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.

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

check out http://boston.mybikelane.com/

Complete the online survey being conducted in order to inform the community benefits process with Harvard University at: http://www.abcommunitysurvey.com The survey includes questions about cycling and lots of other issues important to our community!

Hello everyone,

I want to direct your attention to today’s Freep articles that talk about biking on campus.

On the front page is an article about a biker who was hit on Comm Ave:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2008/09/17/News/Cyclist.Hit.Near.Bu.Bridge-3435662.shtml

And an article about the bike lanes:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2008/09/17/News/Bike-Lanes.A.Mixed.Blessing.For.Bicyclists-3435661.shtml

Then the editorial:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2008/09/17/Opinion/Staff.Edit.Not.An.OpenDoor.Policy-3435674.shtml

and a student letter:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2008/09/17/Opinion/Letter.Concerns.About.Cyclists.Safety.Cannot.Be.Ignored-3435678.shtml

Thanks to the Freep for making this such a big issue, and we all need to pressure BU to promote biking on campus. The fact that BU passes the buck saying that it’s the City’s job to monitor the bike lanes on Comm Ave frankly is unacceptable. It is their campus and their students who use the lanes, so it should be their concern to make sure they actually work and are safe by keeping cars from parking in the lanes and enforcing safety on all accounts, for bikers, drivers, and pedestrians. I hope we can continue this discussion with the administration, and I urge everyone to add their voice.

thanks for the consideration.
best,
mook

Interdisciplinary Consortium on Urban Planning and Public Health  (ICUPPH)
HAPPY HOUR Thursday, September 18, 7-9 pm @ Tavern in the Square, Central Square, Cambridge
An opportunity to meet a diverse, engaged group of people in your community interested in exploring the intersection of urban planning and public health; networking, idea generating, and merry-making will ensue.
AND…
Kick-off planning meeting:  Find out about upcoming events and get involved!! Monday, September 22, 6-8 pm @Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge building (contact icu…@gmail.com for visitors pass)
For more information:  icu…@gmail.com, http://icupph.wikidot.com
See you there!!!

posted on behalf of Alex Selvig:

The BC Task Force, appointed by Mayor Menino to review BC’s Master Plan, has recommended more emphasis on alternative transportation and bike lanes. There’s a meeting next Tuesday at Brighton Marine Hospital on Warren St at 6.30PM. Weigh in and make car use reduction and bike lanes a top priority!
From the BCTF Letter: “Alternative Transportation [...] Unfortunately, the master plan provides no systematic approach foralternative modes of transportation. In a time when the environment is of paramount concern, Boston College has no serious plans for the use of bikes, for an increase in car pooling or for the expanded use of public transportation in the next ten years (a careful review of the master plan reveals that these issues are given cursory attention and that there are no real plans proposed). Boston College should be required to provide a detailed plan for the development of bike lanes to, from, and between its campuses. [...] The Task Force advanced these views in its earlier review of Boston
College’s IMPNF. The Task Force regrets that Boston College failed to respond to these concerns when revising its plan. At a time of increasing concern about the environment and rising gasoline prices, the Task Force finds Boston College’s failure to embrace alternative means of transportation to its campus both problematic and puzzling.”
Let’s make this happen! Alex

Contact Boston Ski Market for details! 617-731-6100