Special Announcement on Facebook - AAA Northway Blue Sky Bicycles and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce are teaming up in support of better bike accommodations in Saratoga by creating, "a public education campaign to share best practices for motorists and cyclists traveling on local roads. This educational campaign involves videos with experts in driver and bicycle safety sharing best practices. Thank you to all of them for this important action as Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County move forward with so many new on-road trail projects in the coming years.” 

GROUPS UNITE TO CREATE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE SAFE USE OF BIKE LANES IN SARATOGA SPRINGS
The Saratoga Greenbelt Trail Committee wants to thank the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce for forging a new partnership with AAA Northway and Blue Sky Bicycles to create a public education campaign to promote the safe use of bike lanes, in Saratoga Springs and beyond.

The City installed bike lanes on North Broadway more than one year ago and is now considering a proposal to design bike lanes on Lake Avenue. The City worked with the Saratoga Spa State Park and New York State DOT to install a signalized crosswalk to safely connect the Railroad Run Trail with trails in the state park. Bridge improvements at Exits 14 and 15 both included space for cyclists. CDTA and CDPHP have also established a popular bike sharing program that is increasing bicycle travel within the City by visitors.

AAA Northway is a leading provider of roadside assistance with member benefits now for both automobile drivers and cyclists. They are one of the most active advocates for the welfare of the traveling public and will teach safe driving strategies as part of this public education campaign.

Blue Sky Bicycles is a local business started in 1998, located on Church Street, in Saratoga Springs. Their team has an undying passion for cycling. They share their knowledge through clinics, rides, and workshops. They will help to teach safe cycling strategies as part of this public education campaign.

The public education campaign will include the production of a series of educational videos. These videos will feature representatives from AAA Northway and Blue Sky Bicycles. Each will provide tips and suggestions for drivers and cyclists to safely navigate streets with bike lanes. The videos will be offered for free to area schools, colleges, the City, and shared via social media.

“This is terrific news,” said Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan. “Bike lanes are known to calm and slow traffic. The offering of an education safety component as the city looks to provide these and future bike lanes will help to ensure better safety on our streets for all.”

“As Saratoga Springs adds facilities to make walking and biking safer and more attractive, it is important to remind our citizens and guests that the rules of the road apply to pedestrians and cyclists as well as automobiles,” said Commissioner of Public Safety Peter Martin.

The plan is to film these educational videos, on Lake Avenue, in Saratoga Springs, after this road is painted with bike lanes to illustrate how best everyone can safely share this road. The tips and suggestions, however, will be generic enough to apply to all streets in the City and beyond to ensure a bigger reach and impact as more people chose to ride bicycles in our area.