MassBike, through generous sponsorship from our partner, the Environmental Insurance Agency, will be offering four more fall classes free of charge open to the public. The classes will held in downtown Boston, at the Conservation Law Fund office , EIA’s HQ.

We will be offering our standard Commuter Workshop, two Maintenance Classes, and one Winter Commuter Workshop for those of you looking to continue riding as the weather starts to cool.

The Commuter Workshop is a fast-paced, one hour workshop covers topics ranging from bike choice, gear choice, route planning, safety, rules of the road, how to look professional when you get to work, and other general tips and tricks. It is a great introduction to a variety of aspects of bicycling, and most people leave this class feeling much more confident about riding their bicycle.

The Maintenance Workshop covers how to fix a flat, how to adjust your seat post, how to lube your chain, and a basic overview of bike parts and what they do. Presenters bring all tools/props needed to teach this class, so attendees will not need to bring anything other than themselves to this presentation (please do not bring a bicycle to be repaired). This class will teach you the absolute basics you will need in order to perform some of the most common bicycle upkeep tasks.

The Winter Commuter Workshop contains an abbreviated version of the summer workshop as well as additional tips for how to stay warm and dry. We’ll also covers how to maintain your bike, special gear for the winter, and safety tips for dealing with cold and wet weather.

Here is the class schedule:

Wednesday, September 15th: Maintenance Workshop 6:30pm-7:30pm
Wednesday, September 22nd: Commuter Workshop 6:30pm-7:30pm
Tuesday, September 28th: Maintenance Workshop 6:30pm-7:30pm
Wednesday, October 6th: Winter Commuter Workshop 6:30pm-7:30pm

(learn more about these classes here)

Each class is one hour long, and is limited to 30 students. These classes are easy to reach by both bike and public transportation, so they will fill up quickly. Be sure to RSVP by emailing Shane@massbike.org. Specify how many people will be attending and the date of the class you wish to attend.

Check out our calendar for more class listings.

Here’s another great story from our And I Ride campaign! We are seeking to put a face on cycling in support of a legislative campaign that we are working on this year. You can read the rest of these great bicyclist bios here.

We are still accepting entries, so be sure to read below to find out how to send in your story.

Our next story comes from Herb.

Where I Ride: mountain biking all over NE. Commuting from Sullivan MBTA lot to downtown Boston

How Often I Ride: 4-5 days a week

My Story:

Biking is my release from all things that eat me up all week, family, work, stress – everything.

Mountain biking gives me alignment with who I am and what my goals are.

Commuting, although not that long of one, allows me some exercise in the morning (along with stimulation of not getting killed) and enjoyment of the sights and smells (north end bakeries) and in the evening unwinds me for the final car commute home.

Thanks Herb!

We want to hear your story. Tell us about yourself and how bicycling is a part of your life. Just copy and paste the form below into an email, fill it in, and send it to shane@massbike.org.

• Name:
• Email:
• Where You Ride:
• How Often You Ride:
• Your Profession/Relation/Title (lawyer, nurse, Grandma, son, etc):
• A picture of you on your bicycle, or you in your daily life (be sure we can see your face):
• A paragraph or two about your life and your bicycle:

Here’s a great story from our And I Ride campaign! We are seeking to put a face on cycling in support of a legislative campaign that we are working on this year. You can read the rest of these great bicyclist bios here.

We are still accepting entries, so be sure to read below to find out how to send in your story.

Our next story comes from Phil.

Where I Ride: Boston & it’s environs
How Often I Ride: all year round

My Story:

I’m Phil Lindsay and I bike to work! I have lived and ridden in Boston for 29 years. I ride year round from Dorchester to my job as the Oil Program Director for Mass Energy in Jamaica Plain. I moved to Dorchester in 1984 and immediately got involved in community advocacy. I’ve been part of crime watches, civic groups, recycling drop offs, Main Street programs, School Site Councils as well as my local church and historical society. I’ve had a front row seat to witness a generation of positive change in the city of Boston.

Two years ago I became an outspoken member of Dot Bike, Boston’s first grassroots neighborhood bike advocacy organization. Through my involvement, I’ve come to believe riders in Dorchester are under estimated and under served. My ‘I bike to work’ persona is intended to draw attention to the fact that most riders in Dorchester do so because it is the cheapest and most reliable form of transportation available, not because they think they look good in spandex. You can see for yourself by checking the DOT Bikes Flickr account. I’ve worked to post hundreds of photos of regular folks riding in Dorchester. Perhaps my sign should instead read, “DOT bike(s) to work!”

Thanks Phil!

We want to hear your story. Tell us about yourself and how bicycling is a part of your life. Just copy and paste the form below into an email, fill it in, and send it to shane@massbike.org.

• Name:
• Email:
• Where You Ride:
• How Often You Ride:
• Your Profession/Relation/Title (lawyer, nurse, Grandma, son, etc):
• A picture of you on your bicycle, or you in your daily life (be sure we can see your face):
• A paragraph or two about your life and your bicycle:

Here’s another great story from our And I Ride campaign! We are seeking to put a face on cycling in support of a legislative campaign that we are working on this year. You can read the rest of these great bicyclist bios here.

We are still accepting entries, so be sure to read below to find out how to send in your story.

Our next story comes from Erich.

Where I Ride: The backroads of Williamstown, Massachusetts,
winding me in and out of New York and Vermont and up and down way too many hills to count.
How Often I Ride: Around 3 times a week

My Story:
What first started as cross-training for my alpine ski racing career in high-school quickly enveloped me. I love to bike. I keep two bikes on campus with me and do everything from long-distance touring to mountain biking and road races. Someday I plan on crossing the country with only a bike and 4 panniers. I have ridden in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge for two years and am ready to go on my third, two-day trek across Massachusetts this August.

Thanks Erich!

We still want to hear your story. Tell us about yourself and how bicycling is a part of your life. Just copy and paste the form below into an email, fill it in, and send it to shane@massbike.org.

• Name:
• Email:
• Where You Ride:
• How Often You Ride:
• Your Profession/Relation/Title (lawyer, nurse, Grandma, son, etc):
• A picture of you on your bicycle, or you in your daily life (be sure we can see your face):
• A paragraph or two about your life and your bicycle:

MassBike Executive Director David Watson has been appointed to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s new statewide advisory committee. The Transportation Advisory Committee, which meets for the first time later this month, will advise the MassDOT board and leadership. MassBike will have a direct say in the full range of transportation issues facing the state. The committee represents a wide range of interests and MassDOT gets credit for including advocates for sustainable transportation in keeping with the Healthy Transportation Compact and the GreenDOT Initiative.

UPDATE: We just received the charter for the committee, which provides more insight into what the committee will be doing:

Transportation Advisory Committee Charter

The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) is an independent body appointed by the Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Its purpose is to serve as public forum to discuss issues related to the implementation of the Commonwealth’s transportation reform legislation enacted in 2009, and to verify and observe MassDOT progress on reform.

The TAC will serve as a resource to the MassDOT Board of Directors and the MassDOT itself by providing input and feedback on DOT initiatives. They will offer advice to MassDOT leaders, provide feedback on how MassDOT policies are being implemented, and serve as independent validators on the progress, success, and shortcomings of transportation reform.

While the exact framework of their meetings and organization is left to the TAC, MassDOT expects that they will meet at least quarterly, and will work through subcommittees to study various topics related to transportation reform. Its members, chaired by Alan Macdonald, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, are leaders and experts in the transportation field, representing all modes and regions of the Commonwealth.