DotBike Update!

Written by Boston Biker on Sep 11

DotBike Rules! They have been really busy, check it below!

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Lot’s of great stuff going on this month. As always check out www.dotbike.org for more info and updates.

Advocacy – see below for details

• Making Franklin Park Officially Bike Friendly – Sunday Sep/t 13th noon at the clubhouse – join us!
• Help out with bike and motor vehicle counts in Boston for Boston Bikes – now through Sept 25th.
• Things are looking up for Talbot Ave. bike lane, time to focus on Blue Hill
• Take the MassBike Survey if you haven’t already and spread the word.

Rides and Events – more info below

• Ride and Q & A with Lance Armstrong’s personal coach Chris Carmicahael – Thursday Sept. 17th 3:30 p.m. Belmont Wheel works
• Bikes-not-Bombs 25th Anniversary Party – Friday Sept. 25th 7:00 p.m. Spontaneous Celebrations
• 45 Danforth Street, Jamaica Plain
• TD Bank Mayor’s Cup Professional Bicycle Race & Concert – Saturday Sept. 26th 2:00 p.m City Hall Plaza
• Hub on Wheels City Wide Ride – Sunday Sept. 27th 8:00 a.m. City Hall Plaza

Save the Date for these events in early October

• Boston Tweed Ride – Sunday October 4th, 2PM – Save the date and plan your outfit.
• Somerville Arts Honk Parade – Sunday October 11th – 12PM

Making Franklin Park Officially Bike Friendly

We had a nice turnout and made a good start on mapping the numerous paths in Franklin Park as the first part in the effort to get the ‘no bikes allowed in the park’ regulation removed from the city’s book.  We need your help Sunday to finish the job!  Even though this is not enforced, both the Franklin Park Coalition and Boston Bikes consider this a very imp[ortant effort in enabling all kinds of improvements to paths and biking in the park.

Join us to finish the job this Sunday September 13th at noon.  Help measure paths and mix and mingle with fellow bike riders.  Meet in front of the Franklin Park golf clubhouse.  We’ll head out to measure, then meet back at the club house to socialize and snack.

Help Boston Bikes with traffic counts

Boston Bikes urgently needs volunteers to help count rush hour bike traffic into Boston. Every year Boston Bikes collects traffic counts of cyclists and vehicles at 20 locations throughout Boston. This data helps us track ridership and ultimately evaluate the effectiveness of our bike programs. Dorchester count locations include Blue Hill Ave. at Glenway and Dot Ave. and Columbia.  Volunteer to count (or ride and be counted!)

 
This volunteer opportunity is very flexible! The counts have already started, and will finish up by the end of September. Counts take place during weekday rush hours (7-9am, 4-6pm), and a few on weekend afternoons (1-3pm). Please go to the online signup sheet to volunteer for specific dates and locations.

 
The direct link to sign up is here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tv9Uf0f_2fBg9AzJ6s14XvOw_3d_3d. 

Bike lanes in Dorchester

Recently we’ve been focused on advocating for a bike lane the length of Talbot Ave.  Well we’ve recently heard some positive news.  Repaving Talbot is going to happen as part of the stimulus money going to Mass Highway.  The city is pushing to adding a lane to Talbot going so far as to submit the design for a lane as part of the overall plan for this street.  While the state controls the project Boston Bikes is working hard to ensure that the lane is included as part of the implementation.  A promising step forward.

However, it’s also come to our attention that Boston Bikes would really love to get bike lanes on Blue Hill Ave. as part of road redesign resulting from the new 28X bus service.  But so far input from the community around bike accommodations has been lacking.  If you’d like to see a bike friendlier Blue Hill Ave. you can contact the MBTA, Transportation Secretary Alosi directly, or contact Dot Bike.  We’ll be organizing and effort to collect comments to submit to the relevant people and groups.

Take the MassBike Survey

We’ve mentioned this before but if you still haven’t done so please take the survey and spread the word to your fellow cyclists and drivers alike. 

MassBike is very concerned about the level of misinformation and anger apparent in the Globe pieces and many comments posted online by readers. They are actively working to understand what is behind it and target appropriate education and outreach. One step forward is a quick online survey that they have just launched.

The data collected from this survey will help MassBike more effectively target their educational and advocacy efforts. To take the survey, click on the link below. And please forward the link to every Massachusetts motorist and bicyclist you know – the more responses we get, the better.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kE_2fACgBjiW0oE09JZfAW5w_3d_3d

Lance Armstrong’s coach makes exclusive New England stop and Belmont Wheelworks

on Thursday Sept. 17th.  

Ride with him at 2 p.m. if you sign up in advance or come for a reception/book signing at 6:30 p.m/

 Love staying in shape? No time for exercise? Think Lance Armstrong is awesome?  Two words for you: Chris Carmichael, who’ll be in town to sign his new book, The Time Crunched Cyclist, and to answer your questions in person about how to fit some reasonable riding into your unreasonable schedule. 

The event will begin with a 2-hour group ride for up to 40 local cyclists led by Carmichael.   All riders should be intermediate level or more advanced and be able to maintain a 17 to 19 mph pace.  After the ride, the public is invited to a clinic and book signing reception sponsored by GU Energy Labs at the Belmont WHEELWORKS.  You have to register for the ride by emailing events@wheelworks.com and all are welcome to the book signing reception later in the evening.

Bikes-not-Bombs 25th Anniversary Party
Friday, September 25th, 2009 – 7 pmat: Spontaneous Celebrations – 45 Danforth St. – Jamaica Plain
http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/25years

Join us on Friday, September 25th, as we celebrate 25 years of accomplishments and recognize BNB’s founder and current International Programs Director, Carl Kurz, before he departs for a two year sabbatical.

The party will feature:
• Live music by Sol y Canto!
• A special auction of framed BNB photographs
• Fresh, local food from Vanguarden Farm
• Food prepared by Executive Chef Brian Sway of Hingham’s Scarlet Oak Tavern
• Dessert (baklavah!) by Chef Amir Sedhom of Amir’s Caterers

• Beer by Sam Adams
• Valet bike parking by MassBike

Tickets are available online or at the Bikes Not Bombs Bike Shop in Jamaica Plain. They are priced on a sliding scale: $50, $85, or $100. We also invite you to be an event sponsor.  The event is 21+.  See http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/25years.

TD Bank Mayor’s Cup Pro Race & Concert
On September 26, catch some of the country’s top professional cyclists as they compete in the inaugural TD Bank Mayor’s Cup Pro Race and turn the streets surrounding City Hall Plaza into a fast-paced, action-packed race course. There will also be a kids race, a mascot race and free concert on City Hall Plaza following the day’s festivities!www.tdbankmayorscup.com

Hub On Wheels
The next day, on September 27, fans can go from watching the action to being the action. At the Hub On Wheels citywide bike ride you’ll have the chance to see some of Boston’s most beautiful neighborhoods and even get to ride down Storrow Drive with no cars to get in the way! www.hubonwheels.org

Don’t miss what’s sure to be the ride of the season. Sign up today!

Tags: awesome, Bike Lanes, DotBike
Posted in advocacy, news | 3 Comments »