Navigating New Hampshire’s Urban Paths
“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring.”
— Desmond Tutu, Archbishop of Cape Town, Nobel winner
Hello New Hampshire! I hope you’re soaking up the early September sun! And don’t forget to vote in the upcoming primary, if your town has one!
Let’s talk about:
- GACIT Hearings
- Pedals & Paces Podcast
- BWANH monthly Newsletter
- Week Without Driving
GACIT Hearings
GACIT Hearings are public hearings about the state’s ten-year-plan regarding all forms of transportation around the state. It’s a chance to hear about highways, streets, buses, cycling, and the related opinions of your other fellow citizens.
The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation (GACIT), which is made up of the five Executive Councilors and the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, hold public hearings across the state every two years on their 10 year plan.
See the DOT’s press release on this topic here.
One of the hearings will be in Manchester on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 6 p.m., Manchester Community College, 1066 Front St, Manchester. Anyone may attend, these are open to the public.
The purpose of these hearings is to receive public comments / testimony on transportation projects and priorities included in the draft 2027-2036 Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan.
Here is a URL which describes some expected changes to the ten year plan.
It looks like many projects have been delayed, and many more have been cancelled altogether. Not surprising given the state’s well publicized budgetary hardships.
So why should you care and why is it important for you to attend?
It’s important because the DOT and Executive Counsel hold these meetings so they get feedback from the public to determine if changes need to be made to the plan before it’s finalized.
How to speak at these public meetings? It can be intimidating, but remember, the state holds these meetings because they WANT your input. So give it! But to be most effective, it’s best to prepare some notes before hand. At least a few bullet points so you can be sure you don’t miss any important items. Trust me, you may think you’ll remember everything you want to say, but once you’re in the room in front of a bunch of people, even the most important ideas have a way of fleeing from your head. Also, there could be many speakers so you should limit your time, probably to 3 minutes or less.
And your attendance is important because there is never enough focus within each project on active transportation (i.e., cycling, running, walking). This is your chance to express concern and interest in having them include active transportation in each project so that it will actually make a difference on the roads.
Getting the commissioners to focus on bringing design speeds to target speeds is important, and a good question to ask.
Asking how the NH Ped-Bike Plan of 2023 is incorporated into any project is a good question.
Asking if the design engineer on each project actually biked the road to get the perspective of the cyclists and other vulnerable road users as recommended in the 2024 NHTSA assessment.
And I am sure you have many, many more questions regarding active transportation.
The more people that ask questions about active transportation, the more it’s heard and the higher the priority it becomes.
See you there on September 16, after you vote in the primary!
You can also send written comments to:
William E. Watson, P.E.
Bureau of Planning and Community Assistance
New Hampshire Department of Transportation
John O. Morton Building, 7 Hazen Drive
P.O. Box 483
Concord, NH 03302-0483
Pedals & Paces Podcast
A a new podcast is available from the Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire. Tune Into Pedals & Paces! It may become your go-to podcast for bike and pedestrian safety!
Are you ready to join a conversation that matters? Pedals & Paces is a platform dedicated to educating, advocating, and celebrating all things related to bike and pedestrian safety—all while keeping it entertaining!
Each episode will dive deep into crucial topics that impact cyclists and pedestrians alike. From safety tips and community stories to expert interviews, the mission is clear: to make our streets safer for everyone.
Here’s what you can expect when you tune in:
– Engaging Discussions: Hear from passionate advocates and everyday riders about their experiences.
– Safety Insights: Learn practical tips that can help you navigate the roads more safely.
– Community Celebration: Discover events and initiatives that promote a culture of safety and respect.
Whether you’re an avid cyclist, a pedestrian, or simply someone who cares about community safety, Pedals & Paces has something for you! Subscribe today on Spotify and the Apple podcast platform or listen directly from our website and be part of the movement towards safer streets!
You can also find it on Podcast Republic here.
BWANH monthly Newsletter
The Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire also publishes a newsletter once a month, called THE ADVOCATE. Here’s a link to the latest edition.
A Week Without Driving
It’s never too early to think about this. If you can drive and afford a car, you may not understand what it’s like to rely on walking, rolling, transit, and asking for rides. But for nearly a third of people living in the United States – people with disabilities, young people, seniors, and people who can’t afford cars or gas – this is every normal day for them.
Here’s the challenge: take one full week of your life, and intentionally, specifically, do not drive yourself in a car during that week, to learn firsthand about the barriers and challenges faced by non-drivers.
Here in southern New Hampshire, the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commision [SNHPC] is a local partner in this event, which occurs Monday, 29 September – Sunday, 5 October. I suspect that taking part in this will not be easy, but it may be extremely worthwhile.
Call for Input
We very much want to hear from you! Do you have any questions or concerns? What topics would you like us to cover? Send your feedback our way and we’ll get on it! We want to ensure this column meets your needs.
Stay safe, cool, and hydrated, and have fun out there!
Note: The author is a member of the board of the Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire, but the views expressed in this article are his own.