Boston Bikes Update, Volunteer, Helmet Hub, And More!

Below is the update from Boston Bikes (the city), I am pretty stoked about the HelmetHub vending machines, I got to see them being made, and the final product looks pretty damn amazing.

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Volunteer for Boston’s Annual Counts & Safety Campaign 

Boston Bikes is seeking volunteers for two important projects:

• Count cyclists during the Boston Bikes annual counts.  These counts help shape policy and infrastructure changes.   Dates and times as follows: September 15  to October 7.   7 AM-9 AM and 4 PM -6 PM.Minimum shifts are two hours.

• Spread the word about bike safety during Boston’s Urban Cycling Safety Campaign.  Put flyers on bicycles or be a riding ambassador. Dates and times as follows: September 15 to October 7th. Flexible times. Minimum shifts are two hours.

E-mail najah.shakir@cityofboston.gov for more information or to get involved.

Join Boston Bikes Advisory Group. Apply now.

Boston Bikes is seeking applicants to become to be part of the Boston Bikes Advisory Group (BBAG). The BBAG will advise the Director of Boston Bikes on priorities related to cycling in Boston and serve as a liaison to the cycling community.  Applications are due September 13, 2013.

For an application visit http://www.bostonbikes.org/?p=4024 or e-mailnicole.freedman@cityofboston.gov.

  HelmetHub Launch

Thursday, September 5, 2013
12:30pm – Boston Public Library

Join Mayor Tom Menino, Boston Bikes, and Hubway in a ribbon cutting ceremony for HelmetHub, Boston’s helmet vending machines. HelmetHub will provide a way for cyclists to rent or purchase a helmet at Hubway stations.  Ceremony takes place outside at the Hubway station.

Other volunteer opportunities 

One time opportunities:

East Boston Makers & Movers event. We are looking for volunteers to staff tables where attendees will have the chance to design signage, help orient bike parking, and learn about bike safety. Friday, September 6, 3-6pm. Contact Mariko Davidson at mariko.davidson@cityofboston.gov for more information.

Recurring opportunities:

Do you like WordPress? We are seeking a volunteer webmaster who can help us troubleshoot. This is a long-term opportunity, that requires few hours of work. You must be a quick responder who has extensive knowledge of and experience working with WordPress. Contact [email protected] for more information.

$5 Subsidized Hubway Memberships

The City of Boston offers $5 annual Hubway memberships to residents of Boston who are receiving public assistance or have low incomes. These
memberships also includes a free helmet.
Visit: http://www.bostonbikes.org/programs/subsidized-hubway-memberships/ for more information about the program.

Contact Najah Shakir at 617-918-4343 to see if you qualify or for more information.

Upcoming Public Meetings

Attend these upcoming public meetings to voice your support or criticism of bike facilities in the following areas.

Cycle-track around Public Garden
Wednesday, September 18th
6pm – 8pm
Firehouse
127 Mount Vernon Street, Beacon Hill

Visit our website for more information. If you cannot attend the meetings, send us your comments via e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter.

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Boston Bikes Update

The city is doing all sorts of things, check it out below:

Join us for the last Bike Friday of the year!

August 30th, 7-9am

It will be a special event with a safety demonstration!
Stop by to learn about truck side guards, blind spots on large vehicles, and bike racks on buses.

Come join hundreds of cyclists for a morning bike party on City Hall Plaza. We’ll start the morning right – enjoy free breakfast by Boloco, bike away with free goodies, and spend the morning with some of your best cycling friends. Register now at www.bikefridays.org.

Email najah.shakir@cityofboston.gov to volunteer as a convoy leader

Upcoming Public Meetings

Attend these upcoming public meetings to voice your support or criticism of bike facilities in the following areas.

Bike facilities on Hemenway St
Wednesday, August 14th
6pm – 7pm
Boston Conservancy
31 Hemenway St, T401, Fenway

Bike lanes on West Broadway
Tuesday, August 20th
6pm-7pm
J. F. Condon School
200 D Street, South Boston, MA

Cycle-track around Public Garden
Wednesday, September 18th
6pm – 8pm
Firehouse
127 Mount Vernon Street, Beacon Hill

Visit our website for more information. If you cannot attend the meetings, send us your comments via e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter.

We’re hiring instructors for the fall season of our Youth Cycling Program

The instructors will provide in-classroom and on-the-bike youth and adult cycling educational programming at Boston Public Schools and other community locations. A variety of hours will be available. Visit
bostonbikes.org to learn more about the program and e-mail
[email protected] for more information.

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Boston Bikes Update

I particularly like the “look for bikes” stickers on cabs.  This is such a simple thing that should have been done long ago.  Read more below.

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Celebrating giving 2,000 Bikes!! This past weekend, the Roll it Forward program celebrated a hugemilestone – giving away the 2,000th bike! Boston Police hosted a bike giveaway with 24 happy youth who won an essay contest. See our blog entryto learn more about reaching the milestone.

Circle the City, Sunday July 14   Enjoy a car-free Huntington Avenue on July 14at Circle the City. We’ll enjoy the opportunity to walk, bike, roll, dance and play together. Event includes a children’s bike rodeo and bike rentals. There will also be free activities for all ages that promote healthy, active living and celebrate Boston’s neighborhoods, parks and businesses.

Highlights from our Blog Check out some of the latest happenings from Boston Bikes! “Reaping the Benefits of Youth Cycling Program” – We wish everyone could witness our Youth Cycling Program in action. Check out this blog entry with pictures and videos detailing some of our work. “Annual Update & Report” – If you missed the Annual Update last month, here you can find a copy of the written report, as well as videos of the event. “Cyclist Safety Report” – Through a huge collaborative effort, last month Boston Bikes released the Cyclist Safety Report.

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5th Annual Boston Bike Update 2013 Recap

Greg 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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Last year, I live-blogged the 2012 Boston Bike Update and ended up with a pretty comprehensive post about it. This past Tuesday, for the 5th Annual Boston Bike Update 2013, I live-tweeted instead, using #BostonBikeReport. However, here is a recap from blogger Sicloot , a post by WestWood Biker who found the meeting “discouraging,” and below are some tweets from the night, and a link to the full Boston Bikes report.

Full house at @bikeboston #BostonBikeUpdate! @streetsboston twitter.com/thehum/status/…

— Greg Hum (@thehum) May 21, 2013

“Boston is 5th most bikable city in the country; biking up 82%” #BostonBikeUpdate @streetsboston @bikeboston twitter.com/thehum/status/…

— Greg Hum (@thehum) May 21, 2013

The nation’s 1st bike helmet vending machine is coming to #Boston this summer!! #BostonBikeUpdate

— LivableStreets (@StreetsBoston) May 21, 2013

Bike lanes coming to A & D street in #southie!#bostonbikeupdate

— SouthieBikes (@SouthieBikes) May 21, 2013

Thanks to @streetsboston for hosting last night’s #bostonbikeupdate, & all the people who attended. Here’s report: ow.ly/liwxT

— Boston Bikes (@bikeboston) May 22, 2013

It’s going to be yet another exciting year for biking in Boston!

-Greg

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City Releases Crash Statistics: Mayor Proposes Mandatory Helmet Law

As a follow-up to City Councilor Ayanna Pressley’s hearing in December 2012, the City of Boston’s Crash Data Report has finally come out. You can find the report at the following URL: http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/uploads/16776_49_15_27.pdf.

highlights include this lovely opening from the Mayor.

Dear Fellow Bostonians,

During the summer and fall of 2012, our city experienced five fatal bicycle incidents that led to this report. Through detailed analysis of four years of police report data, City officials will have concrete information with which to make the roadways safer for vulnerable users. This document will help us smartly apply our resources to continue improving our streets using the “six E’s of bicycle planning”: Engineering, Education, Enforcement, Encouragement, Evaluation, and Equity.

Since the City of Boston bicycle program launched in 2007, we have gone from being called one of the worst cities for cycling in the country to one of the best. The addition of nearly 60 miles of on-street bicycle facilities, hundreds of new bike racks, and the overwhelmingly successful New Balance Hubway bike share program has brought cycling into the mainstream here in Boston. Boston is well on its way to becoming a world-class cycling city. The bicycle has become a critical part of our transportation system.

Boston streets are full of people commuting to work and school, families enjoying a weekend ride together, and every type of rider in-between. This spirited resurgence of the bicycle has placed our city streets in a time of transit ion, from one dependent upon cars, to one embracing more active transportation options. Transitions can be difficult.

The close-knit community among cyclists continues to impress me. When one member of the community suffers from a terrible incident, the degree of separation to all cyclists is not far. We must work tirelessly and collaboratively to continue improving the safety of our streets. This report will help guide the process of continuing to grow Boston’s vibrant bicycle community.

Sincerely,
Thomas M. Menino
Mayor, City of Boston

But what really seems to have some in a tizzy is the notion of a mandatory helmet law being proposed by the mayors office.

Helmets are very useful in reducing injury to your head AFTER the accident occurs. Having a helmet on will reduce your chances of getting brain damage once the car has run into you, but wont keep it from hitting you in the first place. Or from the street being full of pot holes, or from poorly designed intersections, or red light runners etc.

One can only assume at the behest of the Boston Public Health Commission. The BPH seems to be obsessed with helmets, something I (and many others) have disagreed with in the past.

The whole thing is full of statistics here is just a taste:

74% of people are already wearing helmets

21 is the age most likely to be in a crash

Most crashes happen at 5pm

The report is well worth a read, read it all here.  Leave your thoughts, findings, statistical analysis in the comments.

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