Spring 2024

Commute Smart, Earn Rewards!

CommuteSmart New Hampshire is issuing their yearly spring bike challenge for 2024! All it takes is green commuting. We encourage you, your families and your coworkers to bike to work and school throughout the month of May 2024 and to celebrate National Bike to Work Day with us on Friday, May 17, 2024. CommuteSmart NH’s challenge runs May 1-31, 2024 and coincides with the 70th Annual National Bike to Work Day on May 17, 2024. 

New Hampshire residents can save on the cost of gasoline and have fun doing so by reducing their miles driven during the May Spring Bike Challenge. Decreasing the number of cars on the road also preserves the life of our existing roadways, reduces air pollution, minimizes time spent in traffic, and most importantly keeps you healthier and happier.

In May 2023, we accomplished much for the environment, our health, and our wallets, all through sustainable commuting. During last year’s challenge, collectively competing bike commuters eliminated 9,648 car trips- by biking, we drove a total of 71,075 miles less and prevented 60,674 pounds of carbon emissions discharged to the environment. Not to mention we saved 3,096 gallons of gas from being purchased. The savings at the pump and from wear and tear on our vehicles equaled a total of $44,422 during our 2023 Spring challenge. Through active transportation, our members burned 486,667 calories. It is amazing what 383 challenge participants can collectively do when they are committed to sustainable commuting!

This year’s event is a challenge to do even better than last year! Participants simply need to log in to record their green commuting miles. To begin participating, employers and schools should nominate a team captain to register their team by April 15, 2024. Individuals on those teams can register themselves anytime and begin logging their miles starting on May 1, 2024. Individuals who do not have employers participating in the challenge can still register themselves and also start logging their miles beginning on May 1, 2024. Registration using the CommuteSmart NH app is easy and all participants are eligible for great giveaways and coupons. 

CommuteSmart New Hampshire is a partnership between planning commissions, state agencies and transit providers. Smart commuting options include carpools, vanpools, public transportation, walking, biking, and telecommuting. CommuteSmart New Hampshire also seeks to educate employees and employers about the benefits of using these travel options and provides them with the resources they need to get started.  

SNHPC’s New Bike/Ped StoryMap

As you walk the trails found in the SNHPC region, do you ever find yourself contemplating how many people utilize these paths daily, hourly, or seasonally? SNHPC may be able to answer your trail volume questions with a beautiful, new, interactive map!

SNHPC is creating an interactive ArcGIS Esri StoryMap that will display regional bike and pedestrian counter locations and data collected at each. The functionality of this map allows viewers to scroll through all counter locations like a slideshow or zoom into a specific area to learn more about a given location. For counts that have been done multiple times, year-over-year summaries will be available.

The StoryMap is expected to be completed at the beginning of summer and a link will be available on the SNHPC bicycle and pedestrian webpage.



As always, if your town has any requests for bike-ped data, please use the “Request a Count” form on the SNHPC website: Found here

SNHPC Can Offer Your Town a

SADES Pedestrian Infrastructure Inventory

Like so many agencies, we strive for efficiency in the work we do and when we can couple that with assisting our member communities, that’s a real win-win. Where can we find both? UNH’s Technology Transfer Center (T2) with coordination from state agencies has developed the Statewide Asset Data Exchange System (SADES), a standardized process for collecting and sharing transportation access data across New Hampshire. One of the many elements collected and tracked is the Pedestrian Infrastructure Inventory, which conveniently captures a maintainable condition assessment of sidewalks, curb ramps, and crosswalks.

An inventory of pedestrian infrastructure conditions can help your town identify needed accessibility and safety improvements for pedestrians. Having pedestrian infrastructure conditions inventoried provides useful baseline information and can also aid in applying for grants and developing annual budgets.

Goffstown informed SNHPC that their recently-completed inventory will help them identify areas needing improvement in the Pinardville neighborhood, which is scheduled for pedestrian infrastructure improvements this summer.

More information can be found on the SADES website: https://www.nhsades.com/



Interested in an inventory in your town? Please reach out to Anthony Summers, SNHPC Field Technician, at 603-669-4664 or asummers@snhpc.org for more information! 

Cycling Without Age

Founded in Copenhagen, Denmark by Ole Kassow in 2012, Cycling Without Age (CWA) is a global grassroots movement. Volunteers (pilots) sign up for bike rides with the elderly as often or as rarely as they want. As of February 2023, more than 3,050 chapters around the world offer Cycling Without Age from well over 4,900 trishaws – and the numbers are still growing. More than 39,000 trained pilots ensure the elderly get out of their nursing homes, on bikes to enjoy the fresh air and the community around them. They give them the right to have wind in their hair.

There’s always room for expansion! If you or someone you know would like to learn more about opening a Cycling Without Age chapter in your community, please reach out to Amy for more details. (amyjwchan@gmail.com)  

Did you know that there is a well-established chapter of CWA right here in the Granite State? Amy Chan is the friendly face of CWA Lebanon, one of a minority of US chapters open to the public and the first chapter directly affiliated with a rail trail (Northern Rail Trail). Featuring a manager/coordinator, three captains, 27 trishaw pilots, and 120 passengers – many of whom are in their 80s – CWA Lebanon makes a profound difference in individuals’ lives.

Making Meaningful Change, One Bike at a Time

Across New Hampshire, mobility managers are making partnerships with various agencies to create employment opportunities and help people get to where they need to go. 

Scott Boisvert, Region 2 Mobility Manager, partnered with Project Bike Tech, Carroll County Recycled, and Carroll County Department of Corrections to introduce a new course to the Carroll County Jail inmates. The course is designed to introduce inmates to the many career pathways within the vast bike industry, as well as prepare them for entry-level positions as bike technicians with a concentration in:

• Career preparation and development
• Technical and mechanical skill development, shop safety, proper use of tools, and bike and tool vocabulary.

While going through the curriculum, students are building brand new bikes as well as servicing used bikes that are then donated for free to other inmates and people in need throughout the communities. Upon course completion, students receive a certificate listing the skills they’ve learned, a serviced bike for themselves should they choose, help with resume writing and even help securing employment upon release. Project Bike Tech and Carroll County Jail has already congratulated four students who’ve completed the certificate program and will now be seeking employment in the industry.

Carroll County Recycled aims to provide an alternate means of transportation to those in need, from children learning to ride to everyday transportation for workers to seniors looking to improve quality of life. They take in used bikes and have them serviced through local partnerships with bike shops or have them become part of the Project Bike Tech certification program at the Carroll County Jail as well as Kennett High School. Between September 2023 and March 2024, Carroll County Recycled has taken in 170 used bikes and redistributed over 110.

Donna Marceau, Region 7 Mobility Manager, has done a lot of work with the Gate City Bike Coop in Nashua. Gate City Bike Coop repairs used bikes that are donated to them and offers them at no cost to low-income residents of the greater Nashua area, distributing up to 50 bikes a month. Donna works with Gate City Bike Coop to develop their strategic plan, distribute bike vouchers to people in need of bikes, assisting in bike giveaways, and coordinating their scheduling.

SNHPC Seeks Another Awesome Planner!

Would you like to become part of the amazing SNHPC Planning Team?

Please review our job opportunity and consider applying: 

https://www.snhpc.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif5006/f/news/24-0208_planner_job_advert.pdf

SNHPC Commissioner Spotlight

Bill Jean, Bedford

I was asked to join the SNHPC by the Bedford Planning Director. Having volunteered in our community on several boards and commissions, including the Historic District Commission, Planning Board, Zoning Board, Sewer and Water Commission, Highway Safety Committee and as an elected Town Councilor, I thought it would be a great venue to carry forward my professional and volunteer experience and wisdom to a broader planning arena.  

Upon receiving my architectural education, I returned to New Hampshire and worked for a structural engineering firm before joining a mid-size architectural firm in Londonderry where I served as a project lead for 10 years. For the past 23 years I have been working for a Construction Management /Development firm practicing responsible construction and development throughout NH and Northern MA. 

Additionally, I have volunteered on the Plan NH Board of Directors, serving as president for two years, and the Board of Directors for NH Commercial Board of Realtors. I have lived in Bedford for 36 years with my wife Sandy where we raised our two daughters. 

Farewell to a Member of SNHPC History

Honoring Manindra "Moni" N. Sharma

Moni’s long tenure at SNHPC was before my time, and I did not know him personally. Still, I want to recognize him for the legendary figure that he was in the history of SNHPC, including making the deal with the City of Manchester to purchase the old Rimmon School building that has become SNHPC’s stronghold. Because of his efforts, we have had the good fortune to not only have a central location to house our staff and our Commission meetings, but we also have monthly income from our tenant, Holy Cross Family Learning Center.

Moni was well known to be a shrewd administrator, but also knowledgeable in the field of planning. He was instrumental in linking regional planning commissions with the state by inspiring RSA 36, which established regional planning commissions as political subdivisions of the state.

Tim Murphy, Executive Director at Southwest Regional Planning Commission had this to say:

“I worked with Moni for several years and your description is spot on. Especially about his sense of humor and strengths as an administrator. He never hesitated to speak his mind in blunt fashion - regardless of the rank of the individual(s) on the receiving end. This was professionally illuminating and instructional for me all those years ago, although I've never achieved his level of boldness in this respect.”

Londonderry Commissioner Art Rugg called him “unforgettable”. He noted that Moni recruited him to serve on the Commission. “I said I work in Boston; I can’t attend any of the meetings,” but Moni said that was OK, I should join the Commission anyway.

In August 1980 when appointed Executive Director, Moni is quoted in SNHPC’s newsletter: “I am deeply honored to have been selected for the job… regional planning has a lot of problems ahead of it, primarily due to our sagging economy and federal funding cutbacks. It will be a real challenge to stay afloat and make best use of our meager resources during these trying times.”

As the present Executive Director of Southern NH Planning Commission, I want to thank Moni for laying the foundation of this amazing agency. We will continue to carry the torch of excellence as Moni did during his incredible 30 years of leadership and service.

Have you thought of becoming a Commissioner?

Our volunteers often come from Planning Boards, Conservation Commissions, or other land use boards. We currently need regular members and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) representatives.

Need information on what a Commissioner/MPO representative does? Look no further! We have a Commissioner factsheet available to anyone wanting more information: click here!

SNHPC is currently seeking Commissioners from Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Chester, Deerfield, Derry, Hooksett, Manchester, New Boston, Weare and Windham.

To learn more, visit https://www.snhpc.org/about-snhpc/pages/commission, and if you want to volunteer, contact your local community planning office or governing officials.