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Berkshire Bike Path Council
October 2011 Update
At our September meeting, BBPC joined BRPC in recognizing the hard work of volunteers and in particular our Volunteer of the Year - John Yuill. For 13 years volunteers have been working hard to advocate for the extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail north to Vermont and south to Connecticut. There are active committees in many towns and cities along the route and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of them for their commitment and time. In the face of opposition, we must all become stronger advocates and builders of an ever growing constituency of supporters. We are also appreciative of the efforts of MassBike in their continued efforts to secure bike funding and support bike safety. How can you help? Your town/city officials need to hear from you. Please ask them what they are doing to help the bike path efforts in your community. Let them know you support a bike path in your town or city. Most officials only hear from people opposed and so it remains a backburner issue. Now is the time to elect officials who support the bike path. Thank you. Marge Cohan Marge Cohan President, Berkshire Bike Path Council
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Calendar
- Western New England Greenway Conference - Sat Nov 19 - Bennington, VT
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ASHUWILLTICOOK COUNT
Thanks to everyone who helped in the July counts. We counted 1892 bike path users on Saturday, July 9 and 346 during commuting hours on Tuesday, July 12. About 60% of users were on bicycles and 30% were walkers. Everyone out there using the path must know something good when they see it!!
VOLUNTEERS HONORED
 | Trail Count Volunteers
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BBPC joined Berkshire Regional Planning Commission in honoring the trailer counters, who have helped collect important data, which we use in validating the extensive and varied user of the Ashuwillticook Trail. Honorees received a certificate and a BBPC gift in appreciate for their time and commitment to the trail.
John Yuill received the Volunteer of the Year award in recognition of his many, many hours of trail counting, time coordinating this effort and his photography of this project. The award also recognizes John's work in designing and maintaining our web page, answering inquiries from the web, work on the e newsletter, and recording our history and life on the trail in his extensive achieves of pictures. John is a valued Board member who is essential to our bike path efforts. Congratulations John (second from the left in photo above)!
MassBike - ADVOCACY WORKS!
Federal funding for all transportation programs (including biking and walking) has been extended until March 31, 2012. Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails will continue to receive funding. The bicycling community nationwide generated over 50,000 emails and thousands of calls to the Senate. We reached every single Senator and created a buzz in the halls of Congress. From what we hear, it is clear that, had Senator Coburn offered his amendment on the floor, it would have lost overwhelmingly.
But we should consider ourselves on notice that we will need to defend dedicated funding for biking and walking again in six months when this extension expires. And we will need to be able to get 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster by opponents of biking and walking. To do that we will need the support of both Senators Kerry and Brown. We have Senator Kerry's vote, but we are not sure about Senator Brown. The push we did this week helps in building that support but we will need to continue to swing Senator Brown firmly to our side.
A Western New England Greenway Save the Date - Saturday November 19, 2011
The idea is to create a contiguous bike trail from New York City to Montreal. Please join us as we discuss the concept:
What: Western New England Greenway Conference
When: Saturday, November 19th - 10 AM to 3:30 PM
Where: Bennington Museum, Bennington Vermont
Imagine a network of bike trails reaching from the East Coast Greenway in southern Connecticut all the way to the Canadian border. And then linking up with Quebec's famed Route Verte.
We invite you to join the discussion, and explore how to make this idea a reality. Additional information and an agenda are being developed, and your ideas are welcome. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
For more information: call 413-394-9773 or e-mail: Programs@HousatonicHeritage.org
Please let us know if you would like to attend. marge@berkshirebikepath.org
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News
BIKE PATH UPDATES
We are grateful to all who came out to support Skip Harrington and the Bike Path Council's vision of a path from Vermont to Connecticut by attending the Adams Board of Selectmen meeting on Oct 5. In response to our presence, Adams town officials voted to push the Corporate Park tenants towards signing the easements needed for the 1.4 mile expansion of the northern end of the Ashuwillticook trail, by giving them a 10 day deadline before the town started to explore other options.
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Southern Berkshire County Brochure
Hard copies of the maps are available in town halls, bike shops and visitor centers.
Presently available on line at:
http://www.upperhousatonicheritage.org/index.php?catId=2&subCatId=57
http://www.berkshireplanning.org/transportation/bike_trail_planning.html
As well as on our website www.berkshirebikepath.com
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PHOTO OPS
Ernie rides the Ashuwillticook nearly every day and will be highlighted in WGBY's nightly magazine show Connecting Point airing Mon-Fri at 7:30 PM. The Rail Trail segments will air Oct 13, 18 & 19. Check it out!
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To share your biking adventures email photos to info@berkshirebikepath.com
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Thank you for your continued support!
Please support our efforts to advocate for better bicycling in Berkshire County. Mail your check, made out to Berkshire Bike Path Council, 55 South Mountain Rd, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Per IRS regulations, your donation to the Berkshire Bike Path Council will be treated similarly to a donation made to a 501(c)(3) organization and will be tax deductible.
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