08/24/2026
Local Bicycling News – [8/24/26 – 303] – Updates for Friends of Cycling, Walking, and Good Living in the Capital Region. CONTACT: [email protected]
Bike the Branches/Poetry in Motion Ride 2026
ABC's annual Bike the Branches ride is Saturday, September 12th. We will be gathering at 12:45am at the Pine Hills Branch, leaving at 1pm and returning about 3pm. There will be a short poetry reading at each branch. This will be a leisurely group ride of about 9 miles, with some hills. It is not a race & we don't leave people behind! The ride is free. All riders must wear a bike helmet. All riders must be age 12 or older, those under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Complete Details at: https://albanybicyclecoalition.com/upcoming-events/bike-the-branches-ride/. Reservations – not required, but we appreciate if you RSVP to: [email protected] to let us know you’re coming, and how many people are in your group. If you wish to read a short poem (preferably something bicycle or Albany related), let us know that as well!
Biking in the Age of Bikelash
More and more people are turning to bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters for transportation, recreation and health. At the same time we are seeing more campaigns and complaints against active transportation. You may recall President Trump's argument that congestion pricing wasn't needed in NYC. Instead, he claimed NYC needed to make more room for motor vehicles by eliminating bike lanes. Taking that cue, his Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, is now pushing to defund "DEI bike lanes" from federal highway spending. DOT website references to the use of bike lanes and speed cameras as effective safety measures have been eliminated.
Locally, we have seen Saratoga Springs eliminate bike lane plans for improvements to Union Avenue. Just a few years ago, there was a successful campaign to eliminate bike lanes and a road diet on Delaware Avenue in Bethlehem. New Jersey passed a law requiring licensing and registration for e-bikes, even low speed pedal assist bikes. There were a myriad of bills before the NYS legislature that may well have gotten to the Governor were it not for the shortened session due to the late budget. Legislation to contend with e-bike and e-scooter usage is being proposed and passed by many NY local governments. We continue to fight to improve an Albany County proposal.
The argument for improved bike infrastructure has been complicated by legitimate concerns of dangerous, illegal bike-like devices being misused on roads and poor safety practices of many other riders. NY Attorney General Letitia James recently followed California's example by issuing a consumer warning about fast, unsafe, illegal e-devices being sold to New Yorkers. This month NYC issued cease and desist letters to online sellers, including Walmart and Target, that warned of fines up $2000 per sale of illegal device.
As active transportation users, we need to stand up for our right to use our roads safely and insist that efforts to make e-bikes and e-scooters safer concentrate on enforcing existing laws and keeping illegal, dangerous devices off the streets and out of the hands of minors. We need to speak out to our legislators before inappropriate laws get passed that don't address actual safety issues. We also need to ride safely ourselves and encourage others to do the same. Here are a few basic reminders:
ride with traffic
you are more visible to drivers, especially at intersections where most crashes occur.
head on crashes are more likely to lead to death or serious injury
wear a helmet
don't buy into nonsense that drivers are more careful around bicyclists without helmets - about half of bike crashes don't involve motor vehicles
pick the safest route
avoid roads like Colonie's Central Avenue, try our bike map: https://capitalnybikemap.com
light up and wear bright apparel,
NY VTL requires a white light in front and red light in the rear, dusk to dawn
most crashes happen between dusk and dawn even though most people aren't riding at those times
obey the traffic laws, they are there to keep everyone safe
sidewalk riding is dangerous - if you must, do so at a close to walking speed
sidewalks are for pedestrians and slow speed kids learning to ride under supervision of adults
you are safer on most roads where drivers can see you
sidewalks are especially dangerous at intersections and in congested areas where there are many driveways and business entrances
riding against traffic on a sidewalk is asking to be hit - drivers turning right won't see you til you are on their bumper.
for more great safety tips see: https://nybc.net/safety
Agenda for ABC August Meeting
Wednesday 6:30 PM Aug 26, 2026
If you are receiving this e-mail, you are invited!
Join In Person: Pine Hills Library small meeting room, 1st floor S.E. corner; 517 Western Ave, Albany Map
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84950587792?pwd=bNRHTsUShkAbwDBMYISE1TMzq0ElWM.1
Meeting ID: 849 5058 7792
Passcode: 816886
Discussions
County Proposed E-Bike Law Status
2nd Kids Learn to Ride Scheduling/Need for Volunteers
Bike the Branches 2026 Planning - Poets and Poetry Readers Wanted!
Planning for our 5th World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Road Traffic
Reports
Coffee Shop Ride Report
Announcements
NYS DOT Public Information Meeting on Proposed Active Transportation Strategic Plan - Seeking Community Feedback on Ways to Improve Access for Walkers, Cyclists and users of Wheelchairs and Micromobility Services September 1 - Albany Library, Large Auditorium (5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) 161 Washington Avenue, Albany NY 12210
Other Business
ABC Sport-Tek T-Shirts Available! In sizes Small, Medium and Large $26
Treasurer’s Report
Future WEDNESDAY Meetings - 6:30pm, 9/30, 10/28
December Meeting TBA - will be Holiday Lights Ride / Trivia Night
Erie Canal Museum's
Beers, Bikes, and Barges Ride
September 10, 6pm. Join the Historic Albany Foundation, Discover Albany, and the Erie Canal Museum for this 90 minute cycling tour through Albany looking at the city’s Erie Canal and brewing history. See sites like the location of the enormous John Taylor and Sons Brewery and Lock #1 on the Old Erie. The ride begins and ends at Common Roots Brewing Company, where you will be treated to a beer as part of your ride. See details and purchase tickets at: https://www.simpletix.com/e/beers-bikes-barges-tickets-262431.
Trek Verve 1 Disc Lowstep Bike Raffle
Albany Bicycle Coalition is raffling off a Trek Verve 1 Disc Lowstep Hybrid Style Bike, 3x7 Speed, Size Large. Raffle tickets are $2 each, 3 for $5. Funds gathered will help support our efforts to improve bike safety - including our 2nd annual bike light giveaway at the the Upper Madison Street Fair. The bike was donated to ABC and only been test ridden. The winner will be drawn at the end of the Upper Madison Street Fair on September 27th. We will have the bike at the Fair for all to see.
Want to buy a raffle ticket but can't make the fair? Make a $2 or $5 donation through our website and click on "add special instructions to seller" - include "Trek Raffle, Your Name, Your Phone Number". We will email your raffle ticket number(s) and add you to the drawing. For information on the bike, see comparable model at: https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/hybrid-bikes/comfort-recreation-bikes/verve/verve-1-disc-lowstep-gen-4/p/32736/
Discover your next great ride with Verve 1 Disc Low Step. See the bike and visit your local Trek retailer. Shop now!
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