Dot Bike

Here is an opportunity to help yourself and a local business in this troubled economy.  Spend a little cash on some bicycle repair classes and save yourself scads of money on tuneups and minor repairs in the long run.  It’s just like making an investment without the risk of someone or something happening that makes much of that investment go bye bye.

Bike Repair Classes

every Thursday night thru March.

Feb 19-  Flats!        Absolutely everything you’d ever want to know about flat tires and fixing them.  Hands-on class, $30.

Feb 26-  Achy-brakey Bike  Fixing various brake issues and learning about different kinds of brakes.  Hands-on class, $30.

Mar 5- Gear Repair   Demystifying those derailers, ajusting your gears.  Hands-on class, $30.

Mar. 12  Wearing on your Bearings?  Learn what to do when you hear that creaky-crunchy hub or feel that loosey-goosey bottom bracket.  Hands-on class, $30.

Mar. 19  Well Spoken.  In-depth explanation and opportunity to practice spoke replacement and wheel truing.  Hands-on class, $30.

Basic classes are $5 each; hands-on classes are $30. Preregistration required for only the hands-on classes.  Register for 4 hands-on classes and get the fifth class FREE.

To register or for more information, call Ferris Wheels Bike Shop at (617) 524-BIKE or visit the shop at 66 South St., Jamaica Plain. FERRISWHEELSBIKESHOP.COM

Bring your sweetie or come looking for that special cycling someone! The first ride in the 2009 MassBike Spins Ride Series will be Saturday, February 14th, at 11am. The ride will start in Boston Common near the Brewer Fountain (corner of Park and Tremont). The ride will last about an hour and we will travel at a very leisurely pace. The ride will end at the Boston Common but if people are interested we can ride to several locations to get hot chocolate or lunch after (be sure to bring some money if you are interested in this option). Extreme weather will cancel. Led by MassBike’s own Shane Jordan and James McBride. RSVP to via email to Shane. Wearing red and pink is encouraged.

Where is our healthy food sold?
Where are our bike paths?
Where are our healthy parks?

WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO IMPROVE
FOOD AND FITNESS CHOICES

The Codman Square Health Council presents

LEARN, THINK, LIVE & BE HEALTHIER

hosted by the BOLD Teens

Eat, share and have your voice heard.
HELP PLAN FOR THE YEARS AHEAD

Wednesday, February 18, 2009
5:30 – 8 pm
The Great Hall
6 Norfolk Street (corner of Talbot & Washington St.) Dorchester, MA 02124

For more information call 617-822-8189. Childcare and some interpretation will be provided.
Sponsored by the Codman Square Health Council, organized by FAMILY, Inc.

Partners and Participants :
BOLD (Breath of Life:Dorchester ) Teens
Mayor Menino
Dorchester Community Collaborative (DCC)
Boston Public Schools
Boston University School of Public Health Students
Boston Medical Center
Caritas Carney Hospital
MassBike
Codman Academy Charter Public School
WalkBoston
Codman Square Health Center and DotWell
The Dorchester Reporter
Codman Square Neighborhood Council
The Boston Globe
Codman Sq. Neighborhood Development Corp. & Stars Program
Boston Regional Center for Healthy Communities
Epiphany School
Mt. Washington Bank
Wheelock College
Boston Urban Asthma Coalition
Dorchester YMCA
Lead Action Collaborative
The Food Project
UMass- Boston- Upward Bound
Dot Bike
Harvard School of Public Health
Boston Bike
The Medical Foundation
REACH 2010
Home for Little Wanderers- Hope House
Blue Hill Boys and Girls Club
Neponset Community Health Center
Melville Park Association
Safe Neighborhood Initiative
St. Mark Civic Association
Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses
Kit Clark Senior Center
GOTCHA- DSNI- Uphams Corner youth
Dorchester Youth Council-SCI
Teen Leaders AT Work- MASSCOSH
REEP- ACE
BAGLY- Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth
Ashmont Hill Association
Project RIGHT
Health Works of Dorchester
MBTA
Governor Deval Patrick
Boston Police Department
Boston Public Health Commission
Boston Parks and Recreation
Boston Centers for Youth and Families
Elected officials of city and state
Greater Four Corners Action Coalition
Four Corners Main Streets
CIA (Community Improvement Association)
TNT (Talbot Norfolk Triangle) & Project Ministries

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness (BCFF)
(Call 617-279-2240 x 514 or x 519)
a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Initiative

As you surely know, the house and senate are currently considering a massive economic stimulus package to get us out of this lovely economic situation a bunch of twits got us into.  A big part of the package includes money for infrastructure improvements as well as green energy technologies.  I heard, although have not confirmed for myself, that Massachusetts was one of the only (if not the only state) to not request money to build new highways but rather to request money for improving/repairing existing bridges and roadways and build more mass transit related infrastructure.  If true, good for us!

In any case, law makers in other regions had some different ideas.  Notably Senator Jim DeMint (R) South Carolina attempted to insert the following amendment into the Stimulus package:

“Prohibition on use of funds for trails and off-road vehicle routes.
None of the funds made available under this Act shall be used for bicycle, walking, or wilderness trails, or off-road vehicle routes.”

DeMint was immediately admonished by Oregon representative Earl Blumenauer and it was subsequently reported that the above language did not make it into the package as currently being considered.  However, advocates warn that more language of this sort can be expected in future Bills.

For coverage and commentary on this issue you can look here and here.

If you want to help make sure that this type of language and wrong headed attitude stays out of pending legislation contact your Senators and Representatives and let them know what you think of this sort of thing.

Join us for this spring tradition, exploring the Neponset River watershed in Boston and Milton on a 15-mile bike ride.
This year we will concentrate on the history of the river.
Meet at the parking lot on Brush Hill Road off the Neponset Valley Parkway by Paul’s Bridge on the Hyde Park-Milton line.
Pre-registration is recommended.
Call 617-542-7696 or email info@bostonnatural.org.

As part of the Governor’s accelerated  bridge project the DCR will begin work on phase II of the Neponset Bridge that connects Dorchester and Quincy.  If you’ve ever tried riding across this bridge you know that you’re either taking your life or your bike in your hands.  That is either competing for space with fast moving traffic or carrying your bike down sets of stairs and ending up not exactly where you wanted to be.

Come to a meeting this coming Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Quincy town hall (1302 Hancock St., Quincy) to hear what the DCR has planned and give your input.   Close to the Quincy Center stop on the Braintree redline branch.

 DCR to hold meeting on Neponset bridge rehab on Tuesday at Quincy City Hall

Replacing the deck on the Neponset River Bridge between Dorchester and Quincy will be on the agenda at a Department of Conservation and Recreation meeting next Tuesday. The rehabilitation is part of Gov. Deval Patrick’s Accelerated Bridge Program, which will spend $3 billion statewide and $906 million on DCR bridges. The work on the Neponset bridge is set to begin in late 2009. The public is invited to give input on the project on Tues., Feb. 10, 6 p.m. at Quincy City Hall, 1302 Hancock St., Quincy.

As announced in the Feb 5th Dorchester Reporter

 There’s a deep layer of white stuff out there – please join us for the first annual Franklin Park Winter Snow Festival – this Saturday, February 7th from 1:00-4:00pm

There’ll be:

• Snowshoes to borrow thanks to REI
• A cross country ski tour at 1:00pm (bring your own skis) – led by DotBike’s own Mike & Becky
• Sledding – we have a few sleds, bring yours if you have one
• Snowman and Snow-women building contest
• Animal tracking in the snow with the Boston Nature Center
• Board games, hot chocolate and soup in the Clubhouse

It’s meant to be a “warm” day – up in the 40s – and it will be beautiful in the park, as always. Hope you can make it.

All activities start at the Golf Clubhouse.

Enrique Peñalosa speaks at Bikes Not Bombs

Saturday February 7th 3:30 – 5 p.m. at the Bikes Not Bombs Hub 284 Amory St (in the Brewery complex), Jamaica Plain, MA

Did you ever wonder how the urban space could be redesigned to be equitable
and accessible for all people? Come see an inspiring presentation by Enrique
Peñalosa, an internationally reknowned speaker who transformed Bogotá,
Colombia into a model of transportation justice during his term as mayor.

Bikes Not Bombs is proud to host a presentation on transforming cities into
more equitable and happier places to live. You are invited to come hear the
talk and ask questions afterwards! This event is free and open to the
public. RSVP is encouraged but not required.

To RSVP, drop a line to mail<AT>bikesnotbombs.org

BNB DANCE PARTY FUNDRAISER at the MILKY WAY
Sunday Feb 15th
starting at 8pm at the Milky Way Lounge and Lanes
DANCING! DJs! RAFFLE! POOL & CANDLEPIN! BOLDSPRINTS!

Come dance the night away! Have fun raising money to support an
awesome organization (and your great local bike shop!) Buy some
raffle tickets and win some fabulous prizes!

DJs Patrick & Stella of Gross Anatomy
DJ D’Hana of The Neighborhood
DJ Lonewolf of Todo Mundo

The raffle will include great prizes by local businesses, as well as
Baileyworks, Swerv Cycling Apparel, the BNB retail shop, and more!
Boldsprints means head-to-head bike racing on rollers, making that
solitary winter training into a social event.

$5-20+ sliding scale – cover charges raised go entirely to BNB. All
Milky Way events are 21+.