At a ceremony on June 18, 1999, at the League of American Bicyclists' Great Eastern Area Rally (GEAR) at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, Commissioner Richard Jackson of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, will announce the funding, by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), of a Community Safety Campaign to be coordinated by the New York Bicycling Coalition (NYBC). The $200,000 grant will support a two and a half year long program.

The Community Safety Campaign will focus on the mitigation of traffic safety "hot spots" and also promote safe cycling and walking. In counties across the state, a local work group comprised of cycling and pedestrian advocates, law enforcement officials, public health officials, transportation planners, engineers and other constituent groups, will provide leadership to this effort.

The Community Safety Campaign will begin this summer with the selection of four pilot counties, representing each part of the state. NYBC and GTSC welcome inquiries about this pilot program. The counties have not yet been determined and an important factor in the selection process will be local interest. The intent of the pilot program is to develop an approach to problem solving and public education that can be adapted and replicated, at low cost by local work groups, in every county in New York State.

Ben Serotta, President of NYBC, had these comments:

"The New York Bicycling Coalition is thrilled by the news of the approval of our Community Safety Campaign by the Pataki Administration, which has shown leadership on issues of concern to our membership. We plan to get off to a fast start this summer and encourage county governments and local planners, designers and public safety advocates throughout the state to get in touch with us for more details about this new program."

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