We had a terribly successful meeting at my office this week: 30 attendees, 10+ regret RSVP's:
here are the statements du jour (with many thanks to darling Dennis who made sense of my ramblings and put this all in order..)
SPOKESPEOPLE mission: to promote a BICYCLE‐FRIENDLY COMMUNITYBenefits of a BICYCLE‐FRIENDLY COMMUNITY:
• Environmental benefits: reduced noise, pollution, & carbon footprint.
• Reduced traffic congestion on roads.
• Enhanced public safety.
• Enhanced recreational opportunities for all ages through road and trail riding.
• Improved health of individuals and community through routine physical activity.
• Stronger social ties within the community through increased human interaction.
• Economic benefits: easier access to village businesses, increased use of public transport,increased local spending on bikes and related purchases, reduced taxpayer spending on carrelatedinfrastructure.
• Greater choice of travel modes, especially for kids and seniors.
Vision of Spokespeople:To enhance the quality of life on the East End of Long Island via the promotion andfacilitation of road and trail cycling, among citizens of all ages and all physical ability, forrecreation and transportation.
Proposed Goals:
• Provide safe and convenient bike access, bike routes, on‐ and off‐street bike parking facilities, andlow speed streets. Local cyclists to identify specific needs and target areas.
• Establish public information programs to promote cycling of all kinds, and communicate benefits tothe community. Create and distribute maps, create public awareness campaigns, organize and leadregularly scheduled neighborhood rides (“Ride with the Mayor”).
• Develop special programs to encourage bike use by the non‐driving population, e.g. Safe Routes toSchools programs, Senior Trike Program, etc.
• Encourage bicycle use among local village and town employees by providing preferential parking,showers and bike fleets. Use these municipal initiatives to encourage private businesses to adoptsimilar approaches. Encourage municipalities to provide financial incentives for private businesses toreplace car parking with bicycle parking.
• Ensure that all village and town codes include bicycles in existing and future transportation plans, incommercial building codes, in local schools, hospitals, and recreational facilities.
• Achieve a target level of bike usage within discrete timeframe. Establish current level of bike use bychildren, in schools, and villages and towns. Measure improvements in total hours riding time,adoption of bike commuting, or number of short bike trips.
• Review local traffic laws, and encourage enforcement of traffic laws to improve the safety of cyclists,with particular focus on behaviors / attitudes that cause motor vehicle‐on‐bike crashes (not“accidents”).
• Educate all road users to share the road safely. Increase the safety / visibility / confidence of cyclistsby coordinating road construction/maintenance with cycling education/awareness programs.
• Promote “intermodal” transport, between public transport and bicycles. Encourage installation ofsecure bike racks at train and bus stations, and bike racks on buses. Improve bike access to trainsand buses.
Proposed Action Plan:
1. Create annual media campaign focused on road safety including:a. Spring media campaign (local newspapers and radio) about Rules of the Road;b. Distribute Rules of the Road to bike shops, retail outlets (e.g. Starbucks), and schools;c. Encourage realtors to include Rules of the Road and Spokespeople’s “Eyes on theRoad/Hands on the Wheel” cyclist awareness letter in summer rental welcomepackages.
2. Create “Connection” media campaign: the cyclist (in your way) is your physical therapist / doctor/ child’s teacher / plumber / etc.
3. Organize annual Bike Lighting campaign (“Light Up a Roller”) to collect and distribute free lightsand reflectors for night & winter riding to commuters. Link with bike shops, local business, andlighting manufacturers for sponsorship, and to promote awareness through print and radioadvertising campaign.
4. Organize annual Helmet Drive (“Keep a Lid on It,” “Save a Melon”) to collect and distribute freehelmets to commuters without helmets. Link with bike shops, local business, and bike/helmetmanufacturers for sponsorship, and to promote awareness through print advertising campaign.
5. Liaise with trails groups to facilitate and encourage cycling on trails. Educate groups re:construction and maintenance of sustainable trails via partnership with C.L.I.M.B. Establish trailmaintenance crews and assign to areas throughout East End. Partner with local trailspreservation societies to fight trail damage caused by illicit users.
6. Organize school locker campaign to ensure schools have sufficient locker space available tocommuting students.
7. Promote the creation of bike clubs in each local school by organizing and providing leadershipfor extracurricular rides on both road and trail. Liaise with athletic directors, emphasizingbenefits of cross‐training. Progress to competitive cycling and creation of school road cyclingand mountain biking teams.
8. Organize festive monthly Critical Mass –style ride (“Critical Awareness Ride: Facilitating Ridingon the East End” [C.A.R.‐F.R.E.E.]) in each village and town. A one mile loop on local roads withpolice escort, preceded by a meeting reviewing rules, drills and stops / turn practice. Encourageparticipation by diversity of people and bicycles, and emphasize social aspect of event. Createcontests (with prizes) for best costume, heaviest bike, etc.
9. Organize monthly press‐covered Ride with Mayor in each village. Encourage local delis andstores to sponsor and provide food.
10. Initiate campaign for installation of bike racks in villages (a la NYC). Create open designcompetition with special award for designs based on village‐related themes (e.g. whaling in SagHarbor, fishing in Montauk). Enlist local metal shops to sponsor fabrication of racks.
11. Identify every municipality, trail group, community council, transportation committee, naturesociety, and environmental group on East End. To each group, assign dedicated liaison to attendall group meetings, represent cyclists’ interests, and issue meeting report to Spokespeople.
12. Create and maintain a website that provides news and information about rides, fundraisingevents, races, etc. Provide links to partner organizations, elected officials, etc. Provide a tool toautomate letter‐writing to politicians on cycling issues.
13. Establish regular letter‐writing campaign to local newspapers to increase public awareness ofcycling. Letters can comment on local news, focus on effects on the cycling community.
14. Organize a bicycle versus car race from Southampton Village to East Hampton village on asummer weekend. One car and one bike in each direction, with media converage.
15. Organize multi‐day mountain bike ride from Pine Barrens to Montauk Point to raise awarenessof Paumanok Trail.
16. Organize charity rides on the road for local causes and needy families.
17. Create a Senior Trike campaign to promote intra‐village riding by seniors. Encourage localbusiness to sponsor purchase of tricycles with shopping baskets. Study similar initiativesestablished elsewhere. Establish storage sites and develop free rental program.
18. Encourage cross‐membership and coordination among like‐minded groups.
19. Organize free skills clinics/rides for road riding and mountain biking.
20. Initiate program of providing free bicycles to local families in need.
Proposed Nuts & Bolts:
1. Executive Leader: to be determined.
2. Board of Directors: to be determined.
a. Purpose of Board of Directors: Establish and review goals and direction of organization.Develop general strategies and assist Executive Leader and others in creatingcommittees, appointing committee leaders, and task forces to achieve specific goals.Establish by‐laws concerning executive and non‐executive positions, elections,meetings, financial management, membership structure and dues, and by‐lawamendment process.
3. Proposed officers: Treasurer, VP, and Secretary, to be determined.
4. Proposed Committees:a. Membership & recruitment
b. Bike Routes (road)c. Trailsd. Schools. Fundraising and Special Eventsf. Media Campaigns. Public Awareness & Education
h. Racing
i. Retail
5. Proposed Positions:a. Media & Communications Coordinator
b. IT Manager/Webmaster
c. Legal Counsel
d Ride Coordinator
e. Race Promoter
6. Proposed Liaisons:
a. 725 Green
b. East Hampton Nature Preserve Committee
c. East Hampton Trails Preservation Society
d. East Hampton Town Planning Departmente. East Hampton Town Board
f. Southampton Town Board
g. North Haven Village Board
h. Noyac Civic Council
i. Chambers of Commerce (via RetailCommittee members?)
j. Sagaponack Village Board
k. Sag Harbor Village Board
l. Shelter Island Town Board
m. Southold Town Board
n. ?
o. Southampton Bike Lane Advisory Committee
p. Southampton Trails Preservation Group
q. Southampton Town Parks Department
r. Group for the East End
s. Suffolk County Parks Department
t. New York State Parks Department
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