WalkBikeCT: 2009 Agenda

The first day of the new year is a natural time to look ahead and make clear exactly what it is that you want accomplish or see happen over the next 12 months. Here's a list of the top 5 things that we at WalkBikeCT would like the state of Connecticut to do in 2009 to promote walking and biking as viable transportation choices in towns and cities throughout the state.


5. Implement a fix-it first policy

This is pretty straight-forward. Under a "fix-it first" policy the DOT, along with towns and cities would be required to allocate money to all necessary maintenance and repairs to the transportation infrastructure prior to spending any money whatsoever on roadway expansion. The fact that the state continues to add roadway capacity while scores of bridges in this state have been deemed structurally deficient by civil engineers is appalling. You wouldn't put on an addition to your house before fixing a leaky roof, why is the DOT expanding roads when they aren't fixing and maintaining the ones they've got?

The benefit of such a policy to walking and biking, is this: By limiting the amount of highways and roadways to what we can afford to maintain, we can free up some much needed capital for projects that improve the pedestrian and bicycle transportation network. This could be as simple as the state giving grants to towns for sidewalk infill projects, or as ambitious as a "bicycle highway" running alongside the Merritt Parkway.


4. Send traffic ticket revenue to the towns, not the state

Few people know this, but only a small portion of the revenue generated by traffic tickets issued by local police actually goes back to the town. Virtually all of it winds up in the state's coffers. Last I heard, the towns and cities get a flat cut of something like $10 per ticket, with the remainder going to the state. With all the paperwork that local Police have to take care of when they issue a traffic ticket, towns and cities often lose money by issuing traffic tickets.

This naturally discourages traffic enforcement, so things like excessive speeding or reckless driving go virtually unchecked in many places. Until towns and cities can make traffic enforcement pay for itself, cyclists and pedestrians will continue to be at the mercy of drivers who know that they won't be held accountable for endangering the lives of other roadway users.


3. Allow the use of red light cameras

Many cities in Europe, and quite a few here in the U.S., automatically ticket drivers who run red lights. They do this by installing cameras on the traffic signals that snap the license plates of drivers who blow through red lights. A ticket is then mailed to the owner of the vehicle. Several cities in this state, most notably New Haven, have expressed interest in utilizing this technology to protect their citizens and make the roads safer. Unfortunately, the state of Connecticut does not allow use of red light cameras to ticket drivers. Apparently, photographing the car of someone breaking the law on public property is an invasion of privacy, go figure.

Due to mounting pressure from a variety of groups, an increasing number of state legislators are taking a second look at red light cameras. Let's hope that this year they make the right decision and put the safety of pedestrians and cyclists above the pocketbooks of reckless drivers.


2. Create a Bureau of Non-Motorized Transportation within ConnDOT

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is comprised of five bureaus, each one responsible for a different aspect of the transportation system or the transportation planning process. The five bureaus are: the Bureau of Aviation and Ports, the Bureau of Finance and Administration, the Bureau of Policy and Planning, the Bureau of Engineering and Highway Operations, and the Bureau of Public Transportation.

There you have it, there's a bureau devoted to highways, and a bureau devoted to public transportation, but no bureau devoted to walking and biking, the two most basic, most economical, and most environmentally friendly forms of transportation. Essentially, aside from their token Bicycle and Pedestrian coordinator, there's no one on the job at DOT when it comes to transportation that doesn't involve an engine. That's why in 2009 we'd like to see the Connecticut Department of Transportation create a Bureau of Non-Motorized Transportation.


1. Allow cyclists unrestricted access to Metro North trains

This has long been a major issue between cyclists, ConnDOT, and the MTA. The problem with taking the train in Connecticut is that most train stations are not within walking distance of much of anything worth going to. They are, however, within a reasonable biking distance of many things, such as offices, stores, beaches, parks, and homes. This seems like a good setup, right? Just bring your bike with you on the train and ride it to your destination after you get to the train station. Well, the MTA only allows bikes on trains during non-peak times, and reserves the right to bar bicycles from the trains at the discretion of the conductors. What's more, you need to get some sort of pass, which I still can't figure out how to do without making a special trip to New York, though I've heard there are ways.

Bottom line, the current policy regarding bikes on trains is atrocious. It technically allows bikes on trains, while making it a practical impossibility for most people to actually bring a bike on the train in the real world. This needs to change. The new Metro-North cars will be fitted with bike tie-downs so storage issues should be minimal. Not to mention, plenty of places, including California, have allowed bikes on trains for quite sometime without any serious problems. In 2009, we ask that the MTA remove any and all restrictions regarding bicycles on trains. The policy should be: You can bring your bike on the train, period.

What would you like to see happen in 2009 to make Connecticut a more walkable, bikeable, place? Leave your suggestions in the comments sections or send them here (WalkBikeCT at gmail.com).

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