MassBike August Update

Two Legislative Updates: Federal Transportation Bill Passes, and MA Safe Routes to School Bill Advances—Please Contact Your Legislator

MassBike is pleased to announce that the federal transportation bill (known as SAFETEA-LU) passed this weekend. MassBike visited our Congressional delegation in Washington earlier this year to push for passage of the bill. Funding was strengthened for key programs that support bicycling (such as Transportation Enhancements and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds), and the federal bill also funded Safe Routes to School, a program to increase biking and walking among children. We believe this bill will have important benefits for Massachusetts in the years to come.

At the state level, one of MassBike’s top legislative priorities—the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School bill, H. 2121—was voted on favorably by the Transportation Committee, and advanced to Ways and Means. We are now asking all MassBike members to contact their legislators and ask them to support moving this bill out of Ways and Means and bringing it to a full floor vote. If your state rep or state senator serves on the Ways and Means Committee, that is ideal; if they do not, please ask them to speak to their colleagues who do serve on the committee to help move the bill forward.

Click here to find out who your legislator is and how to contact them

http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

Save Money--Bike Festival Early Registration Ends Soon! Event is Sat., Aug. 27 in Concord

MassBike’s Summer Bike Festival is back and better than ever. Register online before August 13 to save money and secure your space for this fun day of cycling in Concord. If you register before August 13, 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 and is already generating buzz among pie race strategists. Sponsored by Seven Cycles, Renaissance Health, Redbones, and Ameriprise.

For more information and to register, click here

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

Register for MassBike Bicycling Skills Courses—Newburyport, Waltham, and (new!) Easthampton

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); Waltham (August 11 and 13); and several in Easthampton beginning August 25. 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, participants in the Mass Red Ribbon Ride and the MS rides, and members of MassCommute companies.

Click here for more information and to register

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

Special Meeting to Discuss State 20 Year Transportation Plan: Monday, Aug. 15

The state Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) released a 20 year draft transportation plan in March, and they have recently reached out to MassBike to host a meeting for the bicycling community to provide comments and feedback. This is a crucial time for bicycle advocates to help shape the next generation of transportation projects in the state.

MassBike has scheduled a meeting with EOT to be held on Monday, August 15 at 6:00 p.m. in Concord, and all are invited to attend. Please RSVP to bikexec@massbike.org so we can get an approximate headcount; we will provide you with directions.

The 20 year draft plan is available online here:

http://www.eot.state.ma.us/default.asp?pgid=content/longplanIndex&sid=level2

Three Fun Upcoming Rides

On Wednesday, Aug 10 at 6:00 p.m., MassBike Board Member Doug Mink will lead a ride as part of the Neponset River Greenway Festival. Explore the new proposed section of the Neponset River Greenway from Mattapan Square to Paul’s Bridge in Hyde Park and back. All level cyclists welcome; most of this 7 mile ride will be on roadways. Helmets required. Meet at Mattapan Bridge in Mattapan Square.

On Saturday, August 13-Sunday, August 14, the Mass Red Ribbon Ride will kick off. In an unprecedented collaboration, AIDS organizations across Massachusetts are working together on this joint effort to raise funds and visibility for HIV/AIDS.   The Mass Red Ribbon Ride is a two day, 175 mile bike ride that starts in the Berkshires, and ends in Greater Boston. (Shorter rides are also available.) This ride is a MassBike Partner and will donate $1/rider to help MassBike’s advocacy efforts. Find out more at www.massredribbonride.org.

On Saturday, September 24, please consider joining “Bike and Hike the Berkshires.” This one-day event raises funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and involves your choice of rides. The Mt. Greylock Challenge is a century designed by Tyler Hamilton, and ascends and descends the highest peak in Massachusetts. Other riders can choose the 25 mile “Apples and Antiques Tour” (replete with sag van to carry your purchases!), or the 50 mile “Fall Foliage Tour.”

Click to learn more here

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/MAM/event/event_detail.asp?e=6673

Berkshire Update: Speak up for Bicycling Projects

Would you like to help shape planning around bicycle issues in the Berkshires for the next five years? If so, please come to a meeting on Wednesday, August 10 to discuss two key documents: the 2006-2010 Transportation Improvement Program and 2006 Unified Planning Work Program. This is your chance to speak up for bike projects and ensure that bicyclists’ voices are heard.

The meeting will take place in Room K-111 (aka the small theater) in the Koussevitzsky Arts Center located on the Pittsfield campus of Berkshire Community College on Wednesday night Aug. 10 at 7 pm. The meeting should not run any longer than about 2 hours. There will be a short presentation and an opportunity for attendants to participate and offer their perspective.

Directions to the college can be found here

http://www.berkshirecc.edu/welcome/directions.html

Become a Member

If you enjoy MassBike’s email updates, life is even better as a MassBike member! You’ll get our info-packed quarterly newsletter, discounts at more than 50 bike shops and 20 B&Bs across the state, and the knowledge that your tax-deductible contribution is making Massachusetts a better place to bicycle.

All you have to do is click here

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

Calling all Bike-Minded Filmmakers

To be held in conjunction with the City of Boston’s 375 th anniversary and sponsored by the Hub on Wheels bike festival (www.hubonwheels.org), the Boston Bike Film Festival will take place on Oct. 21-22, 2005. If you’re a filmmaker with a bike-related project, please submit your work to be considered! The deadline for submissions is September 24, 2005, and films will be accepted in three categories – shorts, animation and feature length. Mail entries to Suite 932, One City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02110. The audience is expected to include all levels of cyclists and independent film lovers. All proceeds will go to several community biking organizations and advocacy programs. Questions? Contact Cat Bryant at info@bostonbikefilmfest.org.

Click here for details

http://www.bostonbikefilmfest.org

Save the Date: Communications Workshop for Bicycle Advocates—Sat., Oct. 8

MassBike is hosting a day-long workshop for bicycle advocates, and those who would like to be! Our free training, which will be held in the Boston area, will help you work with the media to advance the cause of bicycling. Email bikexec@massbike.org to kept apprised as details unfold.

Protect Your Bike by Registering It

Registering your bike with the National Bike Registry can help your chances of recovering it if it’s ever stolen. Police can look in the national database to check ownership—even if the thieves have moved it across state lines. If you sign up for the National Bike Registry through this link, a portion of your registration fee will be donated to MassBike.

Click here to register your bike