Bike Lane Wall

If you can't tell from the photo, the snow continues to just before the next intersection, where the bike lane area is plowed again. There's the snowy tree space all along this where, theoretically, the snow could go, if they were to plow it.

Is there a reason why they don't?

Men On Bikes Are Sexy

Oh yes, they're good role models too, and all that. Still this flyer for the Green Streets Initiative leaves that extremely important aspect out of their call to action.

Whatever reason you ultimately choose, men we'd like to see you riding your bikes.

Ladies of the Street

Watch out for them, those cheap ladies hanging around in alleys. They catch your eye wearing their flashy ano and not much else (some even lack saddles!) You know that if you get closer to them you'll end up regretting it...

Parasol

It's a hot and sunny day here, but still I was surprised to see a lady riding with her parasol down the bike lane on Cambridge Street, Cambridge. Her orange parasol matches her orange fender.


She maintained her sun protection even as she dismounted at her destination!

Bay State Bike Week 2010

Today as I rode in to work I saw my first 2010 bicycle citation being issued by the Cambridge cops. That's the surest sign that Bay State Bike Week is about to begin!

That said, the pancake breakfasts and parties all over town make it all worthwhile. Just be safe and reasonable out there!

Donut Stop?

It seems that I am endlessly amused by the sight of a bike in front of Dunkin' Donuts. But you'll agree, this blue beauty looks good there. I've seen her elsewhere in Cambridge, such a pretty bike gets noticed.

"We all have to respect each other"

I think Nicole Freedman's statement regarding the two recent cycling accidents pretty much sums it up. We just all have to respect each other.

Please, stay safe and courteous. What sad days in Boston.

Marathon Monday Ride

My friend Cris alerted me to this ride last year, after I'd sadly already missed it. Won't make that mistake again! See the press release or read on....


Be a part of history with this bicycle endeavor. Since 1986, every Patriot's Day, a group of 40+ cyclists, lead by Hal Gabriel, join forces to bike the Boston Marathon path. It's a 52 miles excursion from Boston to Hopkinton and back. Be assured you will not be alone and there is enough support to get everyone through this trek.

Upon the participants return, the Greater Boston Central YMCA will provide free refreshments and Fitness Foundry will dole out free T-shirts. It's a Win, Win event.

Here are the details on 'Hal's 25th Annual Boston Marathon Day Ride':

52 Total Miles. 26 miles each way.
BYOB: Bring Your Own Bicycle
Cost: Free
Experience: All are welcomed
Date: April 19, 2010
Start Time: 6:00am EST
Estimated End Time: 10am
Location: The front steps of 'The Greater Boston Central YMCA' on Huntington Ave., Boston, Mass.
Weather: Rain or Shine.
Pre-requisite: Must sign agreement form to participate in physical activity.

Things to Consider:
Please arrive 20 minutes early to prepare for the ride.
They ride to the starting point in Copley Square.
There is no competition. Ride at your own pace.
Weather elements. Dress accordingly.
Be cautious of potholes.
Be smart and alert to surroundings.
Have Fun and Enjoy the Ride.
Hal’s motto for this year is “Keep Moving”…
Be well and stay active



Sounds like the closest I'm ever going to get to participating in the Boston Marathon so I'm planning to ride. Hope to see you there!

Boston Tweed Ride

The Boston Tweed Ride was a right good time, with at least 98 cyclists in their finest kit, a lovely mobile tea party, and beautiful bikes.

We were a cheery lot and may have recruited several new riders for next year, and there will be a next year.

This group photo is courtesy of Maileen Salazar, there are many more photos being added to the Boston Tweed Ride Flickr Pool and there's a spread at Bostonist.

Some writeups:
Old Spokes Home
Bike Me
Bostonist

No Bike in this photo : 2

A follow up to the broken cable lock, here's a U-lock compromised outside Target this week.

Be careful, there seems to be a rash of thefts recently!

No Bike in this photo

Spotted in East Cambridge, on the sidewalk. Be careful out there.

Make Way for Ducklings

I've seen some discussion about schools not allowing children to arrive by bicycle. I can tell you that is not happening in Cambridge! On our way to the café this morning we saw at least 15 little people under the age of 8 pedaling to school. This photo is of a bike rack in front of one of the schools, every rack and street sign was full.
Hurray!

Repair Station at MIT

Thanks to a tip from alert reader E, I got to check out the new repair station at the MIT Stata Center yesterday. It's located with the bike parking under a sheltered passageway, so you could work there when it's raining out. It's made by Dero, the same folks who make the racks we use at my office. This is the Fixit, and I wish the website showed how to hook your bike up there because I turned mine every which way and couldn't work out how it would stay up there (perhaps by seat tube they mean seat post?). Otherwise the selection of tools was nice, and I'm very grateful that MIT has provided this. Thank you MIT!

Next week I'll show you their new racks at the student center - they're really doing a great job of upgrading their bicycle infrastructure.

Cambridge Bicycle's Party Bikes

Here is a submitted set of photos from the Cambridge Bicycle bike party, which was rescheduled and I could not attend. Thanks are due to my friend C, who sent in photos and commentary. His thoughts, and my comments, below.

Apologies in advance about the blurry cameraphone pics, but I was at the Cambridge Bicycle commuter block party last night and thought you might appreciate these pictures of some swanky commuter bikes.

C, I do indeed, I think we all thank you so much for sharing these!


Red Independent Fabrication Step-through (!) with cork grips, Alfine internal gear hub and thermos holder.

I haven't ever seen this bike! WOW! It's beautiful!


don't remember maker of this one, but I just liked the wicker basket.

It's a gorgeous basket!



ANT Boston Roadster with blue powdercoat, Nexus internal gear hub, hammered Honjo fenders and one of Mike's chainguards.

I enjoyed chatting with the owner of this bike at the Friday party. I have been drooling on this bike on numerous occasions now, the owner of the bike is finally OK with it, though it's embarrassing to me.


Vintage Austro-Daimler frame, black with nice yellow accents. Pretty bike!

That is a beautiful bike, with a nice classically simple austerity to it.

The infamous "Man In Black" and his Velorbis won best All-Around commuter. The Sexiest bike awards were all grabbed by some rather h0tt fixed gears with nice custom paint jobs.

Thanks for the report C! Now we all want photos of your sexy bike!

UPDATE: I also have a photo of the larger group at the party, submitted by Lovely Bicycle:

Mystery Cargo Bike spotted at 77 Mass Ave.

The homemade cargo bike has been spotted at MIT. Seems fitting.

Someday I have to meet this person!

Bike Week Festivities

Bike Week is a day old and the energy has been great! I'm seeing lots of cyclists out, and even more I'm seeing lots of cyclists talking to each other. I think it is great for new cyclists to see that bike riders are a friendly, generous group and we should all make an effort to be extra friendly this week.

I had a brief chat with the father shown in the photo with his son on the trail-a-bike - they ride every day and were surprised to discover that they could get their tires pumped up by a cheerful MassBike volunteer, and get a free Clif Bar.


I have to thank Broadway Bicycle School for throwing their annual pancake breakfast again this year. The pancakes have real blueberries in them, the coffee is surprisingly good, and the social scene is the best. I saw over half of my Boston bike friends in the space of a half hour. I wish we all got together more often.

Thank you Broadway Bike!


The only negative news is that there have been Cambridge police officers waiting around both sides of 77 Mass Ave to pull cyclists over. I'm sure they'll tell you they're doing it for your own safety, but just be careful out there. It kinda seems like they're looking to make some ticket money off the brand new cyclists who don't know the traffic laws yet.

Happy Bay State Bike Week!

It's Bike Week across the country. Who's excited? I'm excited!

There are lots of fun activities in MA, certainly something for everyone. I am having a hard time choosing which I'll attend but my general list is as follows: I know the pancake breakfast at Broadway Bikes is not to be missed - see you there tomorrow. Tomorrow night (while I have class) there will be a film screening that I wish I could attend.

Thursday has the Back Bay breakfast I'll surely stop in for, and then later in the day will be the Cambridge Bicycle Shop open house. A little birdie told me they're going to have Toscanini's so I think I'd better stop in there. I wonder if I can enter my bike for their “Best Commuter Bike Contest”? I finally got a silver rack for the rear (very excited!!!) but it's en route I don't think I'll have a matching set in time. Oh well. There are lots of other things going on there, it looks worth checking out.
UPDATE: the event at Cambridge Bicycle has been postponed due to nasty weather. The rain date will be next Thursday, same time, 6pm-9:30pm. Please help spread the word!


The Swiss Consulate invites you to breakfast on Friday. I already have plans with our local government (Mayor Menino's Bike Week Festival) but if I were coming from anywhere near the Consulate in Cambridge I'd stop by to see the Swiss too.

How about you? What are you doing for bike week?

New Bike Racks

Hmm, they have new bike racks over near Cambridge Brewing Company. Must have been installed in the last week.

I think I like them. Nice look. They seem protective but it could be tough to get in there if there are lots of bikes. Of course that's true of the old designs too. Not sure how space-efficient they are. What do you think?

Mad at Mass

This makes me so angry! The Boston Globe reports that "Massachusetts has been allocated $135 million for bike and pedestrian funding since 1991, and has used $51.1 million."

"Durrant said the historically low rate of spending on bike and pedestrian projects in Massachusetts reflects decisions by past administrations to channel every available dollar to highways, especially the Big Dig, the $15 billion Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel project."

When people complain that we don't have the bike infrastructure to accommodate a bike share, the main reason cited is that the money doesn't exist to create one. But it turns out it DOES! Garrrrr!

Boston Commuters Are Back

It must be spring, the commuters are coming out again!


For those of you who haven't heard, Bay State Bike Week will be May 11-17. On May 15th there's even a free breakfast with Mayor Menino. So sign up and pledge your miles!