Mid-June Update

Major MassBike Victory: Police to Receive Bike Law Training Statewide

In a major victory for Massachusetts bicyclists, MassBike persuaded the Municipal Police Training Committee, which trains police officers across the state, to incorporate MassBike’s training materials on bicycle laws into their professional development training for veteran officers starting this summer, and pledged to incorporate this training for new recruits in the near future. Currently, Massachusetts police officers—like most of their peers across the country—receive no bike law training. This key change is a major component of one of MassBike’s main legislative initiatives for 2005, the Bicyclists’ Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, and we believe it makes the bill more likely to succeed.

Click here for our press release on the bike law training victory

http://www.massbike.org/police/TrainingCommitteeRelease.htm

MassBike Volunteer Night: Please Join Us TOMORROW—Thursday, June 16

Pizza, friends, and envelope stuffing! We really need your help with our monthly membership mailing. Please join us from 5:00-8:30 p.m. tomorrow--Thursday, June 16-- for our monthly MassBike Volunteer Night. It’s a great way to have fun and help the cause. You can find us at 20 Park Plaza, Ste. 528, Boston (Arlington T stop). PLEASE NOTE NEW SUITE NUMBER. Please RSVP to Mike.

Additionally, thank you to everyone who generously supported MassBike with our Summer Appeal. We raised a terrific $5460, which will benefit our Safe Routes to School advocacy, working to make it easier for kids to bike and walk to school. The lucky winner of the Landry’s/Cannondale bike giveaway was Don Mitchell of Arlington. Happy riding, Don!

MassBike is Hiring: Development Associate

MassBike—Massachusetts’ statewide bicycling advocacy group—seeks a full-time Development Associate. We are looking for a responsible, driven, and well-spoken candidate to help grow MassBike’s membership and funding base. Areas of responsibility include membership, event planning, grant-writing, bike shop and business partner outreach, and direct mail. Previous fundraising experience and familiarity with cycling community are a plus, but not required. Talented recent grads are encouraged to apply. Salary: $24,000/year, plus health insurance; salary review after six months. One year minimum commitment required. Must be able to work some nights and weekends. Start date: Late July/early August. Please send resume and cover letter to MassBike.

Click here for more details

http://www.massbike.org/about/dev_associate.htm

Please Turn Out for Bicyclists’ Bill of Rights hearing: Wednesday, June 29

Especially with the Municipal Police Training Committee’s decision to incorporate bike law training, things are looking very positive for the Bicyclists’ Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, which is in the legislature’s Public Safety Committee. Please show your support and help the bill advance by coming to the next hearing and testifying—nothing matters more to legislators than hearing from citizens about why they think a bill is important. Join us on Wednesday, June 29 at 10:00 a.m., Hearing Room A-2. RSVP and we can provide you with additional information about the bill and how to testify.

Click here to learn more about the bill

http://www.massbike.org/projects/legislation.htm

MassBike Social: Thursday, July 7

Kick back with fellow cyclists, and enjoy free beer from Harpoon Brewery and goodies from the Blue Frog Bakery. Join us after work from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Harpoon Brewery, 306Northern Avenue, Boston (near Harborlights, in the Marine Industrial Park). This is your chance to spread the word about MassBike—get in free when you bring a friend and introduce them to bike advocacy! Regular suggested donation is $5-$10.

Find out more here

http://www.massbike.org/news/socials.htm

Kids-Only Bicycle Race Sponsored by NEBC: Saturday, June 25

Kids 5-12 are welcome at the ninth annual NEBC Kids-Only Bicycle Race, taking place at Manchester Field in Winchester. NEBC—the Northeast Bicycle Club—is a MassBike Business Partner. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 25 and the event will be held rain or shine. Helmets are required, and a parent or guardian must be present. Entry is free, though a $5 per racer donation is appreciated.

For more information, click here

http://www.northeastbicycleclub.org

Three Fun Upcoming Events: Outriders Boston-to-Provincetown Ride; Blackstone River Bikeway Ribbon-Cutting; Women’s Cycling Clinic

Here are three great events in the next two weeks:

--Saturday, June 18. Outriders does their annual one-day, Boston-to-Provincetown ride. Check out www.outriders.org for more information.

--Monday, June 20. At 10 a.m., join Congressmen Jim McGovern and Richard Neal for a ribbon-cutting celebration for the Blackstone River Bikeway. The event takes place at the intersection of Millbury and Cliff Streets in Worcester near the Millbury line.

--Tuesday, June 28. Landry's Bicycles in Natick is hosting a Women's Cycling Clinic with local pro racers Sara Bresnick-Zocchi (Ford Cycling Team, mtn-bike racing) and Nicole Freedman (Ford-Basis Women's Cycling Team, road racing). Topics will include women's-specific equipment, female sports nutrition, coaching and training, and more.  For details, see Landry's website at http://www.landrys.com/Pages/events.html

Speak Out for More Access in the Green Mountains National Forest

It's quick and easy, but our friends at NEMBA (the New England Mountain Bike Association) really need your help! The mountain bike policy in the Green Mountains is one of the most restrictive in the country, with only 37 miles of trails out of 906 miles being open to cycling. Help change this by sending emails by July 5 th. Your voice is key if we are to get greater access to this incredible forest. We even have a sample email letter for you to personalize and fire off. As a Massachusetts resident, it's important to show that this area could become a great new mountain bike destination! 

Click here to send an email

http://www.nemba.org/ActionAlerts/GMNFActionAlert.html

MassBike Partner Ride: The Volkswagen Mt. Washington Century: Sunday, August 21

Take a 40, 80 or 100 mile bike ride to benefit Tin Mountain Conservation Center, a MassBike Business Partner.This Century is held the day after the infamous Mt. Washington bicycle Hillclimb. It is a beautifully scenic, challenging supported ride starting at Great Glen Trails at Pinkham Notch, winding through breathtaking valleys around Mt. Washington and culminating  at the Mt. Washington Auto road fields for a celebratory barbecue.

Participants not only enjoy a fantastic ride, but help  Tin Mountain Conservation Center, a local organization that furthers environmental education of children and adults in the Mt. Washington valley and western Maine. 2005 is TMCC’s 25 th birthday. TMCC has reached over 35,000 children through  in-school classes, field trips, summer and winter camps as well as numerous nature programs/outings.

Pledges are encouraged and the prizes include an American Airlines ticket, a Marinoni bike frame, a weekend for 2 at the Old Tavern Inn Vt., and many more . The first 300 registrants also receive a 2005 Mt. Washington Century Tee Shirt.

For info, click here

http://www.mtwashingtoncenturyride.com

Volunteers Sought: Webmaster; Professional Facilitator for January Board Retreat

Do you have a couple extra hours a week and a good knowledge of Dreamweaver? MassBike is looking for someone to help us with basic, regular website updates—for instance, adding events to our events page—and/or someone who’d like to dig into improving our new website even more substantively. If this sounds interesting to you, please email us.

It’s never too early to plan in advance. MassBike is always working to improve, and we are hoping to have a professional facilitator lead our day-long board retreat in January 2006 (the exact date has not yet been set and is somewhat flexible). Because MassBike supporters are a talented and eclectic group, we were hoping that one of you is a professional facilitator with experience in leading strategic planning sessions and/or retreats, and that you might be willing to volunteer your services. If so, please email our board member Jeff Bayard to discuss things further and determine if it sounds like a good match.