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.

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

The first A-Bbikes meeting of this year is scheduled for the same time as the DCR’s follow-up meeting regarding the BU bridge… so we’ll plan to meet briefly after the DCR meeting, location TBD by those attending. We hope to see you there!

Excerpts from MassBike’s last update re: the BU Bridge meeting…

BU (and Craigie ) Bridge(s) 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.

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!

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

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!

before A-Bbikerz and A-Bbikerkidz can ride the really fun parts o Ringer, we need to get rid of the broken glass, hypo needles, and other debris! volunteer to help clean up to prevent flat tires and injuries, and let Joan know you want to focus on the paths in the rocky area and you’re helping as part of A-Bbikes!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ANNUAL FUN FALL CLEAN UP OF RINGER PARK OCTOBER 4, 2008 – 9:00A.M. – 1:00P.M.

The Parents & Community Build Group, Inc.(501c3) and The Ringer Park Partnership Group are seeking volunteers for our Annual Fun Fall Clean Up of the 12.38 acres of Ringer Park on Saturday, October 4th from 9:00-1:00p.m. Volunteer and Join the Fun – Breakfast, Lunch, Refreshments, Work Gloves, Tools, etc. are provided. Volunteers can work any time that they choose. Ringer Park is MBTA accesible by Bus # 57 from Kenmore Station, #66 from Harvard and Dudley Stations to the Cambridge St./Union Square Stop, and the Green Line from the Allston Street Stop. Please Contact:JOAN PASQUALE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PGBG,INC. – RPPG, 617-254-0632, 617-254-7091 FAX, pcbginc@verizon.net, www.parentsandcommunitybuildgroup.org

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

A-Bbikes has been talking with the Boston Parks Dept., Greater Boston New England Mountain Bike Association, West End Boys and Girls Club, local bike retailers and others about developing a proposal for youth programming in Ringer Park in the rocky outcropping area that would include urban (bmx and mountain) bike programming. We’re very excited about working through new partnerships to explore how we can better utilize this area of our local park… stay tuned! If you’re interested in working with us on this project, please let us know at ABbikes@gmail.com (and please spread the word to others who may be interested and encourage them to contact us)!

posted o/b/o Peter, an A-Bbiker: “I bike. We have a 5 year old daughter and a trailer bike. She likes to bike. We live 3/4mi from her school. We live near Saunders St. and North Beacon, and her school is near Brentwood St. Yet we must cross the perilous Everett St bridge and so Mom says NO, so we drive her. My question is: what would you recommend in the short term, and are there efforts underway to help make this area safe for bikers? Thanks, Peter”