Seems the City of Boston is taking a bit more interest in stolen bikes. From their new website

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As part of our initiative to make Boston a world-class bicycling city, the Stolen Bike Alert program makes reporting stolen bikes easier and increases the chances of finding your stolen bike by giving you a larger network of search parties.

When you report a stolen bike, we send out an alert to the police, local bike shops, hospital and school security, and everyone who follows us on Twitter or Facebook. All of these people will be on the look-out for your bike and we will instantaneously notify the police as we receive updates on your stolen bike.

Please take a few minutes to register your bike online right now.
Become a bike vigilante by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or email.

For more information, contact Nicole Freedman, Director of Boston Bikes at: Nicole.freedman.bra@cityofboston.gov

617-918-4343

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You can find this and more info here. Seems like an interesting idea, not sure how much it will decrease bike theft, but it can’t hurt.

The most interesting part of this website seems to be the ability of people to register and post about stolen bikes. You can then report a stolen bike if you see one. In essence getting lots of people to help you look for your bike. I am guess this will also be used by thieves to know when NOT to post the bike to craigslist. But overall it’s a good start, especially if it becomes popular.

Got this in the email from the city of Boston. Looks like a great family friendly event!

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At R.O.C.K. Roll and Ride, there is something for everyone including bike rodeos, bike safety lessons, hands-on bike maintenance workshops, giveaways and trail rides as well as music and free food. Free bike rentals will be available!

Franklin Park (07/18/09)
Dorchester
143 Seaver St
Dorchester, MA 02121
10am-2pm
Park at the Playstead parking lot adjacent to the back of the Zoo

Joe Moakley Field (07/25/09)
South Boston
600 William J. Daly Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
10am-2pm

William E. Smith Playground (08/08/09)
Brighton/Allston
250 Western Ave
Boston, MA 02134
10am-2pm

Marty over at Geekhouse Bikes has been doing some AMAZING stuff lately (here and here). I am not just talking about his amazing bike, seems he is getting his business side of things moving as well.

From the geekhouse website. (I know this is mad late in posting this, but I thought it was such a cool development that I couldn’t let it pass)

So I got an email on Sunday night saying that Mayor Menino was going to mention Geekhouse in his annual State of the City address which took place last night (I’m at the 8:27 section). At first I didn’t really know much about it. But then Monday I found out that the whole event would be broadcast live on Chanel 5 Boston, and that I had a reserved seat in one of the front rows at the event, which would be held in prestigious Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston.

If I haven’t mentioned this before in December I got a loan from the City of Boston to help purchase some necessary manufacturing equipment, and also provide the ability to hire 1-2 employees to help out with fabrication. This whole process involved a lot of time and effort. I sought out help from Score a division of the Boston SBA in reviewing a detailed business plan I wrote myself. And of course I had a lot of support from my amazing lawyer Joel Kinney of Goldstein and Herndon in Chestnut Hill. So after about 6 months of planning and effort I was finally approved for the loan. Also, a big thanks to Bill Nickerson and everyone from the BLDC for all their help with getting that done!

So back to the event last night. I ended up bringing my girlfriend Andrea, my Mom and two sisters Corie and Katty, and also Josh from Open Bicycle. I was told we had reserved seating, but when we walked in there were two levels, and upper and lower. The security guard blocked us when I tried to walk into the lower section, and I told him the I was Marty Walsh and we had reserved seating. His response was, “Oh yes Mr. Walsh, someone will show you to your seats.” Now, there’s also a state rep named Marty Walsh, so my response to him was “No, I’m the other Marty Walsh, not the State Rep Marty Walsh.” And he then said. “Oh no, we know who your are, I’ll have someone show you to your seats.”

The whole thing was pretty surreal. We had 4 seats which all had Marty Walsh written of them in the front row of the right side of the room. Then there were two seats for me and Andrea only a few rows back from the front row, which included Gov Deval Patrick, and the Mayor’s wife. My thoughts through the whole thing were; holy crap why the hell am I here with all these important people? Sitting right next to me was a guy who was first on the scene to the firefighter accident last week, I believe he actually saved one of the firefighters lives. And on the other side was a guy giving away like a million dollars to the Boston public schools. So out of all the people in the city who did amazing things this past year, we were the three that the Mayor mentioned. I still feel that I don’t deserve that kind of attention, and this isn’t something that I sought out. But hey I’ll take the free press, haha!

After the event my sister Corie made me go get a picture with the Mayor, and I told him thank you. I then met the Allston Rep, who went and introduced me to the State Rep Marty Walsh. I also shook hands with Secretary Galvin and a few other respectable Bostonians. The whole thing was really pretty amazing but also a little ridiculous. A few Boston firefighters shook my hand and said nice job and thank you. My response no them was “No, thank you guys, your awesome!” haha, like I said the whole thing was just pretty surreal.

Anyway, after all that I couldn’t sleep last night and I got in the shop a little after 7am this morning and I’m anxious to just get back to business as usual. Now I just have to see if my fat head still fits in my welding helmet. Anyway, thanks for listening!

-Marty Walsh (not the State Rep)

Got this in the email today.

Mayor Menino kicked off Boston Bikes a year ago with a strong commitment to transform bicycling in Boston. Since then, Boston Bikes has installed 250 racks, added several miles of bike lanes, started a bicyclist advisory board, worked with nearly 500 youth, and engaged over 7,000 cyclists in a variety of programs, both old and new. Hub On Wheels, Bike Friday, Bay State Bike Week, and Rock Roll & Ride were just some of the fantastic cycling events enjoyed by the Boston cycling public this year.

To learn more about the Mayor’s initiatives thus far and to find out what is in store for 2009, we invite you to join us for a public presentation sponsored by the Livable Streets Alliance. The presentation will take place on January 29th at the Boston Public Library Rabb Lecture Hall at 7:00 PM.

We also invite you to take the time to read the Boston Bikes Annual Summary. View the report.

The first complete Bike Map of Boston is ready to be unveiled. And the city wants your feedback.

Click here to see the first complete bike map of Boston. The catch is that you can’t yet find this map in print. That’s because the city wants your feedback in order to make their bike map the best possible bike map for your needs.

This map is a compilation of what you in the community told the city are the best biking roads in Boston. It is therefore only fitting that they want you to tell them what needs to be changed or updated. So please, send them your feedback

Hello. I’m not sure how active I’ll be here. I’m a lousy writer. But I’ll try.

I was named to the Mayor’s Bicycling Advisory Board for the city of Boston…maybe I’ll write about that here.

I live in Dorchester and need a new roommate for March 1st. I see lots of bikers around my hood, so maybe you guys can spread the word. The place is at the cross of Willis and Sumner. Just behind the pear at edward everett square…great location…

also, i put on shows: http://www.truthserum.org and help put on the halloween bike ride.

Want to Bike in Boston with the Whole Family?
Come R.O.C.K., Roll and Ride!

WHAT: FAMILY BIKE FUN IN FRANKLIN PARK
Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston Bikes, WGBH, and Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) invite you to come learn about the exciting world of biking in Boston at the first-ever “R.O.C.K., Roll and Ride”

FREE GAMES, RIDES & ACTIVITIES
Including bike rodeos, bike tours, Boston Pedicab rides, bike safety workshops, hands-on bike maintenance workshops, free bike valet, giveaways, contests, trail rides, tune-ups, safety and riding tips, music, & free food. No bike? No problem! Free rentals are available.
WGBH, Urban Adventours, Knuckle Bones, Mass Bike, Boston Parks & Recreation Department, Boston Pedicab, Bikes Not Bombs, Boston Society of Vulcans, BPHC, and Trips for Kids are our sponsors for this event.

DATE: Sunday, September 7th. Rain or shine.

SCHEDULE: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Fun activities for the whole family take place all afternoon on a rolling schedule, so that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy them!

WHERE: Playstead Field in Franklin Park – located across from the entrance to the Franklin Park Zoo, behind White Stadium.

WHY: You might just love biking so much that you will never have to worry about high prices at the gas pump again!

More info here.

DotBike reports that new bike racks (as part of the cities pledge to install hundreds of them) are starting to pop up. Have you seen any in your area? If so please send me a picture (shane at Bostonbiker.org) and let me know where you found it!

The first bike Friday was so much fun (and such a success) that they are doing it again! Get yo ass on one of these sweet convoys, and get down town. You will be greeted by a whole host of smiling faces, free coffee, free breakfast (pastries bagels, and other ultra-carbs).

View Larger Map

BOSTON BIKE FRIDAY – This Friday August 22nd is the second Boston Bike Friday of the Summer. In a build up to the Hub On Wheels Ride scheduled for September 21st the city is sponsoring a ride into City Hall Plaza and a free breakfast and expo.

WHAT: SAFE, GUIDED CONVOYS WITH POLICE ESCORT Lead by experienced cyclists and escorted by Boston Police. The police escort will regulate traffic at intersections so this will be a virtually non-stop ride at an easy 10 mph pace. If you aren’t used to riding on city streets this is a perfect opportunity to get more experience.

FREE BREAKFAST, BIKE EXPO AND MUSIC Whether you ride in with a convoy or ride alone, join us at Boston City Hall for free food and fun, courtesy of 100.7 WZLX, Mass Commute, MassBike, and all the sponsors.

For more information and to register see http://www.cityofboston.gov/bikes/bikefridays.asp

They are still looking for ride leaders (Dorchester and Allston Brighton). You will get a free t-shirt. If you are interested contact Daniel Hoagland at Daniel.Hoagland.bra
cityofboston.gov

Got this from the Mayors office. It’s good to see the city starting to move forward with bike stuff.

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CITY OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Office of the Mayor

Thomas M. Menino

For Immediate Release: For More Information Contact:

August 5, 2008 Press Office, 617 635-4461

Mayor Announces New Benefits for Bikers

Makes good on Boston Bikes’ promises

Less than a year ago, Mayor Thomas M. Menino stood alongside the City’s new Bike Coordinator Nicole Freedman in front of members of the biking community and explained how Boston would soon become a better biking city. Today, he proudly announced bike lanes have been put down on Commonwealth Avenue in Allston and American Legion Highway in Roslindale, with more planned, and that 250 bike racks have begun to be placed across the city, per resident recommendations. He also announced that the City has released a request for information (RFI) for bike sharing, where one can rent a bike and tour the City using multiple pick up and drop off locations.

“Today, we continue to fulfill our potential,” Mayor Menino said. “As you ride in Boston – through our diverse neighborhoods, in our great parks and past our historic buildings – you feel closer to our city. It’s a connection that extends to people, because biking brings people together. Riding a bike is a fun way to deepen your relationship with this great city.”

With gasoline reaching $4 a gallon and possibly more, Boston becoming a more bike-friendly city is even more important. Biking is not only a low-cost mode of transportation; it is great exercise, great for the environment, and can help generate revenue.

A former Olympian, Freedman has since led a mapping project, asking commuters, couriers and other bike enthusiasts about where they ride in the city, using that information to help the City plan bike routes. She also works with several City departments and local business owners to find appropriate locations for bike racks. She also creates events to welcome commuters and will soon begin an education series.

Mayor Menino also took the opportunity to thank Mass Highway, Livable Streets, Walk Boston, the Institute for Human Centered Design and Mass Bike for their contributions to these projects.

This summer, Boston is hosting “Bike Fridays,” where the Boston Police Bike Unit escorts commuters to City Hall Plaza where there is free food, information and activities. The events help new commuters feel more comfortable riding downtown and also promote the health benefits and ease of biking in Boston. The next such event is Friday, August 22nd. Riders can register and find more information by checking out www.cityofboston.gov/bikes/bikefridays.asp.