More Coverage Of Side Guards

From Boston Magazine:

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In late July, a Hubway cyclist traveling down Massachusetts Avenue in the South End was hit by a city-contracted trash truck as it went to make a right hand turn onto Columbus Avenue. The cyclist survived the accident, and it may have been due to just one detail: special safety guards that were installed on the sides of the vehicle as part of a pilot program launched by the city last year.

In 2013, through a collaboration between the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics and the Public Works Department, officials said they undertook the largest municipal pilot program of truck side guards in the nation, testing three different types of guards on 16 active vehicles driving the streets, including trash collection trucks.

Officials also worked with researchers from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center in Kendall Square to sketch out the details for the proposed guard project, as well as City Councillor Ayanna Pressley, and members of the Boston Cyclists Union.

Read more here.

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Bike Safety Bills Hearing Report: What’s Next?

from MassBike:

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Our two bicyclist safety bills had their first hearing in the Joint Committee on Transportation on June 26th. In case you missed our Action Alert, the bills are:

•  The Act To Protect Vulnerable Road Users (S1639) defines vulnerable users and puts more responsibility on motorists to be careful around bicyclists and pedestrians. (Click here for the full text of the bill).
• The Act To Protect Bicyclists In Bicycle Lanes (S1640) prohibits motor vehicles from parking in bike lanes. (Click here for the full text of the bill).

For more information on the bills, please see our Legislative Fact Sheet.

MassBike Executive Director David Watson, Representative Denise Provost, Lewis Howe of The Safety Institute, and Hillary Borcherding of WalkBoston all testified in support of the bills. We know other senators and representatives were communicating their support for the bills but could not attend the hearing. We also submitted a letter of support, joined by the Massachusetts Public Health Association, Transportation for Massachusetts, the Boston Cyclists Union, WalkBoston, and The Safety Institute.

Many thanks to all of you who contacted your legislators  – your efforts definitely won more support for the bills!

So what exactly happened at the hearing? The committee did not comment on the bike lane bill. The Vulnerable Road Users bill is a bit more involved, and committee members both expressed support and raised questions. As is the practice in Massachusetts, the committee did not take action on any bills during the hearing. Our plan is to focus our advocacy efforts on members of the committee to respond to their concerns and build support to take action on the bills.

It’s not too late to ask your state representative and state senator to ask the committee to report favorably on these bills. If you want to do so, see our Action Alert for instructions.

If you are represented by a member of the committee (particularly co-chairs Senator McGee and Representative Straus), it’s even more important to let them know you support these bills. Click here to see who is on the committee.

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Bikes Not Bombs Mega Update

From BNB:

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BNB Job Opening: International Programs Coordinator

The International Programs Associate will support BNB’s partners abroad, including Ability Bikes, pictured here.

The International Programs Coordinator will work closely with the International Programs Director, and will be responsible for coordinating technical assistance and support to BNB international partners. This position includes extensive cross-cultural communication, relationship building, training and facilitation, management of project monitoring systems, container loading logistics organizing and some international travel.

Details: Full-time with benefits
Start Date: September 1 – October 15, 2013
Application Process: Rolling

For more information on the International Programs Coordinator position and how to apply, please refer to theJob Description on the BNB website.

Join us as we discuss the future of Bike-Based Businesses in JP. (Photo Courtesy of Boston Collective Delivery)

JP NET, Bikes Not Bombs, The Boston Collective Delivery & Metro Pedal Power invite you to participate in a potluck on June 27 at 6:30pm at Nate Smith House in Jamaica Plain, a few blocks from the Stony Brook T Station.

Come hear from BNB Executive Director Jodi Sugerman-Brozan, James Bachez & Wenzday Jane as they set the stage to envision bike-based businesses in JP. Hear entrepreneurial ideas from youth employees of Bike Not Bombs as they join the conversation along with a representative from Boston Pedicab.

RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook!

BNB’s Founder, Executive Director, and Board Treasurer chat at a recent Open House. Join them at the next one on July 27th.

Want to learn more about BNB’s programs? Want to volunteer or become more involved? Want to meet members of the BNB staff and board? Join us for an Open House on Saturday, July 27th from 1-4pm.

In addition to learning about BNB’s work, open houses are a fun way to explore our main program space, the Hub! We’re going to have a number of interactive activities including “guess that bike part” and we’ll be making smoothies with our pedal-powered blender.

Spread the word! Open houses are also a great way to introduce your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to Bikes Not Bombs. We hope you can join us! Drop in anytime between 1 and 4pm at the Bikes Not Bombs Hub at 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Erica Rotman, Director of Fundraising & Events at [email protected] or 617-522-0222 x106

Photo Courtesy of CESTA

Join us on Sunday July 21st to help load a container of 500 bikes to CESTA in El Salvador! RSVP online.

CESTA (El Salvadoran Center for Appropriate Technology) works towards the sustainability of El Salvador through programs that include bicycle mechanics training for young people, environmental education and conservation, training people in the use of sustainable appropriate technology and supporting the Movement of Victims and People affected by Climate Change and Mega-projects (MOVIAC) in El Salvador. CESTA also contributes a critical voice to international discourse on the social and environmental impacts of carbon emissions, and is the El Salvadoran branch of the international organization Friends of the Earth.

Help BNB load bikes to CESTA! RSVP online.

TIME: Sunday July 21st from 10am to 5pm. Drop in for an hour or stay all day!
PLACE: 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!

YOU and everyone you know are invited to Flatbread in Davis Square on Tuesday July 2nd from 5-11pm for a night of pizza and bowling! Hang out with Bikes Not Bombs folks while showcasing the best of your bowling skills.

Flatbread has offered to donate a portion of each pizza sold to Bikes Not Bombs. Their famous flatbreads are absolutely delicious and made in a wood burning oven with local ingredients (gluten-free and vegan options available).

Please help us spread the word and invite your friends on Facebook. Can’t wait to see you there!

We are now selling the Bianchi Camaleonte 3 at the BNB Shop

This July we will be offering a number of free clinics at the Bike Shop. Our Flat Fixing Clinic will be Tuesday July 9th from 8-9pm. We’ll also be offering a Know Your Bike Clinic Thursday July 25th from 8-9pm. Know Your Bike will be a beginner’s clinic going over different parts of the bike and what they do. More info online. No need to sign up just show up at 8pm!

Tool Time is Monday July 1st from 7-9pm and does require both a BNB Membership and sign-up ahead of time.

Earlier this year the Shop started stocking the Bianchi Camaleonte 2, a flat bar road bike with disc brakes great for recreational rides and faster commutes. We now also have the Camaleonte 3, which has an upgraded 9-speed drive train, and Hydraulic Disc Brakes. Stop by and try it out if you’ve been looking for the ultimate speedy around town bike.

We’ll be closed this July 4th but wish everyone a happy Independence Day (and Happy 29th Birthday to Bikes Not Bombs!), and we’re pleased to announce that Corrina Roche-Cross, a BNB Youth Programs graduate, is our newest shop employee! Say hi the next time you’re in.

Youth participants are all smiles in our Earn-A-Bike and Girls In Action programs.

(Note: our Summer programs are already fully enrolled.)

Girls In Action: September 9 – October 10, 2013
Earn-A-Bike: October 21 – November 21, 2013

Bikes Not Bombs is currently enrolling applicants for the Fall 2013 sessions of Earn-A-Bike and Girls In Action. In these programs, young people ages 12-18 choose a bike and not only learn the skills to build it up, but 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 look into various environmental and social justice issues. Earn-A-Bike is co-ed, Girls In Action is for girls only.

Applications are available online. There are a limited number of spots available. Applicants are chosen based on application date, and the applicant’s availability and willingness to commit. To qualify for enrollment, BOTH the completed application and payment (cash, check, money order or fee waiver) need to be submitted. If you are not accepted into the program for any reason, you will be notified and your program fee will be returned.

If you have any questions please contact Ashley Leary, Co-Director of Youth Programs, at 617-522-0222 x101 or email [email protected]

Adult Instructors are taught the basics by BNB Youth Employees before volunteering to teach in our Youth Programs. Photo By Stacy Rupolo

Fall 2013 Adult Instructor Training is currently accepting applications. The program will run fromAugust 19th – 30th. It meets Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday each week from 6-9PM.

Anyone who is interested and dedicated to youth work is encouraged to apply! We’ll give you a free course in methods of teaching bike mechanics to youth, and then you will help teach young people to rebuild and earn a bike of their own! Volunteers of all identities are welcome. Spanish language skills are helpful. No previous mechanics experience is required.Adult Instructors are REQUIRED to volunteer a minimum of one program day from 3pm-7pm, and are of course welcome to volunteer more than that.

Girls In Action: September 9 – October 10, 2013
Earn-A-Bike: October 21 – November 21, 2013

If you have any questions please contact Ashley Leary, Co-Director of Youth Programs, at 617-522-0222 x101 or email [email protected] Applications are available online.

David Wax Museum is one of two artists performing at a BNB benefit concert on the Cape this summer.. Photo Courtesy of David Wax Museum

Spending time on the Cape this summer? Bikes Not Bombs will be partnering with Payomet Performing Arts Center for a fantastic show on Sunday, August 4th. Catch the David Wax Museum and local singer/songwriter, Sarah Swain, for a night of folky-fun music and outdoor entertainment. The David Wax Museum fuses traditional Mexican folk with American roots and indie rock, while Sarah Swain carries a country folk tune. All proceeds from this show will benefit BNB, so if you are thinking of hitting a concert on the Cape this summer, make sure you consider this one! For more info and tickets available online.

Bikes Not Bombs is looking for 5-10 artists to feature in our JP Open Studios group show at the BNB Hub in the Brewery Complex. We’re looking for bicycle-themed art, or art that highlights an aspect of Bikes Not Bombs’ mission, history, or programs. We are hoping to showcase several types of media (painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, jewelry, photography, video, spoke-card art, etc) and we’re especially looking for art made with recycled bike parts and photographs of our programs. We’re happy to coordinate opportunities for photographers to take photos of our programs or to provide access to old parts bins at BNB.

This is a great opportunity for artists, cyclists, and BNB fans to get creative, have some fun, and support our bicycle-based programs! Even if you do not already have bicycle-themed artwork, we encourage you to create a piece (or more than one piece) to include in this group show. In addition to the exposure of being featured at the event, artists will be listed on the BNB website and JP Open Studios website.

During the event, we’ll hold a silent auction to support Bikes Not Bombs’ local and international programs and all artists will be asked to donate one or more pieces for the auction. In addition to the auction, artists can sell their artwork and elect to donate either 50% or 100% of profits back to Bikes Not Bombs.

If you are interested in showcasing your bicycle-themed artwork, please fill out our brief artwork submission form by August 23rd. Spaces are limited and preference will be given to artists that apply early. If you have any questions, contact Erica Rotman, Director of Fundraising & Events, at[email protected]. Thanks!!

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013 at 8am
at: Space with a Soul
281 Summer Street, 7th floor
Boston, MA 02210

Save the date! Bikes Not Bombs’ third annual Building Momentum Breakfast will take placeWednesday, October 23rd at 8am at Space with a Soul in the Fort Point Channel area of Boston. The Building Momentum Breakfast is designed to raise critical financial support for Bikes Not Bombs and spread the word about our innovative work using donated bicycles as a tool for self-empowerment and community transformation. The event will feature breakfast from our friends at Ula Café, inspiring stories from individuals who have been impacted by our work, a short video, and more. While attendees will be asked to consider making a donation to support Bikes Not Bombs, there is no obligation to give!

Call for Table Captains! Signing up as a Table Captain is a great way to increase your impact at Bikes Not Bombs and ensure that the third annual Building Momentum Breakfast is a success! As a Table Captain you will be responsible for bringing nine people to the Building Momentum Breakfast – friends, family, and colleagues – who you think will connect with the mission and work of Bikes Not Bombs. In August, we will host a kick-off event for Table Captains to guide you through the process and provide you with all the information and materials you’ll need. Again, while this is a fundraiser, there is no obligation for Table Captains or guests to donate at the event.

If you would like to receive a formal invitation to the Building Momentum Breakfast or get more information about becoming a Table Captain, contact Erica Rotman, Director of Fundraising & Events, at [email protected]. Also, read about last year’s Building Momentum Breakfast.

JPeeps, the winner of the Best Costume Prize, rode with actual Peeps candies on their helmets! One of many amazing moments at the 2013 Bike-A-Thon. Photo By: Diane Simpson

Full results of our outstanding 26th annual Bike-A-Thonare now posted on our website (with links to many more photos). Here are some of the record-breaking successes we’re proud to share with you:

We are so thrilled to report that this year’s Bike-A-Thon had 559 registered riders and has raised $162,000 to support the work of Bikes Not Bombs! In addition to providing critical funds for BNB’s youth and international work, the Bike-A-Thon is important because it helps strengthen the movement for environmental sustainability and social justice. We could not have done it without the amazing support of our volunteers, riders, event sponsors, and dedicated members of the BNB community. From all of us at BNB, thank you so much to everyone from the BNB community for making it happen!

Between the four routes, Bike-A-Thon riders collectively rode 21,330 miles on June 2nd! Equal to over 3 trips between Boston and our partner in Amuru Uganda (6,753 miles per trip).

The Bike-A-Thon simply would not have been possible without support from our sponsors and community partners. A HUGE thanks is certainly in order! The full list of event sponsors is up on our website, but we want to specifically thank our Title Sponsors: Amir’s Natural Foods, City Feed & Supply, Ula Cafe, Pedro’s, Vita Coco, and Jason & Fischer.

See much more results, thank yous, and photos on the Bike-A-Thon results page.

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LivableStreets Update

From LivableStreets:

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Bike News Roudup

With the warmer weather, the bikers are out, and with them the bike news.  Here is a roundup of local bike news.

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Harvard gets award for being bike friendly:

As the number of cyclists on Harvard’s campuses continues to grow, so too does the infrastructure to support them.  New bike racks and repair stations are being set up, expanded bicycle benefits for commuters have been rolled out, and the University has made a major investment in the Hubway bike-sharing network by supporting the installation of 12 stations in Boston and Cambridge. The national advocacy organization League of American Bicyclists has recognized that progress by naming Harvard a silver-level Bicycle Friendly University.

Bike advocates push for more use, safety in Newton:

An effort is underway to make cycling a more appealing alternative to driving in Newton.

Advocates and city officials, who see cycling as a way to improve the health of the population and reduce road congestion, are working on plans to better enforce existing laws for sharing the road and to extend bike lanes throughout the city.

Building new infrastructure is key to getting more people to get out of their cars, according to Andreae Downs, chair of the Transportation Advisory Group.

“Unless Newton is the outlier, once you start building bike infrastructure you get more cyclists,” said Downs.

Boston man to cycle from London to Brussels for children’s charity:

THE efforts made by paralympians last summer have inspired a Boston man to take part in a bike ride from London to Brussels.

Paul Maddison was also inspired by his son Nick to take part in the 340-mile cycle challenge for a charity that helps children with disabilities, A Smile for the Child.

Connolly: Let’s Talk About Bike Infrastructure and Safety
The mayoral candidate is calling for a public hearing to discuss the future of city cycling:

As the warm weather slowly begins to creep back to Boston, more bikes will begin popping up along the roadways and paths connecting various city points, which makes it a perfect time to start discussing bike safety once again.

City Councilor and mayoral candidate John Connolly has filed a request to convene a public hearing to talk about Boston’s bike infrastructure and how it can be improved. According to Connolly, the purpose of the hearing will be to devise a long-term strategy for planning, funding, and implementing projects to expand the current cycling infrastructure. In a statement, he said that the city’s budget for bicycle infrastructure is “insufficient to fully implement all essential new projects,” including cycle tracks on Malcolm X Boulevard and around the Boston Public Garden.

How to protect cyclists HSPH team stresses data collection in meeting with city councilors:

How do you make Boston bike-safe? First you find out where it’s unsafe.

Answers to that and other key questions would provide the foundation for effective policy, a team of four Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) students told Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley on Wednesday.

The four — Aaron Pervin, Temitope Olukowi, Claire Albert, and Marie McIntee — were the winners of an annual spring exercise at HSPH in which student teams examine a health policy issue and devise recommendations on how to address it. Professor of Health Policy David Hemenway and doctoral student Dahianna Lopez advised the team.

In their presentation, the students told Pressley that dealing with Boston’s bike-safety problem — made apparent by a string of fatal accidents last year — is especially difficult because information on ridership, common routes, and even accidents is scattered among reports by the Boston Police Department, ambulance teams, emergency rooms, and a variety of city departments.

Justice Breyer Has Shoulder Surgery After Bicycle Accident:

According to Supreme Court spokesperson Kathleen Arberg, Associate Justice Stephen Breyer underwent reverse shoulder replacement surgery for a proximal humerus fracture at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital on the morning of April 27th.

The fracture was sustained in his right shoulder after a fall from his bicycle on the afternoon of April 26th, where he was taken to the hospital by an ambulance.

This is the third biking mishap for Justice Breyer. Two years ago, he fractured his right clavicle (collarbone) after he fell near his home in Cambridge, Mass.

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