New Canaan Advertiser, Thursday, September 18, 2008 6A
Eco Man
By Richard M. Stowe
Any month is a ‘Bike Month’
May has been known as Bike Month since 1956, but it turns out September is growing in stature as a bicycle-friendly month. It helps that the weather is generally warmer in September than in May.
For starters there’s World Carfree Day, hosted by the Prague, Czech Republic-based World Carfree Network, which takes place this year on Monday, September 22nd.
Most events take place in Europe, but look for World Carfree Day to pick up in American communities in years ahead.
Coney Island
Then there’s Transportation Alternatives’ NYC Century Bike Tour, which took place this year on Sunday, September 7th. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to bicycle over the Brooklyn Bridge, through Prospect Park, past Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Canarsie Pier (sections of Brooklyn that I visited for the first time) on a sun-filled day before volunteering as a marshal on Randall’s Island.
Hell Gate Bridge
Founded in 1973, Transportation Alternatives’ mission is “to reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile and to advocate for bicycling, walking and public transit as the best transportation alternatives.” Transportation Alternatives strives to influence elected officials to direct New York City Department of Transportation officials to implement measures such as traffic calming, car-free parks and bike lanes with the goal of creating safe streets.
Brooklyn Bridge
Friday September 19th is National Parking Day (http://www.parkingday.org/) and it is promoted on the home page of the Trust for Public Land at tpl.org. It is an effort to create temporary parks in parking spaces.
Finally two new cycling events have emerged this September.
Bicycle For A Day occurs on Saturday September 20th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at South Street Seaport in Manhattan. More information is available at bicycleforaday.com.
Founded by actor Matthew Modine, Bicycle For A Day is an initiative to reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by traveling by bicycle and other carbon free modes instead of by petroleum-powered vehicles
Brita Climate Ride is a five-day bicycle ride from SOHO in Manhattan to the Capitol in Washington D.C. in which “climate riders” raise money for non-profits Focus the Nation and Clean Air-Cool Planet, which has a branch in New Canaan. (See related story on Page 8)
Climate lectures will take place in the evening each day of the ride. Further information is available at climateride.org
Four cyclists from Connecticut have registered for the 300-mile fundraiser including me. To make a donation, click “sponsor a rider,” enter the climate riders name, click on that name, and click on the riders name that appears below.
Climate Ride is no bike-cation, but it provides an opportunity to network, raise money for two climate education organizations while traveling by bicycle to the nation’s capital.
Richard Stowe is president of the New Canaan Environmental Group and founder and director of Rail*Trains*Ecology*Cycling. He may be reached at bike.rail.politics@gmail.com
