MassBike Mid-July Update

MassBike Success: State Bike/Ped Committee Members Appointed

For the first time in more than a decade, Massachusetts has a State Bicycle Advisory Committee! Thanks to MassBike’s hard work, the state has named seven bicycle advocates from across the state to the new body (which also includes seven pedestrian advocates nominated by WalkBoston). The new committee members will help bring bicycle advocacy to the forefront of the state’s transportation agenda. They include: John Allen of Waltham; Michael Halle of Cambridge; Rob Miceli of Cotuit; Dick Miller of Natick; Jennifer Miller from Seven Cycles in Watertown; Joe Repole of Framingham; and Dan Tieger of Manchester.

Click here to see our press release

http://www.massbike.org/news/state_bikecommittee2005.htm

MassBike Volunteer Night: Please Join Us Next Wednesday, July 20

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. on Wednesday, July 20 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 RSVP.

Meetings to Comment on Boston Region Transportation Plans

What should be done to improve transportation in your area? Come to a workshop sponsored by the Boston region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to discuss these questions and the MPO’s spending plans. This is a crucial stage where bike projects get funded—or not. Please come and speak up for bicycle programs in your community!

Two workshop sessions, 4:00 to 5:30 PM and 6:00 to 7:30 PM, are scheduled for each of the following dates and locations.

Thursday, July 14: State Transportation Building, Boston—Conference Room 4, 10 Park Plaza

Tuesday, July 19: Cummings Park, Woburn—Cummings Park Conference Room, 400 Cummings Park, Washington Street.

Wednesday, July 20: Lynn City Hall, Room 302, 3 City Hall Square.

Monday, July 25: Quincy City Hall, Second Floor Conference Room, 1305 Hancock Street.

The spending plans are known formally as the Draft 2006 Unified Planning Work Program; the Draft 2006-2010 Transportation Improvement Program; and the Proposed Amendment to the 2004 Regional Transportation Plan. You can look them up online here

http://www.bostonmpo.org

Register for MassBike Bicycling Skills Courses—Newburyport and Waltham in August

Would you like to learn how to ride more confidently in traffic? MassBike has scheduled several Bicycling Skills courses this summer, including classes in Newburyport (August 4 and 6) and Waltham (August 11 and 13). Our courses will build confidence and teach important safety skills and tips for commuting, charity rides, and recreational riding. These courses are great for both beginning and intermediate cyclists.

The regular cost of the course is $50, and there is a special $40 discounted rate for members of MassBike, Charles River Wheelmen, and participants in the Mass Red Ribbon Ride and the MS rides.

Click here for more information and to register

http://www.massbike.org/skills/classes.htm

Redbones Tour de France Bike Breakfast: Tuesday, July 19

Join MassBike, NEMBA, and the Hub on Wheels Festival as we lead fun rides starting at Redbones (55 Chester St., Davis Square, Somerville) at 7:00 a.m. sharp. We'll ride for two hours (rides are free!) and then repair to Redbones to watch the Tour de France and enjoy a hearty breakfast ($5). Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced rides will be offered; helmets required.

Click here for details

http://www.redbones.com/newsevents.html

Bike Festival Registration Now Online! Sat., Aug. 27 in Concord

MassBike’s Summer Bike Festival is back and better than ever. Register online now to save money and secure your space for this fun day of cycling in Concord. If you register now, you’ll get a free t-shirt! Rides include a challenging metric century; our famous ice cream ride; a trip to a cool lake; and the new pie race, sponsored by NEBC/Cycle Loft, which features three slices of pie en route! Sponsored by Seven Cycles, Renaissance Health, Redbones, and American Express Financial Advisors.

For more information and to register, click here

http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1238850

Sign Up for Roadside Assistance for Your Car—and Bike!

The Better World Club, an eco-friendly alternative to AAA, offers roadside assistance for your car—as well as your bike. If you’ve worried about breaking down or getting a flat, help isn’t far away. Sign up for the service and the Better World Club will donate part of your membership fee back to MassBike.

Click here to for more details or to sign up

http://www.betterworldclub.com/home.htm?join_code=MBIK0312

Bike Path Updates

The following path updates are courtesy of former MassBike Board Member Bryce Nesbitt:

In May 2005, the Springfield Terminal Railway filed to abandon the remaining track of the Watertown Branch Railroad. This segment would help complete a world-class 18 mile long recreational loop near Boston, in addition to a great set of commuter and MBTA access routes, which compliment on-road routes. The land won't be cheap, but only modest planning obstacles are presented. One worry is the amount of truck traffic that will be required to replace the lost rail capacity. Discussions are also underway to seek a state takeover of the line, which would be rebuilt to accommodate shared rail and trail use.

Volunteers are working on a section of the Somerville Community path, seeking permission to pull up old rails and trade them with a local railroad museum. This path project, connecting the Minuteman Bikeway to North Station, continues to move steadily forward in several planning contexts.

For more details on these efforts, visit here

http://www.pathfriends.org

MassBike’s New Merchandise

Want to spread the word about bicycling advocacy? You’ll look sharp in our new forest green t-shirts, available for only $15 (all of which goes to benefit MassBike’s advocacy work). We also have new clear gold water bottles, replete with MassBike logo ($5). You can check out our merchandise and find out how to order by clicking here:

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

Become a Member

If you care about bicycling, you should be a MassBike member. Our next info-packed print newsletter is coming out in two weeks, and you won’t want to miss it! Ensure your spot on the mailing list by joining now.

All you have to do is click here

http://www.active.com/donations/campaign_public.cfm?key=massbike&CFID=7493593&CFTOKEN=34423737