CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: April 21, 2015

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Mayors' Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets

      The Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets is a call to action from U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx. The goal is for local elected officials “to take significant action to improve safety for bicycle riders and pedestrians of all ages and abilities over the next year.” Connecticut’s Transportation Commissioner, James P. Redeker, announced today his agency’s commitment to supporting the efforts of Connecticut’s municipal leaders to meet the challenge.

      Commissioner Redeker remarked, “This initiative aligns seamlessly with our Complete Streets Policy and our continued work on bike/ped initiatives and towards achieving safer routes for children to and from school. We look forward to this challenge being a partnership to achieve mutual a goal.”

      Nine Connecticut municipal leaders are on the national Mayors’ Challenge City List at www.dot.gov/mayors-challenge. “We hope to gather more strength in numbers as we embark on Bike Month and also celebrate Transit Week in Connecticut,” Commissioner Redeker said. “As leaders, we have great opportunities available to us next month to gain momentum in our communities - local events supporting Bike to School Day on May 6 and Bike to Work Day on May 15, just to name a few. Let’s think spring cleanup and, through maintenance of our roads, trails and sidewalks, work to remove barriers to walking and bicycling, especially those that may have been brought on by the long, snowy winter.”

Mark these dates on your calendars and get involved:

·         May 6 is national Bike to School Day (WalkItBikeItCT.org) –
encourage your neighborhood school to participate and
start a local K-8 Safe Routes to School Program

·         The week of May 11-15 is Bike Week and simultaneously Transit Week (ctrides.com) –
ride your bicycle to the bus stop or train station, load it up and get to work!

·         May 15 is national Bike to Work day (bikewalkct.org) –
try it, it is fun and healthy, and a great example to your children

·         June 27 is the East Coast Greenway ride (www.greenway.org/events) –
challenge yourself on a 30 or 60 mile loop of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail
while supporting the trail and networking with transportation and civic leaders

·         The Connecticut 2015 Legislative Session runs through June 3 (www.cga.ct.gov) –
submit testimony in support of bicycle/pedestrian friendly bills,
such as “The Bike Bill” - SB 502, An Act Concerning Bicycle Safety

      Secretary Foxx provided local civic leaders with a list of suggested activities for meeting the challenge on the national website. Commissioner Redeker indicated that his staff also posted Connecticut-specific spring cleanup list at www.ct.gov/dot/completestreets for ideas to help achieve safer people, safer streets.