BWA-NH Current News

BWA-NH is pleased to be working with Representative Gene Andersen of Lebanon to submit legislation for the 2008 session to update NH laws and policies concerning many aspects of bicycling. The "model" for this legislation is the highly acclaimed State of Maine law enacted in June dubbed "the three foot rule" - motorists must pass bicyclists with at least a three-foot clearance. However, a lot more is included in the bill. Establishing state-wide policies for rumble strips, drain grate orientation, and road surface treatments are included. Initial feedback from businesses, cyclists, and NH DOT has been very positive. Hearings on the bill were held in January and February. It was approved by the full House of Representatives on March 5 and is now in the Senate. For details check our Legislation page. Support is needed to make bicycling better and safer for everyone in NH. The Senate hearing is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on May 7. Your supportive emails should be sent to the Senate committee not later than Tuesday, May 6. Again, see our Legislation page for more details and contact info for the Senate committee.

This state-wide event promotes bicycling or walking for going to work, school, or local shopping trips. In past years almost 800 participants left their cars at home and instead enjoyed bagels and cream cheese at commuter breakfasts held in 13 towns and cities across the state including Claremont, Concord, Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hanover, Keene, Laconia, Lebanon, Littleton, Manchester, Portsmouth and Stratham. These events introduce people to a practical, economical, and healthy method of local commuting so they might continue all year when weather and conditions allow. Many companies now offer a guaranteed ride home (or else where) in the event of a family emergency or just a rainy afternoon. See our 2008 Bike/Walk to Work page for details plus a complete schedule of state-wide Bike/Walk events. Would you believe you can save time as well as money by bicycling to work? Read an article from Bill Fisk, GSW Safety and Education Advisor. And thinking of education, take the test via a video on our "How smart are you?" page.

New State of NH Bike Maps available later this month

A new set of seven regional NH bike maps will soon be available from NH DOT. After nearly two years of meetings, presentations, state-wide hearings, inputs for various cycling groups, revisions, budget cuts, and other time-consuming projects, the new maps are to be available in time for the Bike/Walk to Work Day events on May 16. To ensure the maps reach bicyclists and not just tourists looking for a free souvenir that is soon trashed, they must be requested. Distribution will be made via the rest areas on the NH Interstate Highways, by contacting the DOT, and from other key NH locations around the state. BWA-NH is a member of the bike map steering committee and can testify that a lot of time and effort has gone into these maps. To be sure, they are not perfect and the state infrastructure is a moving target that cannot be reflected on a map which may be outdated before it is printed. To compensate for such, the NH DOT Bike-Ped web site http://www.nh.gov/dot/nhbikeped will carry updated versions of the maps available for free downloading plus notation of corrections. Any problems or suggestions concerning the maps should be sent to the attention of Jerry Moore in the NH DOT Bike-Ped Office at JMoore2@dot.state.nh.us. (Please use email to contact the Bike-Ped Office, not the phone.)

The new maps are smaller but more comprehensive than prior versions. When folded they are just 4.5" x 6" so they fit nicely into bike bags or jersey pockets. The printing is very sharp and easy to read on the 18" x 24" layout. Included is an elevation profile, ratings for the suggested on-road routes, improved and unimproved rail trails, features including airports, covered bridges, commuter rail stations, rest areas, state parks, park & ride locations, sample recreational ride loops, and even the water taxi on Lake Winnipesaukee. Rules of the road concerning bicyclists are stated, complete with the RSA numbers. Governor John Lynch provided the welcome message. The seven maps are based on the seven tourist regions of NH: Merrimack Valley, Seacoast, Monadnock, Lakes, Dartmouth / Lake Sunapee, White Mountains, and the Great North Woods. Distinctive cover photos help identify the maps. The life-cycle of these maps is estimated to be five years. The NH DOT Bike-Ped Office hopes the bicycling community finds the maps to be helpful, especially since state-wide inputs from many bicyclists were incorporated into the final design.

BWA-NH and GSW represented at National Bike Summit, March 4-6, 2008

BWA-NH Executive Director Linda Gould and GSW President Bill Kennedy attended the LAB National Bike Sumit in Washington, DC on March 4-6, 2008. The GSW received the LAB Region One Club of the Year Award for its long-time support of the League and for helping form BWA-NH. Recognition was given for the work done by BWA-NH in a short time including the introduction of the "bike bill" HB-1203 to make bicycling in NH better for all cyclists.

On "Meet your Congressman Day" during the National Bike Summit in March, Senator Sununu holds the LAB award given to the Granite State Wheelmen for its support to the Bike Walk Alliance of NH which has been promoting bicycling laws, rail trails, and bicycling safety and education in New Hampshire since 2004. From left to right in the photo, we have Christopher Zigmont of Pedro's, a representative from the Bikes Belong Coalition (sorry, we don't have her name!), Charley LaFlamme from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, BWA-NH Executive Director Linda Gould, US Senator John Sununu, and GSW President Bill Kennedy.

Safe Routes to School:

As one of ten voting members on the SRTS Statewide Advisory Committee, BWA-NH pleased to announce that $495,952 in federal funds were granted to ten communities around the state in Round One. A second round of reimbursement funding started on March 17 with applications being accepted until May 12. For details about the application process, please see the March and April SRTS newsletters. For the latest news concerning Round Two including the guidelines, applications, and dates for proposals, please visit the NH Safe Routes to School web site. For a description of the Round One grants approved on December 3 by the NH DOT Commissioner Charles O'Leary, please see the February 2008 SRTS Newsletter as issued by John Corrigan, NH SRTS Coordinator.

New Bike Groups Support Cycling Advocacy in the Lakes Region

A new group called Lakes Region Bicycling (LRB) has launched web site dedicated to bicycling in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. One of the site's initiatives is to encourage the creation of wide shoulders sround Winnipesaukee, and the eventual establishment of a safe bike route all the way around the big lake. They also will have similar initiatives for the smaller lakes in the region. Any any assistance provided would appreciated. Lakes Region Bicycling founder Jim Zimmermann may be contacted at 603-293-8188, jim@techra.com. Additional info about LRB may be found on this web site -- click here. Have a look at their nice web site:

http://www.lakesregionbicycling.com/content/blogcategory/21/39/

A second bike club, this one in Moultonboro, is also very supportive of what BWA-NH is attempting to accomplish on a state-wide basis. Aptly named the Moultonboro Cycling Club, they have an active ride schedule and have been working with BWA-NH since late last year concerning "our" HB-1203 bike bill that is now in the Senate committee. Gary Torressen is a pleasure to work with, and we are sure to cycle with as well if we ever have a chance! Meanwhile, check out their web site:

http://www.moultonboroughcyclingclub.org/

"Safe Kids 500" at the NH Motor Speedway in Loudon

The fourth annual "Safe Kids 500" will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2008. In 2007 we had good weather so about 500 people participated. Both the kids and the parents had a great time cycling on the track after their bikes passed a safety check by S&W Sports. Helmets are required, likewise helmets are available at the event and a helmet fitting service is provided by the Safe Kids Coalition and BWA-NH. For more information about this famous speedway, click here. For info about the Safe Kids 500, click here.

Hybrids take the lead

With all the talk about high fuel prices, the need to save money, and the desire for more exercise for better health, it should be no surprise that the practical and reasonably-priced hybrid bikes have become the most popular model. New sales have increased with Specialized now selling more bikes than Trek. With the sagging economy and not having Lance Armstrong's Tour de France performance influencing the sale of high-end road bikes, the shift toward hybrids has been seen throughout the bicycle industry in 2007. Click here for more details.

Our long-standing mentor in BCM, Executive Director Jeff Miller, has taken the lead role of the national Thunderhead Alliance in Washington, DC. We will miss his dynamic personality and many suggestions, but we certainly wish Jeff well in his new adventure. The complete announcement about his new position and the search for a replacement BCM Executive Director may be viewed here.

Rail Trails:

Recent activities concern rail trail development has prompted BWA-NH to create multiple pages on this web site devoted strictly to this fast-growing effort. This is a "work in progress" in which each community and known rail trail or related organization will be listed. Links to web sites of the individual organizations, contact information, on-line slide shows, some photos, and email list serve availability are to be included. BWA-NH is not in any way to influence these organizations but rather wishes to publicize their efforts and promote communication between related groups. Once groups work together and obtain additional public support, the synergy will result in better designs and faster implementation of new rail trails. Input for this rail trail section is solicited from each organization. We foresee several updates a month to keep this section a meaningful reference. As of January first, we can report progress on the formation of the Salem "Route 28 Bicycle and Pedestrian Corridor Committee", a lot of action by the Derry Rail Trail Alliance, rail trail groups in the Manchester area coming together under the name Manchester Regional Trails Alliance, and a renewed interest by Londonderry Trailways in completing their section of the Salem to Manchester rail trail. And let's not forget all the work being done by the Friends of the North Rail Trail in the Merrimack and Grafton counties. They just received their fourth grant to continue the trail toward Franklin. Check it out the details and photos starting with our Rail Trail Index Page..

Looking Ahead:

BWA-NH has a long way to go to catch up with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) and MassBike, but we feel some good progress has been made this past year toward making NH more "bicyclist friendly." We encourage all interested parties, cyclists or not, to speak up in favor of improved bike-ped policies, education, and facilities. GSW members can renew their membership for just $20.00 more than the basic GSW rate of $15.00 if they wish to help financially with a tax deductible donation. Anyone can join the free BWA-NH email list serve (E-Group) to learn what is going on then take action as desired. BWA-NH strives to be the voice for bicyclists and pedestrians across the whole state. Together we can make a positive difference!

Recent News

Did you miss reading about what the BWA-NH has been doing in past years? If so, check out our Recent News page.