Hello, I'm Bill Eisenreich, president of the New York Bicycling Coalition.

Here in New York State, citizens want the freedom to travel from their home to work, school or any other place as safely as possible. Our federal, state and local governments are charged with the duty to facilitate safe and efficient travel. It is one of the primary functions of modern government.

Bicycling and walking are the most efficient and cost effective means of transportation and recreation we have. Encouraging these activities will provide triple dividends for New Yorkers; improved health and well being, reduced dependency on expensive energy and a much lower impact on natural resources.

Unfortunately, the needs of the non-motorized traveler in the past century have largely been ignored. It's no wonder that many people now perceive walking and bicycling as dangerous activities. At the same time, health officials are warning us on the dangers that inactive lifestyles create. We must change this for New York residents and visitors in the twenty-first century.

Our mission, as a non-profit organization, is to promote a safer environment for people of this state that prefer walking and cycling over motorized travel. As a result, we have become partners with the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. Their visionary campaign for safer communities is funding this study and the process development.

All of us involved in this project believe that providing safe roadway conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians in New York is essential for improving the quality of life in our communities.

The material organized here is designed to initiate a long and extensive process of improvement. We value your contributions and appreciate your concern for a safer New York. Any and all input helping our ongoing efforts to make our state the leader in this regard is most welcome.

Thank you for your present and future support.