June 2025 Newsletter: What a New Haven Bike Month It Was!
- NCAT Info
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Thank you to all our partners, sponsors, volunteers and participants for your generosity and commitment to host at least 35 different events celebrating 10 years of New Haven Bike Month.
Here it is by the numbers:
rides (19)
classes (7)
bike to work breakfasts (4)
bike/walk/roll to school events (3)
press conferences (2)
Below are photos from the May events and logos from our Bike Month sponsor
NCAT educators, David Beers, David Joyner, and Elias Estabrook (pictured with young participant) hosted a youth cycling skills ‘rodeo’ at Fair Haven Day. Participants practiced balance and safe bike handling. The first 20 participants walked away with a free set of bike lights (courtesy of the Greater New Haven Green Fund).
Legislative Wrap Up! - Active transportation, affordable housing and land use advocates have a lot to celebrate following the Wednesday June 4 adjournment of the Connecticut General Assembly! Please ask Gov. Lamont to sign these bills into law.
HB5002 is the most important housing and land use reform bill to come out of Hartford in a generation. New housing (including middle housing) built near existing transit is supported and its approval is streamlined, new parking lot construction is left up to residential developers instead of an awkward maze of towns mandating different minimums, and municipalities building affordable housing are rewarded with opportunities. Read more here from Matthew Silber in the CT Mirror.
SB1377 with a bipartisan negotiated amendment from Sen. Tony Hwang, Sen. Christine Cohen and Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo allows for additional use of speed safety cameras on state highways and increased daylighting for pedestrian safety at crosswalks and intersections. It provides 50 percent discounts on bus passes for Veterans and persons 18 and under and directs CT Department of Transportation to enter into negotiations with school districts desiring to provide fare free bus rides to students experiencing transportation insecurity. The bill supports additional urban transit district funding. It requires helmets to be worn by cyclists 17 years old and under. Chronic speeders are addressed and a study of intelligent speed assistance devices (recommended by the state Vision Zero Council) is mandated. The Connecticut Public Transportation Council, which advises DOT on behalf of bus and rail riders, is provided with state supports for website/communications needs.
HB5004 strengthens climate action across state agencies
SB9 requires state and local governments to consider climate impacts and includes key resiliency provisions like flood insurance disclosures—advancing our state’s climate preparedness.
NCAT in the News - Fantastic coverage of NCAT's core mission, cycling education, from the New Haven Independent. Adult Ed participants, partners and Education Director Elias Estabrook were featured in this story by Maya McFadden. Check it out!
West River Park Walk Audit (June 29th) - Walk Audits are a fun, effective tool for building community to support infrastructure changes for increased safety. Join the West River Memorial Park Renewal Team for a walk audit at 1 pm on June 29th! With your help, the audit will assess the obstacles to safely accessing this incredible park. The focus will be on pedestrian and bike safety along the west edge of the park (Marginal Dr), the south edge of the park (Rt 1/ Boston Post Rd) and the east side of the park (Ella T Grasso Blvd). Please note that the .8 mile route includes walking on uneven grass, gravel, and/or pavement, which may be difficult to navigate with a mobility device.
Lael Wilcox Documentary Available Following World Publicity Tour - Alaskan endurance bicyclist and youth cycling coach Lael Wilcox set a Guiness World Record for riding around the world in 108 days, 12 minutes and 12 seconds. Her partner, Rugile Kaladyte, documented the 18,130-mile ride in a beautiful and inspiring 90-minute film. It's available free on her site.
Ride the State: Connecticut, June 28th - Organized by the East Coast Greenway Alliance, the route takes riders from the Canal Dock Boathouse in New Haven to Connecticut’s Old Statehouse in Hartford. Participants can return to New Haven via the Hartford Line, with free train tickets for the first 100 registered riders and affordable fares available at the station.
The majority of the ride follows the scenic paved Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and the Hartford Connector, including newly completed sections in Simsbury and Bloomfield. Midway, we’ll stop for lunch. Additional rest stops and a support vehicle will be available throughout the ride.
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