Lobby Day--A Success!!

NYBC Lobby Day--March 14, 2000

Lobby Day Sample Letter

TEA-21 Set Aside Legislation:
S-2787
A-08570

Lobby Day--A Success!!
All in all, our first lobby day last week was a success. In addition to participation from a few clubs--most notably Rebecca Swan and Mike Miller from the Westchester Cycle Club in Westchester County and Bob Ostiguy from the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club--great credit goes to NYBC Board Member Irene Van Slyke for her leadership. Irene was joined by NYBC Board Member Ivan Vamos and NYBC interns Jannell Shaw and Yulitza Franklin.

The "lobbyists" visited with about fifteen members of the Assembly or folks on their staff (targeting members of the Transportation Committee) and, on the Senate side, about five members or their staffs, again focusing on the Transportation Committee. While the focus of our efforts was the TEA-21 set-aside legislation discussed in detail on our website (S-2787 and A-08570), the group also learned about several other bills of interest and concern to New York State cyclists and pedestrians.

Here's an update, along with suggestions for how those visiting our website can lend their support.

We learned of a bill on the Senate side introduced by State Senator James Alesi from Monroe County. S84A addresses the hot issue of road rage. S84A would add an awareness component to the pre-licensing course as a pre requisite to obtaining a motor vehicle license. The test for licensing will include "one or more written questions concerning the devastating effects of road rage. . . on motorists." NYBC would like to add "bicyclists and pedestrians" to this phrase (line 34) which is too narrow and should be expanded to include bicycle and pedestrian interests. You can find the bill on the NYS Legislature's website (Senate: http://www.senate.state.ny.us/). Ivan Vamos believes this was merely an inadvertent staff oversight and has suggested three levels of "fixes."

• Option #1(best) would be to add the phrase "bicyclist or pedestrian";
• Option #2 (not as good) would be to use the words "another lawful user of the road"; and
• Option #3 (limited) would be "another vehicle operator" and obviously would not cover a pedestrian.

Write, call or visit with your local Senator and suggest these fixes--and please remember to send NYBC a blind copy of your correspondence. (Send to 43 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12205, or attach to an e-mail and send to bikewalk@nybc.net)

We learned of a few bills in the Assembly that NYBC also strongly supports. Assemblyman Bragman has introduced A1044, which increases penalities for leaving the scene of an accident. Bragman and Assemblyman Harenberg have introduced A1047, which deals with the unlicensed operation of motor vehicles. You can find the bill on the NYS Legislature's website (Assembly: http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/) We assume it was just a staff oversight, and would like to see language inserted into the bill jacket of each so that bicycle and pedestrians are specifically named in both bills.

Once again, write, call or visit with your local Member of the Assembly. Note your support of A1044 and suggest the fix to A1047 noted above. For our files, and to aid in our own efforts to get these bills through the legislature, please send us copies of your correspondence.

NYBC Lobby Day--March 14, 2000
Led by new Board member Irene Van Slyke from Brooklyn, NYBC is coordinating an all volunteer lobby day at the State Capitol in Albany on March 14, 2000, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We are particularly interested in trying to get the TEA-21 set-aside legislation, introduced last year and passed by the Senate, through both chambers and signed by the Governor this year. This legislation will not only insure that meaningful, on-road improvements enhancing bicycle and pedestrian access will be included in capital budgets around the state each year. It will also send a powerful message to state, local and regional transportation and planning agencies about the value and importance of creating viable, safe and more fully multi-modal local road systems.

This is a wonderful opportunity for advocates from around the state to "pull together" toward a common goal. Advocacy efforts are led by the all-volunteer NYBC Board, along with other allied organizations and individuals with whom we are trying to develop a united front. There is plenty of other legislation, some of which NYBC has introduced in the past (requiring more complete accident reporting, for instance) and some of which we know that other cycling clubs and advocacy organizations are thinking about and have worked on in the past. Once again, if you or your organization have thoughts about a Bicycle-Pedestrian legislative agenda, or want to devote some time on the March 14th Lobby Day in Albany early this spring, please contact us right away.

NYBC's legislative priorities, as described in the Spring '99 Newsletter, during the last session in Albany included setting aside a percentage of TEA-21 Enhancement Funds for Bicycle/Pedestrian improvement projects (S-2787) as well as amending the Vehicular and Traffic Laws to mandate reporting of accidents involving bicycles and pedestrians at the scene(A-08570/S-2788). The first bill passed the Senate but not the Assembly. The second bill was less successful.

We are optimistic that NYBC and our many friends around the state can create a climate in which these bills can pass, hopefully in the near future.

Letter sent to Bicycle Club Presidents from NYBC Board President, Ben Serotta and Board Member Irene VanSlyke.

18 February, 2000 Dear Friends of NYBC: We are planning our first ever, all member lobbying effort on Tuesday, March 14, 2000. Plans are to encourage legislators to set aside federal TEA-21 monies for bicycling and pedestrian safety projects, with an emphasis on improvements to existing infrastructure throughout New York State. Last year, with heroic lobbying efforts by Board Members of NYBC, the Senate passed the measure but unfortunately it failed in the Assembly. This year we hope to take it all the way!! Currently, these bills (S2787 and A8570--virtually identical) have both been reintroduced and referred to their respective transportation subcommittees. Bicyclists have a great opportunity not only to lobby for dollars for their districts but also to talk with legislators about bicycling conditions, safety concerns and other related local issues. It is very important for legislators to hear from bicyclists from their district who are able to discuss what problems they face and what measures are required to improve local conditions. This will get them thinking about how to please a new and potentially powerful constituent group: bicyclists and pedestrians. If you or anyone in your group would like to participate in this event, please inform NYBC by emailing us at bikewalk@nybc.net or calling 518.478-7818. Please tell us if we can help make appointments with your Assembly Member or State Senator. (If anyone cannot get to the Capital District and back in one day there are a limited number of beds available provided by area bicyclists.) We expect bicycle lobbyists to gather in the Legislative Office Building in downtown Albany on Tuesday, March 14 at 11 AM in room 311 (check the Advocacy page on our web site) WITH YOUR BIKE HELMET IN HAND. NYBC Board Members will lead a short briefing, distribute last minute updates and help with navigation through the halls of the State Legislature. The most effective approach to meeting with a member of the legislature is through a visit from a local delegation but if you feel it would be helpful to be accompanied by an NYBC Board member we will try to provide one for you. Please look over the material included in this package and e-mail us if you can participate. If you or a member of your club can't participate in person we would encourage you make your support known on-line (www.senate.state.ny.us/senate.html or www.assembly.state.ny.us/Members). For regular updates on our Bicycle and Pedestrian Advocates Campaign, please send us your e-mail address. We look forward to seeing you in Albany in a few weeks. Sincerely, Ben Serotta, President, NYBCIrene Van Slyke, NYBC Board Member P.S. One more thing. If you believe that creating a safer, more user-friendly environment for bicyclists and pedestrians is an important issue affecting all New Yorkers, and that this outcome can only occur through an event like NYBC Lobby Day, we encourage you and your club to either renew or join NYBC--today. Membership dues are our only source of funds to support advocacy efforts.

Lobby Day Sample Letter

Address to your local Senator and Assemblymember on your organization letterhead.
Feel free to add specifics about problems in your local area.

Dear Senator / Member of Assembly The (organization) supports A8570/S2787. These bills set aside annually at least 50% of federal Transportation Enhancement funds under TEA 21 dedicated to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety. New York State accounts for about one fifth of all federal funds in this program amounting to $140 million over 6 years. How it is spent will in many ways determine if this program is continued, expanded or dropped in future federal transportation programs. Enhancement funds have been handled badly by the NYS Department of Transportation. Far too many projects are accepted for available funds. This pleases many constituent groups when their project is included in the program, but the process results in a huge backlog with little to show for the effort. What is worse, critical issues of safety for bicyclists and pedestrians are not being addressed. A8570 and S2787, if passed, establish priorities for bicycling and pedestrian projects that would enhance safety. The bills provide that these dedicated funds are available to local governments to implement projects that enhance safety such as sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle storage, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations such as transporting bicycles on mass transportation facilities, and other projects. We believe that passage of these bills is long overdue. Bicycle and pedestrian accidents in New York State pose a considerable bigger problem that most people assume. An analysis by the New York Bicycling Coalition (NYBC) shows that while such accidents are 1% of all reported traffic accidents, their detrimental effects are disproportionally larger. Bicycle / pedestrian accidents are more serious e.g. they are 16% of all reported serious traffic injuries but they are 30% of all reported traffic fatalities. Small children and young adults are most likely to be bicycle accident victims, while small children and the elderly are most likely to be pedestrian victims. In 1999 NYC saw a doubling of bicyclists killed without any plans to address this problem.

The Summary for S-2787 and A-08570 are below. Following this is a list of sponsors and a letter sent by NYBC's President, Ben Serotta, to the bill's sponsors in the Senate and Assembly. S-2787
PURPOSE: To ensure that important, multimodal transportation need have access to federal Transportation Enhancements Funds made available to the state under the Transportation Equity act for the Twenty-first Century (TEA-21).

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Dedicates not less than one-half of the federal funds made available to the state for transportation enhancement projects under TEA-21 ($12.5 million) annually to the enhancement of pedestrian and bicycle safety efforts.

Eligible projects include, but not limited to, sidewalks, bicycle paths, shoulders, striping, signage, crosswalks, and secure bicycle storage.

The Commissioner of the Department of Transportation will establish a program of competing for available funds.

JUSTIFICATION: The Transportation Enhancements program is a large funding source, expected to generate $140 million over 6 years. In the past, the legislature has not assigned any priorities in the use of these funds; as a result, although these funds have supported many worthwhile projects, they lack an overall program purpose. A large program source such as this should be better directed toward broad program goals that can have measurable effect across the state. This legislation establishes priorities which have been underfunded in the past. These priorities do not prohibit the use of Transportation Enhancements Funds for other purposes eligible under federal law, but they do direct the Department of Transportation to dedicate one-half of these funds annually to improve the safety and travel comfort of pedestrians and bicyclists.

New York's local street network is used extensively by pedestrians and cyclists. Every day, in New York, more of our citizens commute to work by bicycle or on foot than ride transit.

All motorists or transit riders are pedestrians for part of their trip, yet there is no program of funds dedicated to the needs of these travelers. As a result, there has been an unusually high fatality rate among pedestrians and bicyclists. Health Department data show that pedestrian and bicycle accidents, for the population under 14 and over 65, equal or exceed the rate of motor vehicle crashes, accounting for over 7100 injuries and over 600 deaths annually. This is the fifth largest cause of accidental death in New York State. Boys are four times more likely to die from bicycle/pedestrian accidents than from all other causes of violence. Our local streets are the most dangerous, and this legislation assigns priority in expenditure of Transportation Enhancements on bicycle and pedestrian improvements which will make our streets friendlier to all users. Bicycle and pedestrian safety can be accomplished by relying on signage, pavement markings, and other inexpensive solutions. This legislation will establish creative competition for these funds which will benefit all of New York's local communities, foster low-cost and easily implementable projects, and improve the economy of our cities and villages. A-08570
SUMMARY: Requires that not less than fifty percent of the federal moneys made available to the state for the transportation enhancements program under the Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty-First Century be annually dedicated to pedestrian and bicycle safety efforts.

Senate: S-2787

SPONSOR: Owen H. Johnson, Vice Pres., Pro Tem Babylon LI

CoSPONSORS: Balboni , Michael A., Mineola, Long Island Bonacic, John A., Mt Hope, Ulster County DeFrancisco, John A., Syracuse Fuschillo, Charles, Jr. Hannon, Kemp, Garden City, Long Island
Maltese, Serphin R, Queens
Marchi, John J, Staten Island
Maziarz, George D, Tonawanda
Nozzolio, Michael F, Seneca Falls
Rath, Mary Lou, Williamsville
Spano, Nicholas A, Yonkers
Trunzo, Caesar, Brentwood, Long Island

Assembly: A-08570

SPONSOR:
Matusow, Naomi CBedford

CoSPONSORS:
Bragman, Michael J, Cicero
Englebright, Steven C, Setauket, Long Island
McEneny, John J, Albany

The following letter was sent to each of the above members:

On behalf of the New York Bicycling Coalition, and the one-third of all New Yorkers who regularly ride a bicycle in our State, I want to thank you for supporting this bill. Your support and interest is sincerely appreciated. We will be sure to make our local member clubs aware of your active involvement on their behalf. Since about one-third of all motor vehicle fatal crashes in New York State kill a pedestrian or bicyclist, making our roadways safer is of paramount importance. Most bicycle fatalities involve a child and in fact children are four times more likely to die from a fatal accident on our streets than from all combined causes of domestic violence. The bill you supported represents a vital step in creating a modest but appropriate setaside of available federal funds to make our streets safer for both bicyclists and pedestrians. We hope this legislation will have your continued support, and we would like to meet with you or your staff to discuss the prospects for passing this legislation in the next session. NYBC would be delighted to pass along any data we are currently collecting, through a grant funded by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, to assist in making the strongest possible case for the necessity of passing this legislation. I would appreciate it if you would have someone call Paul Winkeller, NYBC's Executive Director, at (518) 478-7818 so that we can get together at your earliest convenience. NYBC's e-mail address is bikewalk@nybc.net Our next newsletter will be certain to recognize your ongoing and active support of our legislative efforts. NYBC would like to hear from you concerning legislative matters that are important to cyclists, pedestrians and affiliated organizations around the state. We are here in Albany and our staff spends time at the Capitol, so let us know what we can do.

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