Allston-Brighton bikes

see http://www.mass.gov/dcr/projects/pdf/BU%20Craigie%20Follow%20Up.pdf for DCR’s presentation about it’s current plans for the bridge renovations/rehab.

excerpts of interest to A-Bbikerz from MassBike’s latest quick release:

New MA Bike Law
Now that the Bicyclist Safety Bill is law, the next step is to get the word out to as many people as possible. So we’ve released a quick Guide to the New Bike Law to explain in plain language all the changes in the new law. http://www.massbike.org/bikebill/index.htm

BU and Craigie Bridges Update: January 27, 2009
The DCR is holding this follow-up meeting for the first two projects in the Accelerated Bridge Program. The initial public meetings on the BU and Craigie Bridges were very well-attended by the cycling community. When the DCR presented plans that did not adequately address bicycling, the negative response from cyclists was immediate, and the DCR heard you! The DCR has now promised a series of steps to ensure that bicycling needs are better addressed on these bridges and throughout the rest of the program. At this meeting, the DCR will show us their revised plans. We need lots of bicyclists at this meeting to give a strong response to whatever we see, good or bad. Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 6-8 pm, Kirsch Auditorium, Stata Center, MIT, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge.

First Annual Boston Bikes Update Report: January 29, 2009
LivableStreets Alliance will host the first “Boston Bikes Update Report” by the city’s Director of Bicycle Programs, Nicole Freedman. The public meeting will be held starting at 7 PM in the mezzanine conference room of the main branch of the Boston Public Library. The focus will be on future steps needed to create the “world class bicycling city” that Mayor Menino has promised. There will be additional discussion about what could be done to significantly expand the cycling population — and its political influence — by attracting “traffic intolerant” bicyclists, by installing low-cost bike-friendly infrastructure in all parts of the city, and by setting up programs to assure that low-income and non-white communities feel included, among other strategies. Thursday, January 29, 7 pm Boston Public Library, main branch at Copley, mezzanine conference room. MassBike will be participating in this event, and MassBike members are encouraged to attend.

Learn more about Mayor Menino’s bike initiatives and what’s in store for 2009!

Mayor Menino kicked off Boston Bikes a year ago with a strong commitment to transform bicycling in Boston. Since then, Boston Bikes has installed 250 racks, added several miles of bike lanes, started a bicyclist advisory board, worked with nearly 500 youth, and engaged over 7,000 cyclists in a variety of programs, both old and new. Hub On Wheels, Bike Friday, Bay State Bike Week, and Rock Roll & Ride were just some of the fantastic cycling events enjoyed by the Boston cycling public this year.
To learn more about the Mayor’s initiatives thus far and to find out what is in store for 2009, we invite you to join us for a public presentation sponsored by the Livable Streets Alliance. The presentation will take place on January 29th at the Boston Public Library Rabb Lecture Hall at 7:00 PM.

We also invite you to take the time to read the Boston Bikes Annual Summary. View the report at: http://www.cityofboston.gov/TridionImages/AnnualSummary2008_tcm1-3431.pdf

From Chris Porter of MassBike Metro Boston: Thanks to those of you who attended the BU Bridge hearing last Thursday.  There was a great crowd of bicyclists there, including some MassBikers.  Also, we heard some very heartening news from the DCR – they have committed to putting bike lanes on the BU Bridge!  They will be analyzing a variety of lane configurations while reconstruction of the bridge deck itself takes place over the next three years (it’s scheduled to start next spring).  They will also be looking at improvements to the bike/ped crossings at both ends of the bridge.  In addition, DCR is revitalizing its bike/ped advisory group, and the DCR Commissioner is committed to looking at other improvements up and down the Charles River Basin.  All this wouldn’t have happened without the efforts of MassBike and other advocacy groups!

We’re planning to start an A-B based Earn a Bike program, and Bikes not Bombs offered 5 spots in their upcoming training course for A-BbikesKIDZ (future) instructors. Two A-Bbikers have already signed up… there are 3 spots left so don’t wait too long! Applications are online at http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/involved … please be sure to indicate that you are applying for the A-BbikesKIDZ spots.

January 17-March 21 2009, every Saturday, 11am-2pm

Jan 17: Intro to BNB, Mechanics and Bike Safety
Jan 24: Flat Fixing, Safety Rodeo, Safety Video
Jan 31: Bottom Brackets
Feb 7: Front and Rear Hubs
Feb 14: Headsets
Feb 21: Behavior Management (mandatory)
Feb 28: Brakes
Mar 7: Derailleurs
Mar 14: Gender Sensitivity (mandatory)
Mar 21: Ride Preparation

DCR is planning to reconstruct the bridge as-is. This is your chance to advocate for improvements to the bridge such as bike lanes and better bike/pedestrian crossings at the Cambridge and Boston ends!
Boston University Bridge Rehabilitation Project – Public Meeting
Thursday, October 16, 2008, 6- 8 p.m.
BU College of General Studies
871 Commonwealth Avenue
Jacob Sleeper Auditorium (room 129 on lower level)
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings.htm

at http://www.cyclesnack.com/2008/10/section-211-of-bail-out-bill-as-it.html