Latest News
eBikes. Can nothing be free of Albany politics?
By Edward Busk on 1/30/20 updated 1/31/20
We are delighted to see New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed bringing eBike state law into line with federal law, but there are some curious complexities he's added to this legislation.
But first: why would anyone want an eBike? Rather than an ordinary bicycle?Cycling in hot or hilly areas can be very challenging. A short trip to the shops and back if you live at the top or bottom of a steep hill is miserable. With hills and heat any kind of injury or strain, or lack of fitness, excludes cycling (eBikes.
Baby It’s Cold Outside. Let’s Go For a Bike Ride!
By Dave Zornow on 1/09/20 updated 1/31/20
For most people who ride for recreation, bicycling is a three season sport. However, local road and mountain bike cyclists say winter can be a great time to get outdoors…if you have the proper gear, clothing, and positive attitude.
Why ride in the winter when there are warmer options like spin classes or stationary bikes you can ride at home? "There's an unmistakable feeling of riding on crunchy dirt," says mountain bike enthusiast Anthony DeVanzo, co-owner and chef at Nyack's Velo Restaurant (Baby It’s Cold Outside.Bikers Beware: Handling Drivers' Road Rage While Cycling
by John Daugherty, BTCNJNew York State Trooper Briana Martinez was the featured speaker at the Nov 2019 Rockland Bicycling Club meeting. Here are a few takeaways from her talk. BTCNJ Advocacy and Safety Chairperson John Daughtery was also in attendance and wrote up these notes for the Dec 2019 edition of the MasterLink newsletter.
Regarding Road Rage
- While road rage and/or confrontation is not acceptable at any time, bike riders should obey all traffic laws so as not to antagonize an already
RBC Advocates for eBikes
Without Borders in New York
A bill before the legislature in New York State would give a green light to eBikes in NYC but effectively pull the plug on their rollout anywhere else in the Empire State. S. 5294-A, which includes language that would allow municipalities to ban eBikes.The Rockland Bicycling Club is opposed to any legislation that lets counties, towns, or villages ban eBikes. As it is currently written, these rules will effectively limit eBikes' usage as a green and healthy transportation alternative. Having a patchwork system of rules for each locality in a county, with some of them outlawing e-bikes completely, is unworkable, and likely unenforceable, too.
Last year's bill allowed municipalities to ban e-scooters. This year's amended legislation expands that ban to eBikes. Although it might be convenient for Albany to lump both scooters and eBikes together, they are different. eBikes have a longer range (up to 50 miles on a charge) than scooters. Pedal assisted bicycles, which can make the make Rockland's formidable hills melt away, can encourage people to leave their cars at home and embrace green commuting.
Confronting climate change will require changing behaviors. Half of Rockland's greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. Why would we want to create roadblocks for our residents who want to pedal to a healthier future?
Here's a link to a letter the RBC sent to the transportation committee chairs of the NYS Assembly and Senate on this issue.
President Michael Hays Mike Hays
Board Member Stephen Brehl
Board Member Ernie DiGiacomo
Board Member Rita Joachim
Board Member Paul Kadin
Board Member Lynwood Law
Board Member Ed Molina
Board Member Lila Moreno
Board Member Roseanne Schwartz
Board Member Cynthia Turner
Board Member Dave Zornow