Dot Bike

This month has been a busy one for me (alas much non-bike related) so other than keeping up with our event calendar I haven’t had much time for posts.

Nonetheless DotBike has been working away on several things this last month including meeting with Dorchester Ave. planners about bike accommodations, planning with BNAN folks on strategies for closing the missing link in the Neponset Trail, preparing to push the T to install a bike cage at Ashmont and keeping our ear to the ground for other bike relevant issues.

Just want to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season and have a look below for a couple of ways you can help support biking in the new year with the new administration courtesy of Mass Bike.

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Opportunity #1: Funding for Bicycling in Economic Stimulus
MassBike has already been working with local and national advocates, state agencies, and our Congressional delegation to support funding for bicycling projects in the infrastructure spending currently being debated in Washington, DC as part of a massive economic stimulus package. Here is an opportunity for you to add your own voice via one of our national partners, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. RTC is compiling an online petition to send to President-Elect Obama and Congressional leaders, asking them to provide funding for trails, walking, and biking.

Click here to sign the petition

Opportunity #2: Make Bicycle Transportation a National Priority
Ideas for Change in America, a project of Change.org, is asking for public input on ideas for the incoming Obama Administration. Individuals can vote for ideas they support. One idea that is getting significant attention is to make bicycle transportation a national priority.

Click here to cast your vote

WINTER WARMUP PARTY at the BIKE SHOP

Support Bikes Not Bombs’ youth and international programs by buying your holiday gifts at the BNB Bike Shop!!

at Bikes Not Bombs’ Bike Shop, 18 Bartlett Square (see map here)

Bikes Not Bombs’ Bike Shop invites you to celebrate the winter riding season at an afternoon party with free hot drinks (including local hot cider and hot chocolate from direct trade, locally processed cacao from Taza Chocolate and fresh local milk, plus homemade cookies and cakes baked with love by BNB mechanics.

Bike Shop staff will be on hand to teach you how to patch a tube and fix a flat tire. If you’ve never learned this valuable skill, now is your chance to learn for free, while enjoying sweet treats!

The bike shop is filled with items that make great gifts, from bells to gloves, repair manuals to gift certificates, cozy woolen baselayers and caps by Ibex, and locally made Taza Chocolate bars, which will be appreciated by even the non-cyclists on your list! Remember, every purchase you make at the BNB Bike Shop helps support our programs for young people here in Boston and our projects overseas. We need your support now more than ever.

WINTER WARM-UP PARTY Schedule:

Saturday, December 13, 3-7 PM Enjoy home-baked cookies and treats, local apple cider and flat-fixing demos every half-hour, plus get a coupon for discounts on winter bike maintenance.

Sunday, December 14, 1-5 PM Taza Chocolate will be here to let you sample their distinctive stone-ground chocolate and answer questions, and we’ll make their delicious hot chocolate! Plus, BNB mechanics will give free flat-fixing demos every half-hour, and we’ll give out vouchers for discounts on winter bike maintenance.

Join Ciclismo Classico’s 12th Annual Jingle Ride!

Bring Your Holiday Cheer, Your Friends and Your Bike – Sunday, December 14
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GREAT WEATHER FORECAST
The weather is forecast to be partly cloudy and in the low 40’s, so get out your most festive and warm riding gear and get ready to pedal!

THE TRADITION CONTINUES! Don’t miss what has become the most anticipated Ciclismo event of every holiday season, the 12th Annual Jingle Ride to benefit Cycle Kids.

On what has become our most colorful, cheerful and musical ride of all, this annual gathering of fun-loving riders has helped generate over $500 to support Cycle Kids, just from last year’s ride.

Meet and ride with superguide Cristiano, who will be adding a little Italian flavor to this year’s festivities.

THE DETAILS

When  Sunday, December 14, 2008 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
10:30 am: Registration
11:00 am: On time departure

What   The Jingle Ride is a leisurely and festive 10-to-25 mile round-trip bike ride from Arlington Center to Boston, including the Charles River Bike Path and some of Boston’s most festive streets. We’ll ride into town, have lunch at Quincy Market before spinning back to Arlington via Boston’s historic Public Garden, Newbury Street, and the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge.

Bring your best singing voice, costume, jingle bells and bike decorations!

NEW Starting Point  Jam n’ Java (formerly Carberry’s), 594 Mass. Ave in Arlington Center (MAP)
If you would like to meet us in Cambridge or downtown, call 617-640-4837 for time and place. There will be fun prizes for best costumes!

Look for the WZLX Van  WZLX (100.7 FM) will be on hand to help spread the holiday cheer.  Be sure to check out their tent and meet DJ Chuck Nowlin who will also be riding.

We’ll provide free coffee, treats for kids and a repertoire of Christmas Carols to sing. We’ll stop for hot toddies and other goodies along the way. Don’t forget jingle bells for your booties and remember those layers!

Please RSVP
Register today by emailing us your name and number of riders.

Ride for a Cause
Each year, we ask participants to make a holiday donation to a local non-profit organization. For three years and running, riders will be asked to support Cycle Kids, an independent non-profit organization designed to introduce children to the joys of cycling, healthy eating and fitness, environmental awareness, and the world of physical science through after school cycling-focused programs.

Donations will be collected at the ride’s starting point. Cash and checks are accepted, payable to Cycle Kids. Suggested donation is $20 per rider.

I can’t make the ride, but I will make a holiday donation to Cycle Kids.

Need a great costume?
Check out Eastern Coast Costumes, 329 Moody Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, 1-800-924-6836.
 
After Party at Lauren’s House – Meet the Ciclismo Team and Past Travelers
After an invigorating ride full of holiday spirit, all riders are invited to the home of Lauren Hefferon, Director and Founder of Ciclismo Classico, for a post-ride “open house” celebration with lots of munchies and drinks.
 
Party Location Lauren’s House, 13 Marathon Street, Arlington. 3:30pm – 5:00pm
 
See you on Sunday, December 14 at Starbucks in Arlington Center!

Lauren Hefferon and the Ciclismo Classico Team

Dec 21 is the day of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the
year. There will be a metric century (62 miles) ride starting from
City Feed on Centre St in Jamaica Plain with rollout at 8:00 a.m.

The route will go thru Belmont, Concord, Arlington and a few other
towns. The pace will be doable for riders of all abilities and no one
will get dropped. It is just a fun winter ride!

Check the link below for info.

http://solsticecentury.wordpress.com/

You are invited to the next JP Bikes meeting on 12/9/08, in the Agassiz School (20 Child Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130) at 7:00 pm.The agenda for the meeting is posted below, if you would like to review it beforehand. Also, if you feel like bringing snacks to share, they are always welcome. We anticipate the meeting will run 1.5 – 2 hours, and as such plan to start at 7 sharp, though you are welcome to come later if you cannot be there right at 7.

In addition, we will be looking for people who would like to take more of a leadership position in JP Bikes, whether spearheading a specific project temporarily, or becoming a broader committee leader. If you think that describes you, please reply and let us know before the meeting so we can coordinate with you, especially if you are unable to attend tomorrow.

Just let me know if you have any questions about the meeting, or anything else, and I’ll do my best to answer intelligently.

Thanks and see you all tomorrow!

Jen Paulousky
_____________________
1. Icebreaker/introductions
2. Meeting guidelines/very brief explanation of our goals for the meeting
3. List of priorities with Subcomitties is presented to the group
A. Media committee
i. Website
ii. Google Groups/email list
iii. Blog
B. Ride Committee
i. Spring Kickoff/Bike Centre St.
ii. BRA co-planned ride
C. Advocacy Committee
i. Southwest Corridor
a. Paving
b. Safety/call box installation
ii. Emerald Necklace
a. Rt. 9 crossing
iii. Signage
a. Peter Firth’s project
D. Community Committee
i. Attend other local bike meetings for cross-reporting
ii. Attend City meetings as representatives of JP Bikes & cross-reporting
iii. Register new riders
E. Education Committee
i. Safety for bikers
ii. Inclement and off-season riding
4. Breakout into groups to brainstorm ACTION POINTS
A. Small steps to reach the first larger goal on that committee’s list
B. DEADLINES for small goals
5. Breakout groups present to the whole.
6. Announcements, time frame for next meeting, and wrapup.

With the days getting oh so much shorter now more than ever it is important to make oneself as visible as possible when the sun is down.  Here’s a great example of how one can do so.

This picture is of one of Debbie’s colleagues in Chicago and was obtained from Velocity a Seattle Area Bike Blog.  You can read how David fitted out his bike to be so very visible in detail here.

And for more on winter and night riding there are a couple of upcoming events that can help you get used to riding in the cold wet conditions of a New England winter.  For the ladies Bikes-not-Bombs is having a free women only workshop at their hub this coming Monday 12/8 and Rozzie Bikes is also having a free winter riding clinic Wednesday 12/10 at the Roslindale community center.  See the event calendar at the right for the details.

RozzieBikes Hosts Winter Biking Workshop Wednesday, December 10

A new Roslindale bicycling group for all ages, Rozzie Bikes, will hold its first event, “Winter Biking is Fun: Let Us Show You How”, on Wednesday evening, December 10th, at the at the Roslindale Community Center 160 Florence St. Refreshments will be served at 7:00 p.m. and three Roslindale winter cyclists will talk about and demonstrate their winter riding tips from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Would you like to keep biking to work when it gets colder? Would you like to extend your fun rides further into this season? Do you want to know how to keep your hands and feet warm? What about riding on snow or ice?

We can be practice what we learned on Rozzie Bikes first bike ride on Saturday, December 13th at 11:00, leaving from Adams Park in the center of Roslindale Square.
After one hour and approximately five miles, the group will stop for hot beverages at a local cafe. In case of rain–even winter bikers don’t like riding in cold rain– we’ll try again on Sunday, December 14th at 1:00 p.m.

Rozzie Bikes will be organizing more events, such as a spring ride and barbecue for parents and children, an Roslindale Emerald Necklace Ride to explore the green areas in Roslindale, and a presentation to the Longfellow Neighborhood Association in March.

For more information about us or winter biking, or to join our email list, check out our web site at http://www.RozzieBikes.org or email Doug Mink.

Wednesday December 3rd, 7:00 p.m.

***PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION***

Foley Senior Residences
249 River Street, Mattapan MA

Monthly meeting. All are welcome. For more information contact Candice Cook at BNAN at 617-542-7696 x16 or candice@bostonnatural.org or check out the BNAN site.