“Now, therefore, I, John S. Tonello, Mayor of the City of Elmira, do hereby proclaim May 2010 as BIKE MONTH in the City of Elmira and encourage all Elmirans to recognize the importance of bicycle safety and be more aware of cyclists on our streets.”

That’s it – the kicker to a recent proclamation by Elmira mayor John Tonello making May officially Bike Month in our area. I think it’s fantastic to have the value of bicycling officially announced – though of course for avid bike nuts like me and the members of the Finger Lakes Mountain Bike Club, Big Horn Velo, Bike & Walk Ithaca and the Southern Tier Bicycle League, any month it’s warm enough to ride is Bike Month!

As an Elmira Bicycle Accident Lawyer, I’m always concerned about issues of bicycling safety. Mayor Tonello mentioned in the proclamation (text included below) that the intent of Bike Month was to educate the general public about the importance and the prevalence of bicycling.

The Twin Tiers is practically a world-wide draw for great cycling. Finger Lakes Wine Country has some fantastic roads and views – just look at the popularity of the annual Bon Ton Roulet! There are great roads to ride around the most popular of the Finger Lakes – Seneca Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Keuka and Cayuga lakes. Bicyclists abound in cities such as Ithaca, Corning and the town of Big Flats. If you don’t visit the area because of the cycling opportunities, you must be tempted to ride because you live here!

Here’s the text of the proclamation naming May Bike Month in Elmira:

Whereas, for more than a century, the bicycle has been an important part of the lives of most Americans; and

Whereas, today millions of Americans engage in bicycling because it is a viable and environmentally sound form of transportation, an excellent way to stay fit, and provides quality family recreation; and

Whereas the education of cyclists and motorists as to the proper and safe operation of bicycles is important to ensure the safety and comfort of all; and

Whereas the Finger Lakes Mountain Bike Club and The Southern Tier Bicycle League are promoting  greater public awareness of bicycle operation and safety education in an effort to reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities,

Now, therefore, I, John S. Tonello, Mayor of the City of Elmira, do hereby proclaim May 2010 as BIKE MONTH in the City of Elmira and encourage all Elmirans to recognize the importance of bicycle safety and be more aware of cyclists on our streets.

Thanks for reading and RIDE SAFELY,

Jim
_______________________________________
James B. Reed, Esq.
NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com

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