1997 Past Massachusetts Bicycle Events

Press Conference

Wednesday, March 19, 9:15 am at Alewife T Station, Cambridge [rear of station, near parking garage entrance]. At the terminus of Minuteman Commuter Bikeway and site of proposed (and delayed) future extension. A large turnout of bicyclists is expected.

This is to highlight success of pedestrian and bicycle amenities like the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, and to urge state transportation officials to meet community demand for such facilities by putting available federal and state funding to work.

Speakers will include State Sen. Warren Tolman of Watertown, State Reps. Anne M. Paulsen of Belmont, John H. Stasik of Framingham, Alice Wolf of Cambridge and Barbara Hyland of Foxborough; Steven P. Heinrich, Vice President of Human Resources and Facilities, BBN Corporation; Thomas Fortmann, Senior Vice President, BBN Systems & Technologies; Ann Gillespie, Director of Public Relations, Arthur D. Little Inc.; Guy Parsons, CEO, Merlin Metals Inc., Cambridge; Thomas Henry, president of the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts; and Stephen H. Burrington, senior attorney and director of the communities and transportation initiative at the Conservation Law Foundation, Boston.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has an enormous opportunity to create bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly communities using more than $20 million in available federal funding. Projects include the development and extension of popular bike trails like the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, as well as other bicycle and pedestrian amenities across the state. These projects boast a track record of public support, encourage healthful modes of travel that fight pollution and sprawl, increase community attractiveness to the educated workforce that is key to the competitiveness of the Commonwealth's businesses, and encourage the economic vitality of our cities and towns. Yet Massachusetts is virtually in last place among all 50 states in allocating available federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) funding for projects like these. The message of this event: To acknowledge our successes, and to let state officials know that (i) a broad cross-section of citizens, businesses and lawmakers support walking and bicycling, (ii) more should be done to encourage these forms of transportation, (iii) millions of unspent federal and state dollars are available for this purpose, and (iv) action should be taken now to take advantage of this opportunity.

For further information, contact Rusty Russell, Advocacy/Communications Conservation Law Foundation, rrussell@clf.org, phone (617)350-0990 x115.

NSBC Earth Day Ride from Manchester to Marblehead and Back

Saturday, April 26, 1997 10:00 am sharp at Manchester (MA) Town Hall

Sponsored by the North Shore Bikeways Coalition

Parking for those who must drive to start behind town hall, put some NSBC literature in the windshield to indicate that you are participating in the ride.

We expect to ride around the neck in Marblehead, probably less than forty miles round trip; multiple paces likely depending on who shows. This is a non-supported ride, and all are welcome.

Earth Day will once again be celebrated in Salem with environmental groups displaying, food, music, etc. We shall stop either on way down or more likely on way back.

Photo Op! The Ride magazine will cover our trip over the Beverly Salem bridge.....yes the bridge with the railing on top of the three foot Jersey barriers that are the only protection from a 62 foot tumble..we publicly thank the Massachusetts Highway Department for this.

For further information, contact Dan Tieger tieger@aesir.mit.edu.

Basic Road Bicycling Course on Cape Cod

Five 3-hour sessions beginning Tuesday, 29 Apr 97. Start time: 6pm.

Instructor: Warren Sass (certified Effective Cycling Instructor)

Requirement: working bicycle and ability to ride 10 miles in one hour.

Class size is limited to 10 students. The class is held as part of the Falmouth Night School curriculum. Registration will be held at Falmouth High School beginning April 7 (10 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.), and from Tuesday, April 8, through Wednesday, April 16, from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. weekdays.

Check the Web page linked above for more more information.

Bike Week '97

May 18-24

Effective Cycling Road I Class

Wednesdays, May 28, June 4, and June 11, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, U.S. DOT Volpe Center, Cambridge, Mass.

Price: $60, $50 for BCOM members (you may join now to get the discount)

Required: Knowledge of how to ride (balance on a bicycle), a bicycle in working condition, and a helmet.

To Register: send your name and address and a $20 deposit to BCOM, 214A Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138.

More information: send email to Paul Schimek, schimek@volpe2.dot.gov or call him at494-3601.

East Coast Greenway Providence to Hartford Ride

Ending Friday, May 30

$100 registration fee and minimum pledges of $100 per day of travel to support the East Coast Greenway Alliance. Entrants are encouraged to maximize pledges to benefit the Maine to Florida trail effort.

For more information call Sue Barker at (401)423-2623 or e-mail sueb@ids.net.

Effective Cycling Road I Class

Wednesdays, May 28, June 4, and June 11, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, U.S. DOT Volpe Center, Cambridge, Mass.

Price: $60, $50 for BCOM members (you may join now to get the discount)

Required: Knowledge of how to ride (balance on a bicycle), a bicycle in working condition, and a helmet.

To Register: send your name and address and a $20 deposit to BCOM, 214A Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138.

More information: send email to Paul Schimek, schimek@volpe2.dot.gov or call him at494-3601.

Neponset Greenway Festival Mother Brook Tour

Wednesday, June 4, 6:00 pm Hyde Park Mill Pond Dam

Join us on a ride up the Mother Brook, which connects the Charles and Neponset Rivers, to see some of Boston's industrial history and an interesting greenway. The ride is about 10 miles on paved surfaces, including the MDC Stony Brook Reservation bikepath.

Helmets are required.

Sponsored by the BikeBoston committee of the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts and the Neponset Greenway Council

For further information, contact Doug Mink, dmink@cfa.harvard.edu

Neponset Greenway Festival Bikepath Tour

Saturday, June 7, 11:00 am, Ryan Playground, Mattapan

We'll bike on the proposed bike path from Central St. to Boston Harbor as much as possible, riding to Tenean Beach and back, a total distance of less than 10 miles, though much of it will be off-road.

Helmets are required and fat tires are recommended.

Sponsored by the BikeBoston committee of the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts and the Neponset Greenway Council

For further information, contact Doug Mink, dmink@cfa.harvard.edu

Bike to the Sea V

Sunday, June 22, 1997, 9:30 am Square One Mall, Essex St. & Route 1, Saugus.

Registration 8:30 - 9:30 am, $10 per person, $25 per family

(The registration fee is waived for people or families who sign up for Bike to the Sea/BCOM membership)

Bike To The Sea is a 14-mile ride to Nahant Beach and back. Registered participants will receive snacks at the beach. Pre-registrants will receive a free T-shirt (2 per registered family) courtesy of Malden Chiropractic, The City of Malden, Central Cycle, Winslow's Coffee, Square One Mall, and The Malden Irish American Club. Participants will also receive coupons for discounts at Square One Mall Families and children B and older are encouraged to ride with us. Families with younger children can meet us at Nahant beach and enjoy the Bike path at the beach.

Helmets are mandatory. Riders without helmets will be turned away and will not receive T-shirts or snacks.

Sponsored by Bike to the Sea lnc., a chapter of the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts which is working to promote bike safety and safe places to ride. A raffle at Square One Mall after the ride will raise funds to support efforts by Bike to the Sea to promote multi-use paths in the Malden/Revere area.

For additional information call Steve at (617) 397-6893 or e-mail Angelazim@aol.com.

BCOM Effective Cycling Road I Classes

SESSION 972 -- Cambridge Thursday, July 17, 5:30 - 8:00 Saturday, July 19, 9:00 - 4:30

SESSION 973 -- Cambridge Saturday, August 9, 9:00 - 2:30 Sunday, August 10, 9:00 - 2:30

SESSION 974 -- Framingham Saturday, August 16, 9:00 - 2:30 Sunday, August 17, 9:00 - 2:30

SESSION 975 -- Cambridge -- "Back to School" Saturday, Sept. 6, 9:00 - 2:30 Sunday, Sept. 7, 9:00 - 2:30

Coming Soon: Classes in Hopkinton and Boston (Longwood Medical Area)

1997 Course Fees: $60 regular, $50 BCOM members, students, low-income

To register:

Please contact Paul Schimek: 617 494-3601 or mailto:schimek@volpe2.dot.gov

To reserve a place, send a $20 deposit (check payable to BCOM) 2 weeks in advance (or ASAP) to Paul Schimek, BCOM Education Programs, 214A Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139. The balance of the course fee is due at the first class session.

Interested in Becoming an Effective Cycling Instructor? The first step is to successfully complete the Road 1 class. Contact Paul Schimek, 617 494-3601, for more information.

Bike to See Old Ironsides Sail

Join the Bike to the Sea chapter of the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts on a ride to Marblehead to see the USS Constitution under sail.

Sunday July 20, 9:20am in Malden from the BankBoston at the corner of Lynn St. and Beach St. for a 32-mile ride.

or join the ride at 9:50am in Lynn next to the bathhouse near Nahant Rotary for a 24-mile ride.

Malden from Boston: Take Route 99 through Everett, bear right onto Lynn St. or take the orange line to Malden Station then follow Route 60 to Lynn St.

Lynn from Boston: Take the commuter rail to Lynn and bike to the Rotary from there (the trains could be crowded!!) or drive and park a car at Nahant Beach Reservation for $2 a day.

For more info call 397-6893 or e-mail Stevenine@aol.com.

Martha's Vineyard Bicycle Tour and Bicycle Count Weekend

August 23-24.

Enjoy a weekend with other bicyclists on the Vineyard and contribute to scientific research on bicycling! $25 gets you overnight accommodations at the Youth Hostel in West Tisbury on Marthas Vineyard, plus dinner and breakfast there, and organized bike rides Saturday and Sunday -- or you may may choose your own schedule, since the only fixed event of the weekend will be the dinner and overnight at the Hostel. Free parking in Falmouth will also be provided, within an easy (5 mile or less) bike ride of the Steamship Authority and Island Queen ferry docks in Falmouth. In return for this extremely good deal, you need only agree to count bicyclists and pedestrians somewhere along a Vineyard road or bicycle path for two hours either Saturday or Sunday, between 10 AM and 6 PM, as part of an ongoing study of bicycle use on the Vineyard.

For more information or to register, please contact John Allen, jsallen@bikexprt.com

BCOM Effective Cycling Road I Classes

Cambridge

Saturday, August 9, 9:00 - 2:30, and Sunday, August 10, 9:00 - 2:30

Hopkinton

Saturday, August 16, 9:00 - 2:30, and Sunday, August 17, 9:00 - 2:30

Boston Longwood Medical Area

Monday, August 18, 5:30 - 8:30, and Saturday, August 23, 9:00 - 2:30

Cambridge "Back to School"

Saturday, Sept. 6, 9:00 - 2:30, and Sunday, Sept. 7, 9:00 - 2:30

Cambridge

Saturday, Sept. 27, 9:00 - 2:30, and Sunday, Sept. 28, 9:00 - 2:30

Cambridge

Saturday, Oct. 4, 9:00 - 4:30, and Sunday, Oct. 5, 1:00 - 4:30

To register, print out and mail this form.

The course fee is $60, $50 for BCOM members, students, and low-income people.

For further information, contact Paul Schimek at (617)494-3601 or schimek@volpe2.dot.gov

Larz Anderson Bicycle Show

Sunday, August 24, 1997, Larz Anderson Transportation Museum, 15 Newton Street, Brookline, Massachusetts

Bicycle Concours d 'Elegance, Swap Meet, Demonstration of Period Bicycles, Trials Riding Demonstration by Team Wojcik, Fun Ride, Repair Clinic, Manufacturer Displays, Cycling Organization Expo, Museum of Transportation Bicycle Collection Display

Admission: $5.00 for Adults. $3.00 Children (6-16), students and seniors (62+). Children under 5 free. Show time is 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission to the event includes entry to exhibits inside the Museum. Patrons are encouraged to bring a picnic, chairs and blanket, and stay for the whole day. Setup time for Concours d'Elegance and Swap Meet is 9 AM, please NO early birds.

For further information on Concours d'Elegance or Swap Meet Registration, or how you or your organization can participate, contact Peter Naiman at 617-469-4581. For further information on the Transportation Museum, contact the Museum at 617-522-6547.

For directions to the Larz Anderson Bike Show: http://www.mot.org/pages/dirs.htm

Blue Hills Mountain Bike Day

Sunday, September 14, 10am to 3pm, Houghton's Pond, Blue Hills Reservation

"... a day of mountain biking fun on thousands of acres", sponsored by TrailWatch (the Blue Hills Mountain Bike Patrol), the MDC Rangers, and NEMBA (the New England Mountain Bike Associa tion).

Novice and Intermediate/Advanced fun rides on marked routes. Rides will be guided or self-guided.

Novice rides will last 1-2 hours and cover about 6 miles. Intermediate/Advanced rides will last 2 hours or more and will cover up to 15 miles. An expert option will be available if you want to add on. Helmets will be required on all rides. Rides will leave throughout the day.

Serious chow, energy drinks, and trail snacks can be purchased at the Houghton's Pond Concession stand. Or, bring a picnic.

For more info call 698-1802.

Safe Cycling in Massachusetts Ride and Rally

Saturday, September 20th, 9:00 am, Lake Park in Worcester.

The Worcester Section of BCOM is sponsoring a short--but hilly--12-mile Tour of the Blackstone Bikeway followed by speeches on Worcester Common from U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Rodney Slater (invited), U.S. Congressman James McGovern, Worcester Mayor Ray Mariano, and BCOM Executive Director Conrad Willeman. Congressman McGovern is expected to announce securing full funding for completion of the Blackstone Bikeway!

The Bikeway tour will leave Lake Park on Lake Avenue in Worcester (on the west shore of Lake Quinsigamond) at 9:00, tour the northern end of the bikeway past historical points, do a victory lap around the Washington Square rotary in front of the ISTEA-funded revitalization of Union Station into a true intermodal transportation station, then continue to Worcester Common for the 10:30 rally.

A short kids ride will begin at 10:00 at the Jacob Hiatt Magnet School on Main Street, Worcester, where elementary school kids will ride a half mile or so to Worcester Common escorted by Worcester Bike Patrol officers! Parents welcome, too, of course.

There will also be: free safety tune ups by BCOM supporting bike shops, recumbents, tandems, kid-hauling bike trailers, and touring set ups on display, BCOM sponsoring bike manufacturers, plus information from rail-trail promoting groups.

Who knows? There may even be a mountain bike drawing, so clear your calendars for Saturday, September 20. Are you riding a century on September 21? Ride our Tour of the Blackstone Bikeway as a prelude!

East Boston Greenway Ride

On Saturday, September 20, as part of the annual East Boston Greenway Festival, the BikeBoston chapter of the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts and the East Boston Greenway Council will sponsor a tour of the proposed East Boston Greenway. Starting at 11:00 am at Belle Isle Marsh, we will travel about tem miles, on- and off-road, through many of the greenspaces of one of the less-green parts of the city.

Fat tires are highly recommended, and helmets are required. Mark Warren of the Greenway Council and Doug Mink of BikeBoston will co-lead the ride.

For further information, contact Doug Mink, dmink@cfa.harvard.edu.

Boston Critical Mass Rides

Friday, September 26 at 5:30 pm by the Government Center MBTA station on Boston's City Hall Plaza.

Meet for a ride to demonstrate bicyclists' solidarity. At about 6:00, the group decides where it is going and rides off, occupying a lane of the road and behaving as responsible road users.

The intent is to demonstrate to onlookers (and perhaps prove to ourselves) that a bicycle is a practical, safe, and fun mode of transportation in the city!

BCOM Effective Cycling Road I Classes

Cambridge

Saturday, Sept. 27, 9:00 - 2:30, and Sunday, Sept. 28, 9:00 - 2:30

Cambridge

Saturday, Oct. 4, 9:00 - 4:00, and Sunday, Oct. 5, 1:00 - 4:00

To register, print out and mail this form.

The course fee is $60, $50 for BCOM and CRW members, students, and low-income people.

For further information, contact Paul Schimek at (617)494-3601 or schimek@volpe2.dot.gov

Redbones Benefit for BCOM

Sunday, September 28, 12 noon to 5:00 PM, 55 Chester Street, Somerville

Every bike ride deserves a destination and Redbones provides one for Sunday, September 28th with a benefit for the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts (BCOM). $2.00 of the $5.00 admission goes to BCOM to support the organization's bicycling advocacy and education initiatives; the rest buys a Redbones' BBQ sandwich and a pint of Pilgrim Ale or soft drink. The RIDE Magazine, Wheelworks in Davis Square and Pilgrim Beer are putting on the event with Redbones to support BCOM, a non-profit organization with a mission to improve bicycling conditions statewide.

Ride the Minuteman (and the Red Line Linear Park) before Redbones from 10 am to noon with the Bike to the Sea Chapter of the Bike Coalition. Meet in Arlington at the parking lot behind the BankBoston on Massachusetts Ave (near the intersection of Mass Ave and Route 60).

Better Bicycling Community by Community

Saturday, October 18, 1997, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Natick Town Hall, 13 East Central Street, Natick, Massachusetts

The Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts invites you to a conference on improving bicycling from the ground up. You will learn from the experience of other bicyclists in Massachusetts how to institutionalize bicycle planning in your community, how to make roads more bicycle-friendly, how to fund and develop bicycle facilities such as parking racks and shared-use trails, and how to enforce the traffic laws and educate both kids and adults for bicycle safety. Anyone interested in the future of bicycling in Massachusetts is strongly encouraged to attend-whether you are from a big city, a country town, or a growing suburb.

A registration fee of $35 covers breakfast, lunch, a comprehensive information packet, and an optional guided bicycle tour. Reserve your place now! Complete this form.

Grand Opening, Mass. Central Rail Trail, West Boylston

Friday, October 24, 1997, 10:00 am, West Boylston, MA

Join trail partners from West Boylston, DEM, MDC and Wachusett Greenways to walk or bike the trail. Everyone is invited to attend.

Directions: Route 2 to 190 south. Exit 5 to 140 south. 0.9 miles to Oakdale where 140 takes a sharp left over a bridge over active RR tracks. At that sharp left (also marked with a sign "Huntington Square"), go straight. The trail begins about 300 yards on your right; the entrance is marked with a sign on rail crossbucks.

This West Boylston section is 1 1/3 miles long with nice views of the Quinapoxet river. Stone dust surface.

A good turnout will help demonstrate to public officials the high level of interest in such projects. Also, a few miles to the east you can see the railroad tunnel in Clinton which could be a spectacular part of any westward extension of the Wayside Rail Trail. For many Bostonians, it is also a chance to see your drinking water supply.

For information, contact Jack Sloan DGFPERK@aol.com.

First Annual "Tour de Fram"

Sunday, October 19, 1997, 12 noon, Framingham Centre Common

A casual, scenic bike ride around the historic community of Framingham. Choice of 15-mile and 30-mile marked routes.

Helmets required for all participants.

Riders of all abilities and families are welcome to participate!

$10 registration fee includes marked routes (choice of 15- or 30-mile options), route directions and map, mechanical sag wagon, raffle prizes, and lots of refreshments. All proceeds will go to support the Framingham Historical Society, whose museum will be open the day of the event. In addition, the society will be selling "Tour de Fram" event t-shirts.

You can pre-register for the event at the Framingham Historical Society or at any Landry's Bicycles store (Framingham, Westboro, Danvers, or Easton).

Event sponsors include Landry's Bicycles, MetroWest Bank, Bagel Bagel Bagel, Poland Spring, Polar Beverages, Red Rover, and Ebenezer's.

For more information, call 508-872-3780.