MassBike Update

What’s MassBike Working On?

It may be cold and icy on the roads, but winter is still a busy time at MassBike. Here are some of the projects we’re working on now:

• Working with legislators on the recently re-filed Bicyclist Safety Bill (formerly the Bicyclists’ Bill of Rights and Responsibilities).
• Laying the groundwork for new chapters in Central and Western MA, and talking with local bicycle committees about working more closely with MassBike and with each other.
• Developing new classes and talking to Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) about offering bicycling education in the workplace.
• Attending meetings for the Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail project; the proposed extension of the Minuteman Bikeway in Bedford; our Pioneer Valley and Metro Boston chapters; and the Trails & Greenways Task Force of the Executive Office of Transportation.
• Working with the National Center for Bicycling and Walking on its Traffic Justice initiative.
• Improving our back office processes to serve you better.

Last Chance to Win This Bike (and Support MassBike Too)!

Our Winter Appeal is winding down, but you’ve still got time to make a donation and be entered to win a snazzy new, but old-school, Electra Amsterdam Classic bike, courtesy of Landry’s Bicycles! Just get your donation of $50 or more postmarked, or donate online, by this Friday, February 9, and you will be entered in the drawing.

MassBike worked extremely hard throughout 2006 to make bicycling better in Massachusetts, and we made great progress, but there is still much work to be done. We need your help to make it happen.

A $550 value, the Amsterdam is a reinterpretation of the classic bike used everywhere in The Netherlands, where bicycling is truly integrated in their society. This bike is a model of both utility and fashion!

Click here to donate or for more information
http://www.massbike.org/news/winterappeal06.htm

MassBike Election Results: Six New Board Members Elected!

MassBike is pleased to announce the election of six new members to its Board of Directors: Andrew Brodie (Holliston), Ellen Gugel (Westborough), Timothy Libby (Dorchester), Bob Nesson (Somerville), Anne Paulsen (Belmont), and Sam Thompson (Cambridge). Robin Schulman (Maynard), current MassBike president, was re-elected for a special one-year term. Congratulations to all, and thank you to all the candidates who ran.

For more information about the MassBike board, click here http://www.massbike.org/about/board.htm

Volunteer Night: Tuesday, February 13

Do you enjoy hanging out with fellow cyclists and eating gourmet pizza with a refreshing beverage? Then you won’t want to miss Volunteer Night from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. It’s a chance to have some fun and help MassBike with some easy administrative tasks. The more help we get from volunteers, the more time MassBike staff can spend making bicycling better. Just let us know you’re coming so we know how much pizza to order! (617-542-2453 or nadav@massbike.org )

Our office is located at 171 Milk Street, Third Floor, in Boston’s Financial District. The closest T Station is Government Center, and you can bring your bike right up into the office if you don’t mind carrying it up the stairs!

For more information about Volunteer Night, click here http://www.massbike.org/about/vol_night.htm

Arlington Winter Bicycle Social: Thursday, February 15

Join the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee (ABAC) for an indoor Winter Social get-together on Thursday night, February 15, 7-9 p.m., at the Whittemore-Robbins House in Arlington Center.

The ABAC Winter Social will feature presentations on local bicycling issues.  In addition, local urban designer Philip Goff will speak about the inspiring bicycle network in Portland, Oregon, where he lived before moving to the Boston area.  Phil Goff is a professional urban designer, a year-round bicycle commuter, and an Arlington resident.

For more information, click here for ABAC's website http://www.abac.arlington.ma.us

Get Ready for Spring with a Bicycling Skills Classroom Session!

Want to improve your urban riding skills? MassBike’s Bicycling Skills classes are a great way to take your cycling to the next level. We have free evening classes (Introduction to Bicycle Safety—this has tips even advanced cyclists will benefit from), and day-long, on-bike classes on the weekends. Classes are added frequently, so check the website often.

All of our classes are taught by certified League Cycling Instructors.

Introduction to Bicycling Safety (free, off-bike classes, open to all with RSVP)

Introduction to Bicycling Safety: Monday, February 26, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Arlington. Free off-bike lecture/discussion. RSVPs required.

Introduction to Bicycling Safety: Wednesday, March 21, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Waltham. Free off-bike lecture/discussion. RSVPs required.

To register for our upcoming classes, click here http://www.massbike.org/skills/classes.htm

Sunday Spinning for a Great Cause!

On Sunday, February 25, The Healthworks Foundation will move 100 indoor-cycling bikes into Avalon Boston to hold it's 2nd annual fundraiser, A Ride for Inner-city health, Development and Empowerment (ARIDE). ARIDE is an all day indoor-cycling event that will be divided into 3 two-hour rides. The first ride will be from 9am-11am, the second from 12pm-2pm, and the third from 3pm-5pm. All the proceeds from ARIDE will benefit The Healthworks Foundation.

Founded in 1997, The Healthworks Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the health and empowerment of all women. In 2002, The Foundation opened a non-profit fitness center in Dorchester for homeless and low-income women. The center gives over 5,000 women the opportunity to use cardiovascular and weight training equipment, attend group exercise classes, and participate in nutritional counseling free of charge.

Click here for more information
www.healthworksfoundation.org

Opinions Wanted on the Pioneer Valley Regional Transportation Plan

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) is holding a 30 day public review period for the Pioneer Valley Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The RTP outlines the direction of transportation planning and improvements for the Pioneer Valley through the year 2030. It provides the basis for all state and federally funded transportation improvement projects and planning studies. The long range plan concentrates on both existing needs and anticipated future deficiencies in our transportation infrastructure, presents the preferred strategies to alleviate transportation problems, and creates a schedule of regionally significant projects that are financially constrained - in concert with regional goals and objectives and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The Pioneer Valley Regional Transportation Plan plays a vital role in the advancement of transportation projects and policies for the region.

Two public meetings to solicit public comments on the Draft Regional Transportation Plan have been scheduled for 7:00 PM at the following locations:

· Wednesday, February 7, 2007 - Northampton City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street, Northampton

· Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 26 Central Street, 3 rd Floor, West Springfield

Copies of the Draft RTP are available for public review on-line from PVPC’s web page at www.pvpc.org . Hard copies of the document are available by contacting the PVPC. The PVPC is accepting written comments during this public review period beginning January 26, 2007 and ending February 24, 2007. Public comments are encouraged and may be submitted in person at the public meetings, or in writing until February 24, 2007 to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 26 Central Street, Suite 34, West Springfield, MA 01089, attention: Gary Roux (email: gmroux@pvpc.org ).

Meet Our New Membership Coordinator: Nadav Carmel

Hi MassBikers! I’m totally psyched to be the new Membership Coordinator at MassBike. Previously I worked as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer with the Urban Ecology Institute in Newton. While there, I worked on urban park advocacy projects across five Massachusetts cities/towns in an effort to identify and conserve overlooked open space. I also worked with environmental justice youth crews in East Boston and in Chelsea and was a community organizer in Providence. Some other past employment endeavors have included being a substitute teacher, an ice cream scooper, and a gardener.

I didn’t get to do much road cycling where I grew up in South Florida, but became an avid biker when I moved to Providence to attend Brown University. Since moving to Boston almost two years ago, I’ve been an active volunteer with Bikes Not Bombs, and like I said, I’m excited to be at MassBike now.

Please feel free to contact me with any comments, questions or just to say hey at: Nadav@massbike.org

Broadway Bicycle School is Hiring!

Broadway Bicycle School is a unique, collectively owned, full-service bicycle repair shop. We teach people how to fix their bikes in addition to selling new and used bikes, parts and accessories. Since 1972, Broadway has been committed to doing the highest quality repairs and to providing a place where workers and customers feel comfortable learning and being themselves. There is potential here to become a long-term collective worker, earn benefits, and participate in the control of your workplace. A great place to work!

- Seeking Full-time employees, April through mid-October (possibly longer)

- Must be available Saturdays and some Sundays

- Mechanical experience preferred, but will train

- Women and people of color encouraged to apply

- Teaching experience and interest in collectively run organizations a plus

We are accepting applications through March 7. Stop by 351 Broadway in Cambridge to pick one up, or call us at (617) 868-3392 with questions. We are open 10-6 Tuesday thru Saturday, except Thursday (noon-7).

Starting salary $9.00/hour, more with experience.