments, and to bring about a

general recognition of bicycle transportation as an important mode for

personal transportation with benefits including energy conservation, pollution

reduction, and enhanced physical fitness." The objective is to identify

corridors where a comprehensive and coordinated bicycle route system might be

desirable for transportation and recreational use.

State statute grants bicyclists rights equal to those of motorists on most

roadways. In part, section 14-286a of the state's general statutes provides

that "Every person riding a bicycle... upon the traveled portion of a highway

shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties

applicable to the driver of any vehicle subject to the requirements of the

statues relating to motor vehicles, except as to those provisions which by

their nature can have no application..."

Bicycles, legally classified as vehicles, are prohibited from limited-access

highways such as I-84 and Route 7 Expressway.

In Newtown, the bicycle route corridor recommended for further study includes

routes 6, 25, 302, and 816 (Glen Road). The criteria considered when selecting

these and other regional bicycle travel and recreation and tourism routes

involved issues relating to accessibility/mobility, bicycle saftey and

operations, physical features of roads, personal security, and riding

environment.

Bicycle Trends

The report cites statistics from the the Bicycle Institute of America that

indicate bicycling is gaining in popularity. Nearly half of the US population

has an interest in bicycling. Of this group, 56 percent are adults (over 16).

"The number of adults who ride regularly has tripled over the last 12 years

from 10 million in 1983 to 31 million today. Though smaller, the number of

bicycle commuters has also increased at the same rate [of four percent a

year], going from 1.5 million in 1983 to 4.3 million today."

The one comparable statistic available for the Housatonic Valley region is

number of people using bicycle as transportation to work - of 100,000 daily

work trips made by area adult residents, 200 are by bicycle.

Ken Mackenzie, who owns Bethel Cycle & Fitness and is a Newtown resident, is

actively involved in the sport. For a while, he even commuted to work on a

bike on a regular basis. He thinks many people have misconceptions about

bicyclists and bicycle routes.

"To make bicycle paths in areas that don't follow roadways is pretty expensive

- you have to clear and pave it," said Mr Dolan. "For the most part, the

active bicyclists are looking for some kind of preferential treatment in the

sense that the road bed that exists is better taken care of to provide for

bicyclist's needs."

Mr Dolan, a member of Hat City Cyclists, League of American Bicyclists, and

Tandem Club of America, offered suggestions to HVCEO which were considered and

incorporated into the bicycle route plan. His hope is that the route "gets put

into place and gets maintained."

On some roads, a bike route does not make sense because of safety

considerations, said Mr Tannen. But where appropriate, engineers should

consider bicyclists when planning general road improvements. For instance,

they may be able to include aprons that are able to support bike lanes, storm

drain gates that are "bicycle friendly," striping, and signage. Mr Hannon will

review all plans for state road improvements in the region, and make such

recommendations.

"State roads are a little easier to work with because they have a pretty

substantial width that sets up the opportunity to do bike paths," said

Director of Public Works Fred Hurley. "With town roads, many have a much

narrower width. What's called for in town ordinances does not really provide

enough width to do a special bike path as part of road construction; it does

not mandate it. In the past, when we've looked at a bike project, it was

really on state roads with the hope of connecting to other towns."

"Most of our roads aren't wide enough to have a bike route safely," agreed

Highway Director Joe Tani. "I do know, most of new roads being put in, have

new kinds of grates put on them."

Sand, along with debris from car accidents, can prove hazardous to bicyclists.

The established timeframe is three months for removing winter sand from the

600 miles of Newtown roads. Two-thirds of the roads are cleaned by outside

contractors; one-third by the highway department, according to Mr Hurley.

"It's never quick enough for people," he said. "But from July on, the roads

are sand-free."

A region, not individual towns, can apply for ISTEA funds, according to First

Selectman Bob Cascella who represents Newtown on the 10-person council of

elected officials. Mr Cascella said he welcomes public opinion on the concept

of a bike route so he may best represent the town on this issue at upcoming

meetings.

Besides ISTEA grants, the HVCEO report delineates other opportunities to help

establish a bicycle route including:

Federal and state transportation, air quality, or enhancement funds

Roads and streets that can presently accommodate bicyclists

Roads that may be readily widened

Available right-of-way for multi-use path construction

Partnership with private developers

Coordination with greenway and other programs

Outreach to municipalities for route designation on local roads.

According to the plan, supporting programs, referred to as the "4-Es," are

also needed for successful implementation of a bicycle route in the region:

education, enforcement, encouragement, and engineering.

The HVCEO report ends by stating, "progress cannot end with this planning

effort. For its part, HVCEO will raise bicycle route planning as a concern in

the roadway improvement plans that it reviews. As for the planning, design,

construction and educational developmental activities [we suggest] personnel

and funding resources to accomplish them do not yet exist. Finding them and

moving forward will be the challenge for all those who truly desire a balanced

transportation system.

All local officials agree that public support and cooperation will be needed

to create a bike route through the region.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Regional Plan For Bike Route

Development may contact David Hannon at HVCEO by calling 203-775-6256; or by

calling the office of the first selectman at 270-4201. The public may view the

Regional Concept Plan for Bike Route Development at the office of either the

first selectman or economic development director.