MassBike Quick Release 2/28/08

In Memoriam: Sheldon Brown, 1944-2008

By now, you have probably heard of the passing of Sheldon Brown, famed bicycling advocate, technical guru, and generous purveyor of bicycling wisdom to a worldwide audience. Many have expressed their thoughts and memories of Sheldon; some of them can be read here . John Allen, Sheldon’s friend and MassBike Board Member, remembers Sheldon here .

A memorial service will be held this Sunday, March 2, 2008, 1:30pm, at the First Unitarian Society, 1326 Washington St., Newton, MA. The service will be preceded by a memorial ride, and bike parking will be available.

Click here for directions to the memorial service

Click here for information about the memorial ride

Click here for information about memorial donations

Welcome New Board Members and Officers!

MassBike’s first-ever online election was a success, more than doubling member participation over last year. Thanks to all who cast their votes!

Re-elected to the Board are: Jeff Bayard, Medford; Bob Dangel, Lexington; Ed Gross, Falmouth; and Jim Labeck, Charlestown.

Newly-elected board members are: Elisha Boudreau, Cambridge; Colin Durrant, Arlington; Rachel Stern, Somerville; and Jennifer Wong, Brookline.

MassBike’s officers are elected by the Board. Our officers for 2008 are: John Siemiatkoski, Waltham (President); Sam Thompson, Cambridge (Vice President); John Allen, Waltham (Secretary); Jeff Bayard, Medford (Treasurer).

MassBike Goes to Washington

Next week, March 3-7, 2008, MassBike will lead a dozen Massachusetts bicycling advocates to Washington, DC for the National Bike Summit. Over 500 advocates from around the country will convene to exchange ideas about improving bicycling conditions and encouraging more bicycling.

The heart of the Summit is a day of meetings on Capitol Hill with Congress. We want to make sure that our Representatives and Senators know what’s happening (or not happening) in their districts, so if a bike-related project in your area has received federal funding, or is waiting to be funded, or there are any other bike-related issues you think Congress needs to know, please let us know (and be sure to tell us who your Congressperson is).

Email your thoughts directly to Executive Director David Watson at david@massbike.org .

Volunteer Night: Tuesday, March 11, 200 8

Do you enjoy hanging out with fellow cyclists, conducting sparkling conversation, and eating pizza with a refreshing Harpoon beer or soda? Then you won’t want to miss Volunteer Night on Tuesday, March 11, from 5-8pm. It’s a chance to have some fun and help MassBike with a few 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! RSVP to dorothy@massbike.org or call us at 617-542-2453.

Our office is located at 171 Milk Street, Third Floor, in Boston’s Financial District. The closest T Stations are Aquarium and Government Center.

For more info, click here
http://www.massbike.org/about/vol_night.htm

Pioneer Valley Chapter Meeting: Thursday, March 13, 2008

The next meeting of the MassBike Pioneer Valley Chapter is Thursday, March 13, 2008. The meeting will be from 7:00-8:30pm at Seelye Hall 304, Smith College, Northampton. Come out and see what’s happening with bicycling advocacy in the Pioneer Valley. Potluck refreshments.

Need more information? Contact chapter chair James Lowenthal at 413-585-6995.

Latest News from the Boston Bikes Program

MassBike continues to work closely with Boston’s new bicycling program. We’ve applied for a grant to provide free bicycling education to Boston residents to help the city jumpstart the program, and we’re playing a major role in the new Bay State Bike Week in May (more on that in a future newsletter).

Last chance for the 2008 Boston Bike Friendly Business Awards! Applications are due TODAY. One way to qualify is by signing up for MassBike’s bicycling skills training.

Help the city create a complete bike map, by cyclists and for cyclists, by rating streets for bikeability using Google Maps! Click here for instructions. The city wants to hear from cyclists of all types and experience levels.

Questions? Contact Nicole Freedman, Boston’s Director of Bike Programs, at Nicole.Freedman.bra@cityofboston.gov or 617- 918-4456

More Intro Bike Repair Classes!

Our first two classes were so successful that we decided to offer two more sessions! MassBike has teamed up with the bike repair experts at Broadway Bicycle School in Cambridge to offer an introductory bike repair class. This two-hour class session covers fixing a flat, how to do a safety inspection of your bike, lubrication, and general maintenance. Classes are limited to 8 participants, and pre-registration is required. Cost: $35.

Questions? Contact David Wilcox at Broadway Bicycle School, 617-868-3392.

Click here to register: Sunday, March 9, 2008, 2-4pm (only 6 spaces left)

Click here to register: Sunday, March 30, 2008, 2-4pm (only 6 spaces left)

Friday is Walk/Ride Day!

This Friday is Walk/Ride Day in Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford!!! So wear green, go green. Click here to check in and then celebrate!

Join in on the monthly Walk/Ride Days, on the last Friday of every month! On Walk/Ride Day, people throughout the area are encouraged to participate by simply wearing something green and using green means of transportation. They can then celebrate with discounts and freebies at local businesses. The idea is to hold a city-wide party on that day, with everyone celebrating and encouraging in their own way. For more information on incentives, sponsors, and more, visit www.GoGreenStreets.org.

Walk/Ride Days were created by the Green Streets Initiative, for environmental, health, safety, and community-building reasons. Green Streets is a grassroots group of people who live, work, study, play, commute through, or send children to school in the Boston area (and elsewhere - see website). Green Streets is looking for cyclists and others in businesses and institutions throughout the area to act as Walk/Ride Day to help spread the word and help the celebration grow!

Winter Appeal Ending: Help Us Meet Our Goals

Help us close out a successful Winter Appeal by making your donation right now. We’re asking you for help to make 2008 our best year yet for bicycling advocacy.

We continued to make progress in 2007, including: re-introducing the Bicyclist Safety Bill; more bike racks on MBTA buses; working on initiatives at the intersection of public health and transportation; building the cycling community with the MassBike Spins Ride Series; lobbying Washington for more money for cyclists; winning the statewide contract to provide bicycle safety training for the Safe Routes to School program; and playing a major role in the Boston Bikes Summit.

Your generous donation will enable us to aggressively pursue our legislative and state agency agenda; to launch our kids education program and expand our adult education offerings; and do more to reach people with the message that bicycles belong on our streets, paths, and trails, and more people should be riding them!

If you prefer not to donate online, you can send a check to: MassBike, Attn: Winter Appeal, 171 Milk Street, Boston, MA 02109. Or give us a call at 617-542-2453 and we’ll be happy to help you.

Click here to donate to the Winter Appeal http://www.massbike.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=59