The month of May – Bike Month – is almost here. That means that Bay State Bike Week is just around the corner. We’ve already started getting events submitted for the upcoming week of bicycle celebrations (May 11-19). There is a Bike to School Day on the Cape, a Bike Rodeo in the Pioneer Valley, and a Bike Film Festival in Metro Boston, and the MassCommute Bicycle Challenge, to name only a few events.

Now is the time to submit your event to the calendar.

During the week of May 11-19, people across the state will be searching for events in their community or region – this calendar connects them up with your great event! Plus, registering your event for Bay State Bike Week also does the following:

• Makes your event eligible for Bay State Bike Week swag, such as t-shirts and reflective ankle straps.
• Provides branding materials for promotion of the event.
• Gives event attendees a chance to win great prizes in a drawing!

If you have already registered your event, but want to request materials for Bay State Bike Week, check out this page here. If you have any questions about submitting an event to the calendar, requesting materials, or anything else, please do not hesitate to email BayStateBikeWeek@MassBike.org.

Finally, if you haven’t yet planned an event but are interested in doing so, it’s not too late! There is still plenty of time to put together a bike ride, bike breakfast, or other event for your community. We have included both weekends to allow for more recreational events, and not just work commuting. Check out our Event Planning Resources for more information on how to plan an event.

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!

The incoming trend of fashionable neon color is especially good news for commuting cyclists as we head into the colder, darker months when it is more likely that you will be riding either to or from work in the dark. So next time someone makes a remark about your safety vest or other neon riding clothes be sure to let them know that you are just trying to follow the fashion trends!

Thank you to everyone who has been recording trips for MassBike and if you haven’t started but need some help logging on we have created some step by step instructions just for you.

Happy Riding Everyone!

Bikeable Communities Trainings

Bikeable Communities trainings come in two parts. The first training provides an overview of the decision making process in transportation, and outlines strategies for advocates to plug into that process. The second training focuses on specific infrastructure, programs and policies that can be used to encourage biking in a community. Together, these trainings lay the foundation for citizens and community leaders to effectively improve the environment for bicycling. Click here for more description of the trainings.

Part One, “Plugging Into The Process”

Tuesday, September 18, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Boston Public Library Main Branch, McKim Conference Room
Boston

Wednesday, October 3, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Metropolitan Area Planning Council, 3rd Floor Conference Room
60 Temple Place, Boston

Part Two, “Policies, Programs and Projects”

Tuesday, September 25, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
MassBike Office
171 Milk Street, Suite 33
Boston, MA

Wednesday, October 24, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Metropolitan Area Planning Council, 3rd Floor Conference Room
60 Temple Place, Boston

Biking For Everyone Workshops

Urban Cycling Workshop (Sponsored by the City of Newton and Harris Cyclery)
Thursday, September 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Newton City Hall, Room 202
1000 Commonwealth Ave, Newton

Hubway Workshop
Friday, September 14, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Boston City Hall

Hubway Workshop
Tuesday, October 2, 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Boston Public Library Main Branch, McKim Conference Room
Boston

Basics of Better Biking (On-Bike Workshop)

Saturday, September 15, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Boston University
Meets at the Corner of Agganis Way and Commonwealth Avenue

Saturday, October 13, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Seaport District
Meets at the Main Entrance of South Station

If you have any questions, please email Education@MassBike.org.

Logging into 2milechallenge.com

1.  Go to 2milechallenge.com

2.  Click on Join the Ride on a red ribbon button at far right of screen

3.  Enter your email and other required info, accept the terms and conditions and click register

4. You should get an email from 2 Mile Challenge verifying your email address, click the link and continue on to step 5.

5. Fill out all the contact information and then click “Get Rolling” in the bottom right hand corner.

Logging trips on 2milechallenge.com

6.  Click on Sign in in the upper right hand corner of the 2milechallenge.com page

7. Type in your user name and password and press “Login”.

8.  So now you are on a page that should have your user name in the top right half of the page and just under that is a red tab that says LOG MILES

9.  In the white space to the left of the LOG MILES arrow, type in an estimate of your single trip mileage.  (Don’t worry too much about this since it’s based on TRIPS not miles, logging each trip is more important)

10.  After you type in your miles, you can if you want enter where you went, but I usually just skip this part and after I type in the miles, click that red LOG MILES arrow button, and that’s it. You have now logged your first trip with the 2 Mile Challenge and raised $1 for MassBike!

Extra Step: If, after logging in, you find yourself on the main august page (see screen shot below) simply click on the dashboard tab in the upper right hand corner of the screen to get to your logging miles page.

I hope these instructions help! If you still have questions feel free to email me at bikeinfo@massbike.org or call the office at 617-542-2453. Thank you for participating in the 2 Mile Challenge and helping to raise funds for local bike advocacy.

“MassBike is thrilled to have been chosen as the August beneficiary of CLIF Bar 2 Mile Challenge. CLIF Bar has shown a clear commitment to creating a more bicycle friendly America, donating $100,000 annually to non-profit bicycle organizations,” said David Watson, MassBike Executive Director. “CLIF Bar’s history of community involvement and sustainability is a model for the business community.”

Reaching 10,000 logged trips should be attainable if each of our 3,000 members logs just 3 trips.  And this contest is nationwide, so cyclists everywhere can log their trips as well to benefit MassBike. So call your sister in Chicago, your brother in law in Nashville, your nephew in Ann Arbor and ask them to register!

Create an account at 2milechallenge.com by clicking “Join the Ride”. Then enter your trips each day in August. Every trip logged will help MassBike with our advocacy and education efforts throughout the Bay State.

Well things here at MassBike headquarters have been absolutely crazy these past few weeks and we have been a bit delayed in announcing our contest winners. We apologize for the delay and are also excited to finally be announcing our three winning stories.  So without further ado we are pleased to announce that the following three folks wrote stories that really rose above the rest.

1st Place – Jesse Cohn

2nd Place – Katie Harris

3rd Place – Sari Long

These three riders had stories that really encapsulated the personal importance riding a bicycle has for them. We all have had our personal biking moments, where the skies part and we realize just how awesome it is to be riding a bike, and these three stories really hit the nail on the head.  Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who submitted their stories. With all of these great biking stories we will now have the examples we need to speak more passionately with our legislatures about important bicycle policies.

Below you will see, for your reading pleasure, our three winning stories, enjoy!

1^st Place

Jesse Cohn

It often baffles people when I tell them that I got into cycling by riding across the country, but it’s true. In 2008, albeit my little cycling experience, I rode from Providence, RI, to San Francisco, CA, with Bike & Build, a nonprofit that raises money and awareness for affordable housing. That summer changed my life. My own legs powered me coast-to-coast, and I felt like there was nothing I couldn’t do.

In 2009, a good friend from college, Paige Hicks, participated in a Bike & Build trip. She too had an amazing experience – one that was so good that she decided to ride across the country again in 2010, from Providence, RI, to Seattle, WA. Tragically, Paige was struck and killed that summer while riding in South Dakota.

After her passing, I realized that biking is not just empowering, but humbling. It reminds me to be aware of my vulnerability. In reaction to Paige’s death, some of my friends have chosen to stop riding. They don’t think that riding is worth the risk to their health and life. My reaction to Paige’s death was quite the opposite. I continue to ride, and completed my second cross-country trip in 2011. But now, in addition, I also educate and advocate on bicycle safety and the importance of sharing the road. I want every child and adult to have the opportunity to ride a bike, and to do so safely. I want others to feel the same joy and empowerment I derive from being on a bike.

But there’s only so much that my fellow riders and I can do. We need legislature and infrastructure to ensure the safety of all cyclists. We need to create a favorable setting where those interested, but cautious citizens are not afraid to ride.

2^nd Place

Katie Harris

There are a lot of people in Boston who think cyclists have a death wish. I can only imagine what they must think about cyclists who are deaf.

Indeed.

As I commute to work or school, I wear a helmet. I look both ways before moving into traffic. I stop for pedestrians and for every red light. I use blinkies at night and when it’s raining. I do everything I can to make sure that I’m traveling safely on the road, because I know that the following is true: My hearing? It doesn’t work so well. Other road users? They’re not always paying attention.

When I was a child, living in a quiet neighborhood in Maine, my parents had a “DEAF CHILD AREA” sign installed by our house. This was embarrassing, but I understood that they worried. As an adult, I’ve noticed that other parents put up portable signs by their driveways such as “KIDS AT PLAY.” If only we could trust people to be safer as they navigate through the city. To put down their cell phones, watch the road, and have patience with their surroundings.

I started riding my bicycle in Boston three years ago. For years, I observed Boston traffic’s (lack of) flow, and was too terrified to ride: I was convinced my hearing loss was an insurmountable obstacle. And then I happened to meet Amelia—also deaf—and she rode through Boston with such aplomb that I knew I had to try it for myself someday.

It’s so not hard to be aware of your surroundings and to act accordingly, so I guess it’s not so difficult to be a deaf cyclist after all.

3^rd Place

Sari Long

Love Song for Pancho

I was 18 when I first saw you

You shone and shone with your silver sheen and your Raleigh seal and I was in love

A mountain bike who was, inevitably, named Pancho

Seven days we rode from Minneapolis to Chicago, raising money for charity (four times)

I wore fairy wings, but you actually gave me wings

Laughing and crying through the hills of Wisconsin and the cornfields of Illinois,

Together

You came with me to college in Montreal

You carried me through snow and ice and wind and cold

The snowiest I had ever seen

Patient, stalwart, beautiful, strong

Pancho, the most constant figure in my life

I covered you lovingly in stickers

I rode you angrily home after the 2000 elections

You carried me uncomplaining

Then patiently you waited while I lived far away in a place where bikes like you were

Aliens

Thinking about you every day and dreaming of our reunion

On to Boston, along the river, over the cobblestones, in dizzying traffic and horns

We were united and fearless and bold

You, unjealous when Rojito entered my life

A quick muscular little racing number to make the heart beat faster

You knew with quiet certainty where you stood

And today, you, Pancho, my daily companion still – 13 years later

You are there every morning, like the sunrise

Your bell gleams proudly, your bar-ends like horns await my hands

When nothing else seems to fit, when the rain whips sideways and the clouds are black

When tears stream either because of icy wind or overwhelming

You are there for me

And I am again renewed, inspired…made brave.

Looking at the report closely, it shows encouraging trends on the prevalence of biking in Boston and Massachusetts. Boston maintains one of the  lowest bike and pedestrian fatality rates of any US city and Massachusetts boasts the ninth-lowest fatality rate of any state. Meanwhile, funding for biking and walking projects has continued to steadily increase both within Boston as well as across the Commonwealth.  It is always encouraging to see an upward trend since, as this report points out, biking and walking makes serious contributions to improved public health, less traffic congestion, and better air quality.

But despite this positive news for MassBike and the Bay State, there are still serious challenges facing bikers. First, it is important to note that the statistics from this report combine the numbers for both biking and walking. We all know that Boston is “America’s Walking City”, and it is unclear how much of the #1 ranking is a result of walking as opposed to biking statistics.

When you drill down a little more, you can see some figures that indicate biking still has a long way to go. In Boston as well as statewide, around 70% of those who commute to work by bike are men. (It has often been noted that women are more risk averse than men, and so higher levels of women biking usually indicate a safer biking environment.) And our rate of fatalities for children under 16 is about 50% higher than the national average, indicating a strong need to improve facilities and bike education for our youngest cyclists.

MassBike is ready for the challenge of closing gaps in bike usage and safety, especially with events like Bay State Bike Week and our advocacy for the Vulnerable Road Users Bill. Here’s to an even better 2013!