MassBike Update
Written by Boston Biker on Apr 22From Massbike:
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What do the Northampton Tweed Ride, Jamaica Plain Free Pancake Breakfast, Franklin Bike Rodeo, and over 170 other local bike events around Massachusetts all have in common? They are all part of Bay State Bike Week, the annual celebration of human-powered transportation across Massachusetts. With temperatures quickly rising, it’s time to polish off that dirty bike you’ve been riding all winter, or dust off the one that’s been idling through the coldest months, and get ready for this year’s festivities.
Every year, bike enthusiasts across Massachusetts plan events in their communities. Events range from bike safety classes for children to rides of silence to commuter breakfasts and beyond. Last year’s festivities even included a tour of Pioneer Valley wineries! This year’s Bay State Bike Week will be from May 10 through May 18. Visit theBay State Bike Week website to learn about events happening in your local area, how to plan an event, or to add your event to the calendar. Be sure to like Bay State Bike Week on Facebook, follow on Twitter, and keep up to date with the hashtag
#BSBW.
Bay State Bike Week is a partnership between MassBike, MassDOT, and MassRIDES, in collaboration with local advocacy leaders, bike shop owners, and anyone else who likes seeing others go by bike. Click here to view in your web browser
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 Last Thursday, advocates for better walking and biking came together for the 3rd annual Massachusetts Bike/Walk Summit at the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill. Organized in partnership between MassBike and WalkBoston, the summit was an opportunity for attendees to meet with their elected leaders and talk about about the importance of promoting active transportation around the Commonwealth.
The keynote speaker this year was Department of Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett, who talked about the Mass in Motion program and how expanding opportunities for walking and biking will be necessary for achieving important public health outcomes like reducing obesity and associated chronic diseases and bringing down health care costs.
This year’s topics of discussion with lawmakers were the two safety bills, theVulnerable Road Users Bill and the Bike Lane Protection Bill, the importance of continued funding for Mass in Motion programs, the necessity of gas tax indexing for meeting statewide mode shift goals, and increasing funding for Department of Conservation and Recreation to ensure adequate maintenance and staffing of their facilities.
Click here to read the full summary
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Residents of Easthampton and surrounding communities in the Pioneer Valley will have to seek alternate routes if they are planning to travel along the Manhan Rail Trail corridor this spring and summer. MassBike’s Pioneer Valley Chapter(MassBike PV) reported the closure on Facebook yesterday. The closure is due to construction related to the Pioneer Mills Project, and portions of the trail will be closed through June. MassBike PV has provided a helpful map of the construction area and suggested detours. The Manhan Rail Trail has a total length of 6 miles within Easthampton and continues for several miles into Northampton where it connects with a system of trails in that city. Follow MassBike PV on Facebook for regular updates. Do you have any updates about this project to report? Please let us know at [email protected]. Click here to view in your web browser |
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Which bike tour takes you along scenic routes through quaint Central Massachusetts towns, including stops at swimming holes, homemade ice cream stands, and even a Trappist beer brewery, and let’s you pedal along at your own pace while chatting with the new friends you just made at breakfast? The Mass BikePike Tour does, of course!
Now in it’s seventh year, this tour, designed to appeal to riders with a range of experience and abilities, proudly calls itself “The Friendliest Ride in the East”. This year’s tour will take place August 7 – 10.
The tour starts in Shirley, and riders will explore the apple country, visit the 18th century utopia of Harvard, savor the all-day breakfast at old-fashioned classic dinerin Oxford, and try to pick which town green is the most beautiful – it’s a tough call! Along with the beautiful scenery, riders can look forward to the climb to the top ofPurgatory Chasm. Beer-lovers will enjoy the chance to ride by the monastery that is the first and only certified Trappist Beer brewery in the United States!
Each evening features a pre-dinner “social hour”, a nightly campfire/stargazing, and optional field trips to local attractions. The Mass BikePike Tour is affordably priced and all proceeds benefit MassBike. The tour is fully supported with cues, arrows, sag vehicles, rest stops and staff.
Spaces go quickly, so sign up now to reserve your space! The tour also offers volunteer spots to offset the cost of signing up. For more information, please visitwww.massbikepike.org.
Click here to view in your web browser
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| Volunteers make up a huge part of our success, so we want to make volunteering with us even better. Anyone who volunteers ten hours of their time will automatically earn a MassBike membership. TUESDAY, MAY 13: MassBike Volunteer Night
5:30 – 8:00 PM | MassBike Office | 171 Milk St, Suite 33 | Boston, MA 02109 Join us for free pizza and cold beer (generously provided by Harpoon) at our monthly volunteer night. This is your opportunity to help your state-wide bicycle advocacy group while having a good time and meeting great people. Space is limited, so please RSVP if you’d like to join us.
Volunteers help MassBike send out our monthly membership renewal reminders, prepare membership packets, and help out with other activities.
Be sure to RSVP for Volunteer Night with [email protected]!
FRIDAY, MAY 16 & SATURDAY, MAY 17: Radio 92.9 Earth Fest Multiple Shifts | DCR Hatch Shell | Storrow Drive | Boston, MA 02116 MassBike will once again be providing free bike valet parking at Radio 92.9 Earth Fest on Saturday, May 17. Volunteers will help bike valet with bike valet setup on Friday evening and Saturday morning, and with running bike valet during the event. Multiple shifts will be available and details will be announced shortly.
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This little video shows snippet of everyday life in one of our favorite cycling countries, the Netherlands, where roughly 20% of all trips are made by bicycle.
Can you picture what Massachusetts might look like with 20% of all trips made by bicycle?
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| SATURDAY, APRIL 26 |
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