Hauling freight by rail has significantly fewer impacts than moving freight by truck, the bicycle serves as a primary personal transport vehicle (particularly in the 3-mile or less trip category) and commuter, commuter, regional and high speed rail capture an increasing share of the travel and business travel markets from the automobile and air sectors.

Rail*Trains*Ecology*Cycling has evolved to become a significant voice  in the ‘bicycle on trains at peak hours’ movement.  Organizing regional cycling groups to advocate for improved bicycles on train conditions and policies more friendly toward cyclists on trains, Rail*Trains*Ecology*Cycling has effectively reached out to elected state officials and planners about securing dedicated parking areas for bicycles on trains and providing bike access to trains at all hours including peak hours. 

Rail*T*E*C also seeks to establish transcontinental high speed rail corridors and extension of the Northeast Corridor to both Miami, FL and Atlanta, GA.  With the passage of California’s Proposition 1A: Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century  on November 4, 2008 and President Obama’s commitment to the “development of high-speed rail networks across the country” now is time to put together Federal legislation that enables construction of national high speed rail corridors with American labor and American companies.  Translation: Retrain workers to enable Detroit & the rust belt to transform from a 20th century auto-centric manufacturing town to a 21st century  high tech-green high-speed & commuter rail transportation manufacturing hub.

In its earliest incarnations, starting as Rail Transit Environmental Coalition, advocacy was focused on increasing capacity on railroad right-of-ways primarily by double tracking.  That challenge is still very much in Rail*T*E*C’s sights as are investments in signalization upgrades, grade separation projects and replacing drawbridges with high level bridges.  Single track rail service, at grade crossings & drawbridges reduce safety and significantly limit rail service potential.

About Richard Stowe

Writer.  Richard Stowe has had 4 opinion-editorials published in the Hartford Courant since May of 2001.  His commentaries have also appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, New Haven Register, Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time, Danbury News-Times, New Britain Herald and San Francisco Examiner.  His Eco Man columns have appeared in the New Canaan Advertiser since March 2007.

Transportation Advocate.  Through Rail*Trains*Ecology*Cycling, Richard Stowe advocates for advancing bicycle rights on commuter trains, for seamless regional rail service and for high speed rail.  In the late 1990’s Mr. Stowe advocated for returning rail to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and in 2002 he formed the Rail Transit Environmental Coalition to advocate for upgrading single track railroad to at-grade double track through San Juan Capistrano, California.  Mr. Stowe was one of the first members to be appointed to the Connecticut Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board in the fall of 2009.  

Environmentalist.  Mr. Stowe has served on the boards of two 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental organizations, the New Canaan Environmental Group (since 2004) and the Environmental Council of Stamford (from 1996 to 2002.)  Prior to that he worked in the bicycle industry and the recycling industry.  Mr. Stowe has never owned a car.

Cyclist.  In September 2008, Mr. Stowe took a 4-day bicycle ride from New Canaan, CT to Washington D.C. (and back to New Canaan in another 4 days).  Prior to the ride, he raised $850 for Climate Ride.  On the morning of September 24, he joined 100 other Climate Riders in Leakin Park in Baltimore, MD to a ‘climate rally’ on the Senate Lawn outside U.S. Capitol.  Previously Mr. Stowe bicycled across the United States from South Beach to Santa Barbara.  He has also ridden the entire stretch of the Pacific Coast from Cabo San Lucas to the  Russian River in Sonoma County (rode from San Diego to Ensenada via  

Contact information for Richard Stowe.                                        

Via e-mail: bike.rail.politics@gmail.com          By phone: (203) 966-4387

Jason Stockmann, an organizer in New Haven, wrote a Hartford Courant editorial in the spring of 2008 advocating for bikes-on-trains at peak hours and bicycle parking on the Kawasaki Rail Car M-8 train cars ordered by Connecticut and New York.  In 2009, Mr. Stockmann traveled to Hartford to testify in favor of the bikes on trains legislation,  In February 2010, Mr. Stockmann was appointed to the Connecticut Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board.

Bio of Jason Stockmann 

Graduate Student.  Jason Stockmann is a graduate student at Yale University researching fast methods for magnetic resonance imaging. 

Sustainability advocate.  Mr. Stockmann supports public policy that encourages sustainability and promotes alternatives to fossil fuel dependence.  Mr. Stockmann was appointed to Elm City Cycling, New Haven’s cycling advocacy group.

Bicyclist.  Mr. Stockmann does not have a car and relies on his bicycle every day for commuting, grocery shopping, recreation and fitness.

Musician. Mr. Stockmann is an amateur pianist and classical music lover.

Contact information for Jason Stockmann.

Via e-mail: bauhaus2@gmail.com                    By phone: (315) 450-3309