SABR : Seacoast Area Bicycle Routes

First Annual Portsmouth Bike Swap a Success - Big Crowd, Great Used Bikes, Lots of Fun!

It was Re-Cycling at Its Best! On Sunday, April 26 Papa Wheelies hosted the biggest bike swap to ever come to Seacoast New Hampshire. There was already a line at the entrance to the parking lot when the gates opened at 11:00am, and more than 130 bikes sold, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting SABR.

Call Papa Wheelies at 603.427.2060 with any questions if you dropped off a bike to be sold. Thanks to Papa Wheelies for partnering with SABR, and to all of the volunteers who made the First Annual Portsmouth Bike Swap happen. If you missed this one, keep your extra bikes in the basement and we'll see you next year for the 2nd Annual event!

Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation in Jeopardy?

What is the future of Memorial Bridge? It's up to you. You've probably ridden or walked your bike over the 88 year old structure. If you live in Portsmouth or Kittery you may rely on it as the sole connection for cyclists and pedestrians between the two communities. You may have cursed the treacherous metal grate decking of the lift span, but you'd heard the bridge was scheduled for rehabilitation and an upgrade to a more bike-friendly solid deck.

However, that rehabilitation is on hold now while Maine and New Hampshire undertake a $2 million, 18-month Bi-State Connections Study of cross-border travel patterns, the condition of both Memorial Bridge and the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, and whether three bridges are needed across the Piscataqua. Among the options the study will consider is replacing one or both lift bridges with a new high bridge that wouldn't require a lift to accommodate shipping on the river.

The study was commissioned by the two states after a low bid for rehabilitation of Memorial Bridge came in last summer at $59.5 million - $15 million more than budgeted.

Visit www.portsmouthbridges.com for more information.

"Three Foot Rule" Becomes Law in NH!

Governor John Lynch, in a public ceremony at the State House on July 18, signed House Bill 1203 into law.This law is designed to update NH laws and policies concerning many aspects of bicycling. HB 1203 was sponsored by Rep. Gene Anderson of Grafton County. The Bike-Walk Alliance of NH has been active in raising awareness of the need for the bill's provisions. SABR also submitted testimony on the bill.

The model for this legislation is the highly acclaimed State of Maine law enacted in June 2007 dubbed "the three foot rule" - motorists must pass bicyclists with at least a three-foot clearance. However, a lot more is included in the bill. Allowing bicyclists to pass stopped traffic on the right when safe to do so, using the correct turning lanes, and even establishing a state-wide policies for rumble strips, drain grate placement, and road surface treatments are included.

For more information go to: www.bwanh.org

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