Pols Pop In On Bike To Work

Melinda Tuhus of Elm City Cycling sent in this write-up and photo about Bike to Work Day.

Despite less than ideal conditions — windy with a downpour threatening — 52 hardy souls attended Elm City Cycling​‘s (www.elmcitycycling.org) Bike to Work Day breakfast Friday. This was National Bike to Work Day, and last year under sunny skies more than 150 cyclists came out. Breakfast was courtesy of Elm City Market.

Along with the usual handouts of bike lights, reflective leg straps and other safety gear, people learned about upcoming cycling events — such as the 14 rides ECC leads as part of the International Festival in June, followed by the ECC Century ride on June 29.

City transportation czar Doug Hausladen, representing Mayor Toni Harp, said she’s committed to building protected bike lanes to improve safety for cyclists as well as better transit options. He also discussed plans to change many of downtown’s one-way streets to two-way, which would facilitate bike safety by automatically encouraging cars to slow down.

Also on hand were state Rep. Roland Lemar and newly elected state Rep. Robyn Porter, and state Sens. Martin Looney and Gary Holder-Winfield. They talked about the passage of the Vulnerable Users bill, which will levy a $1,000 fine on motorists who can be proven to have recklessly injured or killed pedestrians, cyclists, construction workers, or wheelchair users. Lemar, who bikes around town with his wife and kids, thanked members of Elm City Cycling and BikeWalkCT (for advocating for the bill.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro stopped by to express her support for biking. She’s a member of the House Bike Caucus, whose members are sponsoring the Safe Streets Act, which would require Metropolitican Planning Organizations to take into account the ​“safety, interests and convenience of all users” in the design of federal transportation projects.

The rain held off until the event ended.