For those communities in Middlesex County, there is now funding available to support the creation of a Bicycle Advisory Committee. The application can be found here, and it’s due by January 11.

This funding is available through the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. If you have any questions about this application, feel free to email me at Price@MassBike.org or give me a call at (617) 542-2453. This is a great opportunity, I hope it can help your community take a big step toward making biking a safe, fun option for transportation and recreation.

With Daylight Savings Time behind us, it getting dark a lot earlier. This means it’s that time again – our annual “Light up the Night” blog post! Even though we put out a riding at night post every year, I don’t want you to think that this post is pro-forma.  We write this annual post because being visible matters. A lot.

At the very least, use a front and rear light. Massachusetts law requires that you have a front light and rear reflector, but a rear light is even better. Usually lights come in pairs anyway. When picking out lights for your bike, it is 25% about seeing where you’re going and 75% about being seen by others on the road.

After dark, it’s important to make sure motorists can see you way before they get near you. I usually know to turn my lights on by the street lights coming on. As law states you must light up your bike no later than 30 minutes after sundown.

Lights are too expensive, you say? Well, if you are a MassBike Member, be sure to check out our bike shop partners who will give you a discount on bike gear.

Installing both a front and rear light is a great first step, but why stop there? When you go through an intersection, it’s equally important to be visible from the sides. Here are our suggestions for what else you need to light up the night:

1. Reflective or lighted ankle straps, or pedal reflectors: Some pedals come with reflectors. While both types of ankle straps do double duty by keeping your pants away from your dirty chain, lighted ones provide more visibility.
2. Reflective Clothing: Examples include bicycling-specific jackets with day-glo accents and or a construction worker-style vest. Both will provide the necessary sideways visibility with their neon colors and/or reflective striping.
3. Other Reflective Accessories: Wheel reflectors, reflective tires, and reflective tape and stickers that can go on almost any part of your bicycle are other options, especially if you might forget a vest or jacket at home. There are also great lights that can be added to your spokes or bike frame that are both a bit more fun and eye catching then traditional wheel reflectors.
4. Reflective, But Fashionable If you’re afraid of not being quite chic enough, then not to worry! There is a clear reflective spray paint that they produce that can make anything light up. Also check out some of these more “Cycle Chic” reflective options.

You wouldn’t drive a car after dark without lights, so why would you ride a bike that way? Remember, you don’t get extra points for being a bike ninja. Be seen and stay safe!

To help organize all the discounts we offer, we have developed an interactive map of MassBike member benefits statewide. Look around and see if there is a bike shop or coffee place near you that offers a discount. You’re already saving a chunk of change if you go by bike – why not save a little more for being a MassBike member? You can also check out this link to view the list of new member benefits (and access the interactive map).

Along with all the new discounts, these businesses are now also featured in a new iPhone app called GreenStack. This app allows you to combine (or stack) your member discounts to get the maximum discount at your favorite local businesses.

We are always looking for new member benefits; if you have a business interested in offering our members a discount, contact membership@massbike.org.

This event is hosted by Harvard Graduate School of Planning and Design and the Harvard Kennedy School and co-sponsored by the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, the Boston Cyclists Union, MassBike, WalkBoston, and the Livable Streets Alliance.

When: Oct 15, 2012 – 4:30 – 6pm

Where: Piper Auditorium, Gund Hall, 48 Quincy St. Cambridge, MA

About the Lecturer: John Pucher is a professor in the School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He has conducted research on a wide range of topics in transport economics and finance. For over three decades, he has examined differences in travel behavior, transport systems, and transport policies in Europe, Canada, the USA, and Australia. Over the past 15 years, Pucher’s research has focused on walking and bicycling. His research emphasizes walking and cycling for daily travel to increase physical activity and to enhance overall public health. Pucher has published three books and over 100 peer-reviewed articles in academic and professional journals. His latest book, “City Cycling” for MIT Press, provides an international overview of cycling trends and policies: http://citycyclingbook.wordpress.com

What: Basics of Better Biking (an on-bike class)
When: Saturday, August 25, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Where: Meet at South Station’s Main Entrance, Boston
RSVP: This class is free and open to the public thanks to the support of the Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness. To register, email Education@MassBike.org.

The Basics of Better Biking class is designed for adults who want to get back into bicycling, improve cycling skills, learn to ride more effectively and safely in traffic, and/or participate in a large-scale benefit ride. This four-hour weekend session provides guided instruction with simple practice drills in a parking lot, easy-paced riding on local roadways for short distances, and group-discussion breaks along the way. Topics covered include bike and helmet fitting, starting and stopping your bike in traffic, shifting gears, scanning and yielding, choosing the correct lane position in the road, handling intersections, and more.

• A bicycle in good working order and a helmet are required.
• Preregistration is required.
• This class is intended for participants 18 and older. For minors wishing to take the class, please contact Price at price@massbike.org.
• Sometimes we have to cancel a class due to low registration. We will let you know no less than three days in advance if the class is canceled.

What: Bikeable Communities Training (Part 1)
When: Thursday, August 16, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Northern Berkshire YMCA, 22 Brickyard Court, N. Adams
RSVP: This class is free and open to the public thanks to the support of Mass in Motion. To register, email Education@MassBike.org.

This first installment of our Bikeable Communities Training focuses on the decision making process and how engaged citizens can fit into the process to make their communities better for biking. Some specific points are:

• How the decision-making process works for local projects and policies, and the interaction between local, state, and federal entities when making those decisions.
• An overview of how projects are funded, and explanations of how the public is involved in the various stages of those funding decisions.
• Building alliances with citizens and organizations sharing complementary goals or missions, and maintaining momentum behind efforts that can sometimes take years.
• Case studies on successful bicycle initiatives and an overview of lessons learned.

register for MassBike’s 3rd Annual Summer Century & Family Fun Ride today!

We are welcoming riders of all levels to come out and enjoy a great day of riding, while supporting bike advocacy in Massachusetts.

You can choose from from 12, 21, 42, 63, and 100 mile rides. The routes will traverse the heart of early American history, from Paul Revere’s Ride through Lexington and Concord to nearby battlefields. Longer rides visit the towns and villages that sent the first Minutemen.

Plus, by joining in the MassBike Summer Century & Family Fun Ride, you’ll be helping to make bicycling better in Massachusetts. All proceeds go to support MassBike’s bicycling advocacy. MassBike works through legislation, education, and infrastructure projects to get more people on bicycles and to make our roads and paths safer. Your support is important to making sure that bicyclists are protected in Massachusetts.

Just like last year’s ride, all rides have rolling start times for the convenience and safety of riders. The start window for Century (100 miles) riders will be 7-8:30 A.M., Metric century (62 miles) riders 8-9:30 A.M. and 40 mile riders 9-10:30 A.M. These rides feature arrowed routes with rest stops and cue sheets. Family rides of 10 and 20 miles will start in guided groups from 10-11 A.M., although families are welcome to follow the routes on their own.

After the great day of riding, lunch will be provided by Redbones Barbecue. Preregister today and get a Summer Century t-shirt.

All types of bicyclists are encouraged to join us and support the fantastic work of MassBike. With your help, we can make bicycling better in the Bay State. Enjoy the ride! Find out more info about the ride here.

VOmax bicycle jerseys are made of Microdry fabric for exceptional comfort, fit and quality. This order will be club fit (not too tight, not too loose) and are available in men’s and women’s sizes S-XL. This is a limited time offer, and may never be offered again, so if you like what you see and want to support making bicycling better throughout the Bay State, order now!

We would love to have any updates, pictures or stories from the week! You can email them to baystatebikeweek@massbike.org, or post them to our Facebook wall. You can also tweet at us using @baystatebikewk. Check below for a few pictures from the week!

We need to give a huge thanks to our partners, MassDOT and MassRIDES. It is through that partnership that we were able to provide the T-shirts, ankle bands, bells and stickers that make this week of events truly remarkable. If you would like to participate in a quick post-week survey, click here. By participating in this brief survey, you will not only be entered into a raffle to win great prizes, you will also be helping to ensure successful bike weeks in the future!

Finally, we just want to note that a lot of staff time and resources go into making this week a success. If you value the events and goodies that we make possible every year, please consider donating today. It is only through your support that we can make Massachusetts a little more bike friendly each year.

MassCommute Bicycle Challenge Kick Off

MassBike ED David Watson at MassDOT's Commuter Breakfast

Beginning of the Rush Hour Race

MassRIDES with Andrew Ference

Bike/Walk Summit Presentation by Aaron Naparstek

Last summer, she mainly worked on helping to restart and expand the Education Program, successfully organizing trainings around the state. Now that she is back, she is going to be working with me (Price) to develop and market a new Bikeable Communities Training, made possible through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. With her help, we are going to train interested citizens on how to make the changes to the built environment in their own towns and cities that make biking safer and more accessible.

Samantha is excited to be getting onto the streets of Boston now that she is back in The Hub. She is going to be learning the ropes of navigating our streets alongside other new bicyclists in Boston, and looks forward to joining a great community of human-powered transportation enthusiasts. If you see her riding over the Longfellow Bridge or in downtown Boston, tip your helmet and say “Hi” – she’s working to make your commute better!

Welcome, Samantha!