Allston-Brighton bikes

on Boston.com… see http://www.boston.com/news/local/gallery/Bike_Fridays_Boston/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed7

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2008/07/21/look_ma_no_car/

Come check out the Allston Farmers’ Market every Wednesday from
3:00-7:00 pm at the intersection of N. Harvard St. and Western Ave.!
Ample free parking is available. WIC, SFMNP, and EBT accepted.

See you at the market!

We’re very excited to announce that we are in the process of developing a proposed pilot program to procure and distribute discounted and/or free helmets to children in A-B! A generous prospective donor has offered to fund the pilot, and we are currently in the process of obtaining per unit pricing information from prospective retail partners and helmet suppliers. For the pilot, we are currently planning to distribute helmets at local schools using staff who are trained in fitting bicycle helmets.

Stay tuned for details about this new program as it develops and please contact Chris D. if you’d like to get involved!

A-B bikers…

Here’s some excerpts from a posting on Boston Biker with some information about the recently proposed program… please be sure to see bostonbiker.org for full posting if interested.

“… This was just sent to me from City Councilor John Connolly.

I am writing to let you know that I filed legislation yesterday to explore bringing a shared-bike program to Boston. Attached please find a copy of the hearing order. I want to recognize that Mayor Menino and his administration have already begun the process for launching such a program, and I look forward to hearing from City leaders on their efforts to bring a shared-bike program to fruition.

I am hoping that a hearing will present the opportunity for the public and any experts to discuss the best model for such a program, the necessary infrastructure, and the best ways to ensure a successful shared-bike program in Boston. I will keep you updated on the scheduling of the hearing. As Chair of the Council’s Environment & Health Committee, I am making every effort to promote a greener city that includes more sustainable transportation options like a shared-bike program.

I would welcome your feedback on this or any issue.

Thanks,
John

John R. Connolly
City Councillor At-Large
Boston City Council
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
phone: (617) 635-3115
fax: (617) 635-4203

You can read the proposed legislation here. (pdf)”

Written by Boston Biker on Jul 14Thats right the film fest is coming to Bean town this year. Get your act together and come help out!

Got this in the mail today from Seth who is not only awesome, but organizing the show here in town this year.

Greetings from the Bicycle Film Festival in Boston!

The Festival is coming up fast and its time to start getting organized. The key to the success of the BFF has always been the strength of its volunteers and this will be especially important in Boston as we get the Film Festival on its feet.

Please join me Monday the 21st, 7pm at The Other Side cafe. We will go over the schedule and events for the BFF and start to assign tasks for volunteers.

Please feel free to pass this invitation along to anyone interested.

This is going to be awesome and I hope you all will be involved!

Seth Davis, Boston Producer
8th Annual Bicycle Film Festival
617 281 3067
seth@bicyclefilmfestival.com

So get your ass over to the Otherside on the 21st and be ready to help out!

Our next meeting is Tuesday 7/29/08 at 7pm at the Jackson Mann Community Center Auditorium

ALL interested in working toward a more bicylce friendly and safe Allston-Brighton community are invited to join us!

Agenda…

– welcome/overview of A-Bbikes
- update on what we’ve been doing/other possible items of interest
- break into smaller groups to work on specific issues… City planning, proposed bike/helmet distribution program, racks, rides, safety, youth apprenticeship

- after our formal meeting… a Smoken Hot Eat & Meet - our Partner Smoken’ Joe’s will offer A-Bbikers a 10% discount on items on their appetizer menu during the “eat and meet” session after our meeting. Be sure to proceed with caution… Joe’s hot paste has already made one A-Bbiker cry! For more info, see: http://smokenjoesbbq.com

We hope to see you there!

Hey folks… here’s a brief update on what’s been happening recently with A-B bikes…

At our last formal meeting held June 24th… unfortunately our meeting was a bit shorter than expected as we got started late because of the weather (lots of storms that day!) There were some new folks so we spent a decent chunk of our time doing (re)introductions, bringing folks up to speed on the the last meeting and what we’ve been doing since. We also spent some time discussing specific groups/projects, including our online map of bike parking/racks in A-B (thanks again to Zach!), interest in some organized rides, and youth initiatives.

Chris (R.) from Citizen School(s) at the Edison school is the lead on the bike apprenticeship program planned for the fall, and is coordinating the group of volunteers from A-B bikes who are interested in being instructors or otherwise supporting the apprenticeship. He was also soliciting bike and helmet donations, but I understand from him and Nicole that since our last meeting the City of Boston has agreed to lend a number of bikes for the program. See the postings on our website under “Youth” for more detailed information and updates.

Zach’s Rax – thanks again to Zach for his efforts and time and creating the annotated, interactive google map of bike racks in A-B! We’re still looking for a volunteer(s) to complete the small portion of Allston that Zach did not cover… please post on our website to let us know if you’re interested in helping out!

Nicole was unable to attend our last meeting, but provided us with an update on what Boston Bikes (City of Boston) is doing/planning that would be of interest to A-B bikers… The biggest projects she is working on that effect A-B include: installing racks, pushing for bike lanes, creating the Boston Bikes map and launching Bike Fridays (cycling convoys plus breakfasts on City Hall) similar to Bike Week. Here’s more detail from Nicole:

INSTALLING RACKS – Nicole is still accepting any specific requests and anybody from A-B bikes who wants to do so should send her a request. She needs the street address and shop in particular. To make a request, all you have to do is send back the appropriate form(s) (provided by Nicole and to be posted on our website soon – in the meantime please feel free to email Chris D. to get an electronic copy).

BIKE LANES Nicole’s identifying requests for roads that right now could fit a bike lane with minimal work (i.e. just adding lines). The road needs to be at least 46 feet wide (if parking and 1 travel lane) and 68 if two travel lanes. Requests can be emailed directly to Nicole.

BIKE MAP – Nicole would love to have A-B bikers comment on the map draft we have and get their input. The best way to do this is at our next meeting. Nicole can bring a map and have people manually make comments.

BIKE FRIDAYS – Nicole has provided information regarding the event which will be posted separately under “news” and “events” on our website. Nicole would like A-B bikers’ help recruiting 3 ride leaders for the Allston convoy, plus our help in recruiting as many riders as possible for this ride. If A-B bikers are able/willing to flyer Allston/Brighton again (like we do for meetings, etc.), Nicole’s office can pay for the flyers and get them to us. The first “Bike Fridays” event is July 25th, the 2nd is August 22nd. Nicole is working on a police escort which will make the ride really cool!

You can contact Nicole at:

Nicole Freedman
Director of Bicycle Programs
One City Hall Square, Suite 932
Boston, MA 02201
617.429.8440
Nicole.Freedman.bra@CityofBoston.gov

That’s the update for now… stay tuned for more information about our next meeting and other events… and in the meantime, ride safe!