MassBike Valentine’s Day Update

MassBike Victory! Indoor Bike Racks Restored at Back Bay Station

In late 2001, the well-located and heavily-utilized indoor bike racks at the Back Bay T station were removed, with the MBTA citing security concerns. Cyclists were left to park outside, without weather protection and with fewer eyes ensuring the safety of their bicycles. MassBike has aggressively stayed on top of the issue, and continued to work with the MBTA. Last month, the agency installed two indoor bike racks. We commend General Manager Dan Grabauskas for his assistance in this matter and his recognition that indoor bike racks belong at the Back Bay T stop. Steps like these help ensure that the MBTA is accessible to bicyclists and all users.

Letter to MassBike Membership from Executive Director Dorie Clark

Dear MassBike members,

After two years at the helm of MassBike, I have decided to step down this May and pursue other interests, including political consulting and teaching at the college level. It has always been my goal to leave MassBike in a stronger position than I found it, and together, we have succeeded. In the past two years, MassBike’s membership has grown by nearly 60%, to an all-time high of more than 1800 members statewide. Revenues increased 27%, and expenses actually decreased. We’ve added 1.5 new staffers dedicated to making Massachusetts a better place for bicycling.

We’ve won key policy victories that will benefit all cyclists in Massachusetts in the years to come, including:

• Working with the MBTA to dramatically increase bike access on the subway, and put bike racks on 250 buses
• Securing more than $5 million in federal funds, in collaboration with our Congressional delegation, for the Safe Routes to School program
• Ensuring that all state and local police in Massachusetts are trained on bike laws
• Passing a law requiring that the RMV update its Driver’s Manual to include bike laws
• Working with MassHighway to create a more bike-friendly highway design guide
• Successfully pushing for the creation of the first state Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Board in more than a decade

I have learned so much during my time at MassBike and am especially grateful for the chance to work with so many talented volunteers, board members, and our staffers. Your dedication has made all of our victories possible. I know that I will continue to stay involved with MassBike, and I hope that we can continue to count on your energy and support as we move into a new phase of growth and success.

Thank you and best wishes,

Dorie

MassBike Seeks Executive Director

MassBike—Massachusetts’ statewide bicycling education and advocacy group—seeks a full-time Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for the management and operations of the organization, and ensuring that MassBike’s financial goals and program objectives are met. We seek a candidate with key skills including: non-profit experience; political outreach; membership development and fundraising; event planning; writing and communications; management; a commitment to environmental and bicycle advocacy; and financial administration. Start date: late April/early May. Please send resume and cover letter to bikexec@massbike.org.

Click here for a more detailed job description

http://www.massbike.org/about/ED_search2006.htm

MassBike Volunteer Night: Please Join Us on Tuesday, Feb. 21

Gourmet pizza from Picco, friends, and envelope stuffing! We really need your help with our monthly membership mailing. Please join us from 5:00-8:30 p.m. for our monthly Volunteer Night, sponsored by Picco in the South End. It’s a great way to have fun and help the cause. (Please note: for 2006, our volunteer nights have shifted to the 3 rd Tuesday of every month.) You can find us at 20 Park Plaza, Ste. 528, Boston (Arlington T stop). Secure bike parking available; please email for details. Please RSVP to bikeinfo@massbike.org.

MassBike Mid-Winter Fun: East Coast Greenway Presentation Thursday, Feb. 23

Come to the West End Branch Library in Boston (151 Cambridge Street, near the Charles/MGH T stop) for an evening with East Coast Greenway 2004 Tour riders and SAG personnel. A 20-minute musical slide show of the Tour will give you an idea of what the 2800-mile, 53-day ride was like. From 6:00-8:00 p.m., free and open to the public.

Help Vance! Donate to MassBike’s Printer Fund

This is Vance, our Development Associate, who does the most printing in the MassBike office. He needs your help. All of our printers at the MassBike office are donated, and Vance has to hand-feed each sheet into his printer. We hope to buy one nice, new printer this year. Many thanks to Joe Chapman of Boston and Bert Scharf of Brookline, who have already contributed to our printer fund. We only need another $148 to pay for the new Brother printer we’ve been coveting, plus the first round of toner. If you’d like a direct, tangible way to help bike advocacy, please consider donating $50, $25, or even $10 to our printer fund. Thanks!

Click here to donate to the printer fund

http://www.active.com/donate/printer

MassBike 1 st Annual Advocacy Meeting: Tuesday, March 7

Want to learn more about MassBike's policy and advocacy work? Come meet our board and staff, learn about our advocacy activities, and share your thoughts about what bicycling issues matter to you and how MassBike can help. Join Special Honored Guest State Rep. Anne Paulsen, a true friend to bicycling who is retiring from the State House in January. The meeting takes place from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at O'Naturals, 187 Elm Street, Davis Square, Somerville. O'Naturals will donate 10% of all sales between 4:00-8:00 p.m. that day to MassBike.

MassBike-MetroBoston Chapter Seeks Secretary

Want to get more involved in local bike advocacy? MassBike’s MetroBoston chapter secretary recently moved to Ireland, so we are looking for an energetic, talented replacement. This volunteer job isn’t just about taking minutes—it’s about being part of the chapter executive committee and planning our local advocacy direction for 2006 and beyond. We’re especially looking for an outgoing person who is interested in creative ways to get more people excited about bike advocacy. Interested? Email Chris at cporter@camsys.com.

Vendors and Sponsors Wanted for 2006 MassBike Festival

We are planning early for MassBike’s 4 th Annual Bike Festival, scheduled for Saturday, August 26 at Verrill Farm in Concord. We’re expecting more than 550 people for this fun-filled event. Do you own or work for a business that might like to have a table at the event, or sponsor a ride? Find out about this great chance to promote your business or product. Email vance@massbike.org.

Speak Up for Bicycling in Regional Long-Range Planning

What are the transportation issues that the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) should address in its long-range plan, JOURNEY TO 2030? The MPO, which covers more than 100 communities in Eastern Mass, will host four forums around the region where interested individuals and representatives of groups can share ideas about transportation issues. This is the perfect chance to speak up about the importance of bicycling and bicycle facilities, from better roads, to rail-trails, to infrastructure such as increased bike parking.

South of Boston

Wednesday, February 22

Weymouth Town Hall

75 Middle Street, Weymouth

Inner Core

Thursday, February 23

State Transportation Building

Conference Rooms 2 & 3

10 Park Plaza, Boston

North of Boston

Monday, February 27

Salem Town Hall Annex

120 Washington Street, Salem

West of Boston

Tuesday, February 28

Framingham Town Hall

150 Concord Street, Framingham

Forums will take place from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM in each area. If you are interested in attending one of the forums, please contact Jared Fijalkowski of the Boston Region MPO staff, by phone at (617) 973-7092 or by e-mail at j_fijalkowski@ctps.org. RSVP by February 17.

For additional information on JOURNEY TO 2030, click here

http://www.bostonmpo.org