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News, Events, Updates
Urban Foraging And Bike Tour TONIGHT
Written by Boston Biker on Jun 14Last minute, but you could run over after work and it looks awesome.
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Friday, June 14th, 5:30 pm
Nick Woebske and Galen Mook lead a bike tour at dusk around the perimeter of the Alewife Reservation. Edible plant expert David Craft, will educate riders on the vast amount of edible plants in the area at periodic stops. David has authored books on foraging, and does walks through out the Boston area.
Galen Mook is a bicycle instructor and ride-leader in the greater Boston area, with several years of experience working with Boston Bikes, the City of Cambridge, MassBike, and his own non-profit CommonWheels. He leads rides in and around the region (sometimes with musical accompaniment when he’s on his “drum bike”) and he truly enjoys showing off the area’s bike-ability to those who may be new to biking in an urban setting. For this event, he will be leading a casual, slow-paced and organized tour of the reservation, including a picnic at the end of the trip.
Bring a small snack and water bottle for picnic.
Sponsored by the Friends of Alewife Reservation. Participants will meet at the at the passenger pickup of the Alewife T-stop in Cambridge. Visit www.friendsofalewifereservation.org for updated information or call (617) 415-1884.
more details here (pdf)Go Green Edible Plant Bike Tour Flyer
Tags: alewife, bike tour, edible plants
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Boston Police District C-11 Presents Summer Safety Day & Bike Rodeo
Written by Boston Biker on Jun 13Saturday, June 15, 2013
10:00am until 2:00pm in EDT
4 Hilltop Street, Dorchester, MA 02124
Also present will be The Boston Society of Vulcans (Safety Town),
the the Boston Retired Police Officer’s Code Blue and Dot Bike
• Children ages 4-12 years and parents welcome
• Safety Info for Kids and Parents
• Bring your bike and helmet
• Fun Bike Games and Agility Test
• Cool Bike Helmets — Free as supplies last!
• Free raffle for two 20” kids bikes!
Thank you to all our sponsors and contributors!
Call the C-11 Community Service Office
at 617-343-4524 for more information
Tags: bike rodeo, kids, safety
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MassBike PARTY!
Written by Boston Biker on May 31
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Tags: Bike party, do this, fun, massbike
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Charles River Ride
Written by Boston Biker on May 31Looks like a great time! More here.
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Saturday, June 1, 2013 2:00pm in EDT
What better way to welcome the summer months than with a classic Boston ride? We’ll meet at the Allston Village Farmers Market and ride down the Esplanade to Charlestown, and return up Memorial Drive in Cambridge, ending at Riverfest on the Cambridge side. We hope to see you on this recreational, friendly ride that takes place almost entirely off the streets.
Here’s a rough map: http://goo.gl/maps/gEBHM
And here’s some info on Riverfest: http://
Tags: Charles river ride, fun, summer
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MassBike Mega Update
Written by Boston Biker on May 28From MassBike:
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Tags: bike night, fun, massbike
Posted in advocacy, fun, news | No Comments »
Bikes Not Bombs Mega Update
Written by Boston Biker on May 28Bike-A-Thon 2013 is only 5 days away! Register, Donate, Volunteer!
Sunday, June 2nd is just around the corner and Bikes Not Bombs needs YOU to join hundreds of riders for our biggest event and most important fundraiser of the year! Enjoy an amazing day of cycling while raising critical funds to support Bikes Not Bombs’ unique bicycle-based empowerment work in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and right here in Boston!
Choose from four scenic routes: a 15-mile ride that’s great for cyclists of all abilities, including families with children, a 25-mile ride that climbs into the Blue Hills, a 40-mile ride that’s filled with sweeping fields, babbling creeks, and shady groves, and a 65-mile ride that’s perfect for avid cyclists who want a challenge. Choose the ride that’s right for you, ride at your own pace, and have fun! Detailed route maps are available online.
All four Bike-A-Thon rides start and end at the park in front of the Stony Brook T Station on the Orange Line, at Lamartine and Boylston Streets in Jamaica Plain. Rides are fully supported with food, mechanics, cue sheets, rest stops, and following vehicles. You’ll be greeted at the finish line with gourmet lunch, live bands, face painting, and time to hang out with other cyclists. Riders also receive a limited edition 2013 Bikes Not Bombs t-shirt! Top individual fundraisers, teams, and youth are eligible for great prizes, like these awesome Aftershockz headphones, gift certificates to all sorts of cool places, and more!
There is a registration fee of $20 for folks 18 and older, and $10 for riders under 18. We try to make our ride as accessible as possible and keep a low fundraising requirement: $150 for riders 18 and older, $100 for riders 11-17, and $50 for riders ages 3-10. Once you register, you’ll receive an email packet with a pledge sheet and more info and you’ll also be able to make a personal fundraising webpage, which makes it easy for people to sponsor you online.
Find out more and register to ride today! And help spread the word on Facebook!
Nevis Earn-A-Bike is a grassroots youth bicycle program, modeled after BNB’s own Earn-A-Bike, that provides bicycle mechanics training, leadership development and bicycles to young people throughout the island of Nevis in the Eastern Caribbean. Nevis Earn-A-Bike provides opportunities for young people to learn more about bikes, develop tangible and useful skills in bicycle repair and leadership, and build cross-community friendships. This program is in partnership with the Department of Social Services of Nevis, and has plans to expand to the neighboring island of St. Kitts.
This shipment of about 500 bicycles and parts will supply the Nevis Earn-A-Bike, and potentially the St. Kitts Earn-A-Bike, for at least the next two years. We’ll be loading lots of 24″ bikes, BMX bikes and 26″ mountain bikes. Come and join us!
TIME: Sunday June 16th from 10am to 5pm. Drop in for an hour or stay all day!
LOCATION: The BNB warehouse at 10 Harvard Street in Dorchester
DETAILS: Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Equal Exchange coffee is generously donated by City Feed & Supply!
Click here for more information and to RSVP!
The Bikes Not Bombs Youth Bike-A-Thon team, “Team Swerve,” is putting the FUN in FUNdraising with an awesome and delicious event!
On Friday, May 24th, Team Swerve will be hosting the 2nd annual Super Soaker Scooper ‘Stravaganza from4-7 pm outside the Stony Brook T Station. Come on by and support our youth team by purchasing some delicious ice cream sundaes. Team Swerve is aiming to raise $4,000 and every dollar from this event will go directly to helping them reach their goal. Plus, who can say no to ice cream?? Read more, RSVP, and help spread the word on Facebook!
Feel free to contact Alumni Services Coordinator, Kenny at 617-522-0222 x102 or[email protected] for more information.
If you can’t make it, but still want to support the BNB Youth Team, you can donate online.
A bike drive is an event, often organized by a volunteer, to collect bicycles for Bikes Not Bombs. Large drives will sometimes bring in over 200 bikes! These drives help us extend our network of bike collection beyond our two locations in Jamaica Plain. If you have a bike to donate, you can always bring it to Jamaica Plain, but if you live further away, then hopefully you’ll be able to find a bike drive that is closer.
Upcoming Bike Drives:
- Carlisle, MA on Saturday, June 1st, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Sharon, MA on Saturday, June 8th, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- South Dartmouth, MA on Saturday, June 15th, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Sherborn, MA on Saturday June 15th 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Northampton, MA on Saturday June 22nd 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Beverly, MA on Saturday June 29th 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Want to help bring Bikes Not Bombs’ bike collection to your town? We’d love to have your helporganizing a bike drive
Village Bicycle Project is hiring a Cadbury Bicycle Factory Maintenance Training Coordinator – a 9-month position in Ghana, from September 2013 – June 2014. The Coordinator is needed to initiate, coordinate, implement and report on bicycle repair and maintenance training programs in remote villages where The Bicycle Factory has donated over 17,000 bicycles since 2009. The position is for 30 hours / week on average, and will require extensive traveling to as many as 150 villages.
Visit the Village Bicycle Project’s website for more information on this exciting position!
Bikes Not Bombs extends Kwame Bidi a warm farewell and heartfelt thank you. Kwame has worked with BNB for the past 9 months on a temporary contract as International Programs Associate. During his time, he has helped BNB develop extensive systems of monitoring and evaluation for our International Programs, and he has provided increased support to our international partners. Kwame just completed his graduate studies in Sustainable International Development at the Heller School of Brandeis University, and is moving on to the next step in his career. Kwame, we will miss you, and we wish you all the best!!!
Bikes Not Bombs is currently accepting applications for Summer Earn-A-Bike and Fall Girls In Action.
- Summer Earn-A-Bike Session I - July 10 – July 26 (M-F, 2-6pm)
- Summer Earn-A-Bike Session II - July 31 – August 16 (M-F, 2-6pm)
- Fall Girls In Action September 9th – October 10th (M-Th, 3:30-6:30pm)
In these programs, participants aged 12 -18 choose a bike from those donated to Bikes Not Bombs, and not only learn the skills to build it up, but to maintain it as well. At the end of the program, once the bike is built, it is theirs to take home! Additionally, we go on bike adventures to explore some of the fascinating places Boston has to offer, and explore various environmental and social justice issues.
There are a limited number of spots available. Applicants are chosen based on application date, the applicant’s availability, and willingness to commit (Note: Girls In Action is only open to girls). To qualify for enrollment, BOTH the completed application and payment (cash, check or money order) must be submitted. Applicants who are not accepted will be notified and the program fee will be returned. Fee waivers are available.
If you have any questions please contact Ashley Leary at 617-522-0222 x101 or email[email protected].
Applications are available online. Mail or deliver the application & fee to: Bikes Not Bombs, 284 Amory Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
This summer, especially after the Bike-A-Thon, we’ll need extra volunteers to help around the office with easy tasks, such as data entry and envelope stuffing. If you or someone you know is available during weekday business hours, then this office volunteering role would be a great way to plug in and help out BNB! Scheduling is flexible. Please contact Sean Madsen at [email protected].
The April and May Free Clinics at the BNB Shop have been a big success so far! For June, we have Practical Bike Fit on Thursday June 6th from 8-9pm, Basic Maintenance Wednesday June 12th from 8-9pm, and Flat Fixing Wednesday June 19th from 8-9pm. Check our website for more details. No need to sign up – just show up at 8pm! And don’t forget Tool Time, which is Monday June 3rd from 7-9pm and does require both a BNB Membership and advanced sign up.
Longtime BNB Shop employee Miguel will be leaving us to apprentice at the Center for Appropriate Transport in Eugene OR. He’ll be teaching bike mechanics as well as learning about and fabricating Cargo Bikes, one of which he hopes to raise money for and send back to BNB. Derek McIntire (also a former BNB employee) has returned to BNB as a shop mechanic. Derek just got back from working in Kenya with a community bike shop helping to train the staff in more advanced mechanics and shop operations.
We are now stocking two new panniers from Racktime. The Single-it ($60) is an individual pannier with organizing pockets, outer reflectors, and a waterproof rain cover. We are also stocking the Travel-it in two sizes (front-$100 and rear-$120). These are more traditional touring panniers with multiple pockets and an integrated rain cover. Both of these use Ortlieb’s proven QL1 mounting system (which means they attach similarly to the more expensive Ortlieb panniers) but are priced more competitively than the Ortlieb’s.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Bike-A-Thon! We’ll be giving free bicycle safety checks to registered Bike-A-Thon riders in the morning and tabling in the afternoon.
Tags: Bike-A-Thon, bikes not bombs, mega update
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National Bike Challenge
Written by Boston Biker on May 23Massbike is promoting the National Bike Challenge this year, a fun way to compete with other states to see what state is the most dedicated to cycling. See below for details, or read here.
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MassBike is proud to launch the National Bike Challenge in Massachusetts. This is a great opportunity to show the rest of the country how dedicated bicyclists in Massachusetts are! Building on the momentum of the MassCommute Bicycle Challenge, which took place during Bay State Bike Week, this friendly nation-wide competition runs through the end of September. We’re ready to hit the ground sprinting!
To register, do the following:
1. Visit NationalBikeChallenge.org and click “JOIN.”
2. Type in your Employer or School/University (optional).
3. If you are at a large employer, you can create teams within your company. To do so, click “Join a Team.”
4. Either create a team or join an existing team.
Prizes are given out on a monthly basis by the League of American Bicyclists. Powered by Endomondo, participants can track miles using a smartphone app or the Endomondo website. Once you register, all miles tracked through September automatically count toward the National Bike Challenge. Most importantly, we are competing against all 50 states! Let’s show them our biking prowess.
Tags: bike challenge, massbike
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Monthly Bike Parties Roll Into Boston; First Boston Bike Party Next Tuesday!
Written by greg on May 21Greg Hum plays drums on his bike, organizes the annual Midnight Marathon Bike Ride, and rides bikes after eating too much. He shares stories and more on his personal blog, The Humble Cyclist. Tweet at him, bro: @thehum.
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Back in 2009, BostonBiker reported back on some observations from adventures with the monthly San Jose Bike Party group bike ride:
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San Jose Bike Party
1500 people, no joke this thing is huge
- People stop at stop signs and red lights (mostly)
- People in cars are nice to the party members
- All ages (family, child, old, college, high school etc)
- People love their cruisers/low riders/choppers/old shitty mountain bikes out there.
- It is done at night
- Music is provided by several bike trailers, and a musical couch
- BIKE PARTY!!!!
- Seriously…BIKE PARTY!!!!!
Fast forward four years, and I’m very pleased to announce that Shane’s observations are soon going to become a reality in Boston:
Bike Parties are coming to Boston, and the first one is next Tuesday night, May 28th!
From the Boston Bike Party website:
Bike Party is a phenomenon which has grown out of San Jose, California and spread across the country. Massachusetts has a vast and diverse biking community with a lot of potential for some great social rides, and it’s about time we got a Bike Party of our own!
The idea is simple: we have fun while riding around together on bikes. It’s a monthly social ride to make friends, hang out with fellow bikers, and promote biking in the Boston/Cambridge area by showing all the walkers and drivers how we have a good time!
There is no cost to join us, and no obligation. It’s just an informal bike night out around town to have fun and socialize.
Hopefully we’ll see you at the first Boston Bike Party!
1. Keep to the right lane and off of sidewalks
2. Never ride against traffic
3. Stop at red lights
4. Ride straight and predictably
5. Ride smart. Don’t ride inebriated or unsafely.
6. Remind others to be safe. Help remind others who aren’t following the rules.
7. Stick together! It isn’t a race to the end, it’s a social ride together. If the group is held back, wait. If you’re falling back (which is hard) catch up!
You are each responsible for your behavior! All participants ride at their own risk.
- Meeting location: Dewey Square Plaza
- Date: May 28th, 2013
- Meet time: 7:30pm
- Ride Departure: 8:00pm
- Facebook Event Page | Boston Bike Party on Facebook
Elodie, Boston Bike Party’s founder, a recent Boston transplant and France native, felt inspired to bring Bike Parties to Boston after participating and falling in love with DC Bike Parties while living there.
The DC Bike Party Experience from Charles Pulliam-Moore on Vimeo.
I imagine an amazing party on wheels akin to the closest thing Boston has to a Bike Party: the annual JP Halloween bike ride:
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I’ll have the Hum Drum out for this one. See you on Tuesday!
-Greg
Tags: Bike party, boston bike party, fun, group rides, party on wheels, summer rides
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The Word On The Street
Here is what people are saying
- Action Alert: Bike Safety Bill Needs Your Help June 19, 2013TweetFrom MassBike: —————- In January, we filed two bills with the Massachusetts State Legislature, and we just found out that the bills are going to be heard in committee next Wednesday. We need your help to get these bills moving! The … Continue reading → […]Boston Biker
- NEW BIKE! June 19, 2013Continue reading → […]cyclemom
- INTERGRATING VISION INTO OPERATIONS: Balancing Front-Line Empowerment With Organizational Priorities at MassDOT June 19, 2013TweetAll too little attention and praise has been given to MassDOT’s recent announcements of state funding for the Neponset River Greenway, the inclusion of Community Path design as part of the Green Line extension, and funding for a major expansion … Continue reading → […]semiller
- Worry About The Rain All Day, Walk Outside And The Rain Stops: Rain Day Open Thread June 18, 2013Tweet oh yea! Post your best rain day adventures in the comments. […]Boston Biker
- More Gems from the Geekhouse Vault June 17, 2013Tweet Here’s another bike that we’ve been working on for a while, Evan P’s custom painted (by Spectrum Powderworks) polo bike with S&S couplers. We did a special box crown fork for him that we have only done once before … Continue reading → […]geekhousebikes
- Newton Bike Update (Tonight) June 17, 2013Tweetfrom the email, check it out if you are in the Newton area: The Second Annual Newton Bicycle Update will have all the details: Monday, June 17, 6-7 pm, War Memorial Auditorium, City Hall (Psst–last year the City got an … Continue reading → […]Boston Biker
- Politicizing Bike Shares For Personal Gain June 17, 2013Tweet In a country where cycling has a negative image, bike share programs can be very controversial. This is particularly true in the U.S. where urban areas are densely populated and jammed up with virtually non-stop traffic. A small number … Continue reading → […]IsolateCyclist
- Urban Foraging And Bike Tour TONIGHT June 14, 2013TweetLast minute, but you could run over after work and it looks awesome. ——————– Friday, June 14th, 5:30 pm Nick Woebske and Galen Mook lead a bike tour at dusk around the perimeter of the Alewife Reservation. Edible plant expert … Continue reading → […]Boston Biker
- Moving on up. June 14, 2013TweetWhen Dan and I made the big move to Boston, we were lucky to find an apartment in a two-family slightly below market price in East Arlington. When the house sold to a new owner, they promised they wouldn’t raise … Continue reading → […]nanda
- Boston Police District C-11 Presents Summer Safety Day Bike Rodeo June 13, 2013TweetTake the little ones out and get them trained in bike safety, parents might learn a thing or two as well. (from DotBike) ——————————– Saturday, June 15, 2013 10:00am until 2:00pm in EDT Boston Police District C-11 presents Summer Safety … Continue reading → […]Boston Biker
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