Westchester Bike Summit April 7, 2009

---

Westchester Bike Summit
April 7, 3 to 8 p.m., Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave., White Plains NY 10606. Accessible by bus, train and car, with ample parking.
Why: To bring all Westchester and regional stakeholders together to encourage cycle commuting and advance cycling related issues, including development of the East Coast Greenway in Westchester County.

Format:
3:00-3:40 Introductions, Speakers: US Congressional Rep Nita Lowey, County Executive Andy Spano
HowBicycles Can Become a Bigger Part of Westchester's Transportation Mix: David Wilson, president,Westchester Cycle Club and Westchester program coordinator for the East Coast Greenway. Wilson will discuss how to encourage cycle commuting to workplaces and train stations, develop cycle tourism in Westchester, make the region safer for cycling by creating more off-road bike facilities and working with state and local transporation officials to make on-road riding safer here.

3.40-4.40 What municipalities can do to promote cycling.
Panelists
1. Westchester County Planner Lukas Herbert will talk about how municipalities can incorporate accommodations for bicycles in local development projects.
2. New Rochelle City Planner Ed Lynch will talk about New Rochelle's program to encourage cycling by designating 24 miles of city streets as the best cycling routes and the city's bike-rack design competition.
3. Croton-on-Hudson Bicycle/Pedestrian Planning Committee has developed a detailed plan for how the village can become more bike-friendly. A member of the committee will talk about the report and its initiatives in the village, including the 2008 Croton Bike Week, which involved cyclists, merchants, and commuters.

BREAK OUT SESSIONS

4.40 - 5.30 and 5.50 - 6.40
B. Secure bike storage at employers and municipal lots at train stations; how mass transit can accommodate cyclists. Learn about municipalities around the country that have secure storage facilities at train stations and workplaces. Other municipalities also extend the reach of their bus systems with bus racks, so riders can ride bikes to the bus, then ride from the bus to their workplace.

Discussion moderated by David Wilson
1. Julie Bond,project manager of Best Workplaces of Commuters, a national program managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research, will talk about efforts across the country to encourage bicycling as a mode of transportation. Bond, who promoted multi-modal transportation while working for the Utah Transit Authority in Salt Lake City, is also a consultant for BikeLid Systems, which manufactures a patented form of secure bicycle parking.
2. Lanny Wexler of the state DOT's Region 10 office on Long Island, will talk about the state's secure bike locker program, located in muncipal parking lots at 16 Long Island Railroad stations. It's run by a local nonprofit agency.
3. George Constantin, CEO, Heritage Realty Services, and owner of Gannett Office Park in Harrison. Constantin will talk about what he's doing in his office buildings in Harrison and Manhattan to address the needs of cycle commuters.

East Coast Greenway: Plans for Westchester and achievements to date.
Discussion moderated by Michael Oliva, mid-Atlantic Trail Coordinator for the East Coast Greenway

Oliva will provide an overview about of the Greenway, both nationally and in Westchester. Dave Delucia, Director of Facilites, Westchester County Parks, will speak about the history and current status of the development of Greenway through the Bronx River Reservation, from Mount Vernon to White Plains. Lukas Herbert, Westchester County planner, will talk about County's planning's role in implementing the East Coast Greenway and other bike/pedestrian projects in the County. Linda Hoza, from the Merritt Parkway Trail Conservancy, will speak about the history and current status of the proposed 37 mile trail along the Merritt Parkway.East Coast Greenway

6.40 - 7 p.m.
Wrap up and next steps.

7 p.m to 8 p.m.

Public forum on what the public wants for cyclists in Westchester. Discussion on the creation ofthe Westchester Bicycle/ Pedestrian Alliance along with a bicycle action plan for Westchester County. Seek members, board and advisory committee.



Organized by East Coast Greenway Alliance

---

Ticket Info:  Westchester Bike Summit, Free

Official Website: http://westbikesummit-upcoming.eventbrite.com