History

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1977: The Boston Area Bicycle Coalition, was founded in February 1977 by Anita Brewer, Cathy Buckley, and Jonathan Fine.

1978: Helped publish the first Boston Bike Map.

1981: MassBike member John S. Allen published The Complete Book of Bicycle Commuting. A shorter version of this work, Bicycle Street Smarts, has been continuously in print and has recently become the official Bicycle Drivers Manual of several states.)

1986: MassBike opened its first office in 1986, in Kendall Square, Cambridge.

1987: Pushed the MBTA to allow bikes on the commuter rail. (more Massbike/MBTA history here.)

Late 1980s: In the late 1980s, thanks in large part to MassBike’s work, several important bike paths were completed, including the Southwest Corridor Linear Park and the Jamaicaway bike path (Boston Bike Paths). MassBike was heavily involved in lobbying for and ensuring these paths were built. MassBike successfully prodded Governor to appoint State Bicycle Advisory Committee.

1992: After seventeen years of hard work and encouragement by MassBike and other cycling advocates, the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway from Cambridge to Bedford was opened as the nation’s 500th rail-trail. Today, it is one of the most popular rail-trails in the United States. MassBike worked tirelessly from its inception to advocate for the creation of the trail.

1993: The Boston Area Bicycle Coalition goes state wide becoming the Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts (BCOM).

1996: Passage of landmark Bicycle/Pedestrian Access Law, guaranteeing that bicyclists must be accommodated in all new roadway projects. As of 2005, Massachusetts was still one of only four states nationwide to have this critical law.

1998: The Bicycle Coalition of Massachusetts becomes the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition or MassBike for short.

2000: Convinced MBTA to eliminate requirement that bicyclists must have a pass to carry their bikes on the T, and secured the right to carry a folding bike on the T at all times. (more Massbike/MBTA history here.)

2001: Prevented passage of a dangerous bill to require bicyclists in Massachusetts to ride facing traffic.

2004: Successfully lobbied the MBTA to dramatically increase hours bikes are allowed on the subway. Passed legislation requiring the RMV to update Drivers’Manual to include bike safety information. Completed national resource guide, funded by U.S. EPA, to facilitate rail-trail creation. Completed national police bike law training curriculum with federal grant from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Created 80 page guidebook on starting a local Bicycle Advisory Committee. (more Massbike/MBTA history here.)

2005: Convinced Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee to train new and veteran police officers in bicycle laws, using a curriculum developed by MassBike. Pushed Governor to form State Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Successfully persuaded Congressional delegation to support funding of key bike projects, including Safe Routes to School ($5 million+ over five years for Massachusetts) and critical bike path expansions. Worked with MBTA to secure 250 new bike racks on buses.

2006: Worked with MassHighway to redesign state’s official roadway design manual to ensure it is more bicycle-friendly. Helped Somerville Bicycle Committee pass Somerville bike parking ordinance, requiring that new residential and business developments include bike parking. Successfully pressured MBTA to restore indoor bike parking at Back Bay T station.

2008: Started our Safe Routes To School pilot program reaching over 1500 students with our bicycle safety education.
Performed a bicycle audit of most of the major neighborhoods in Boston.
MassBike was instrumental in getting Bike Cages installed at the Alewife T-station in Cambridge.

2009:

  • After 8 years of hard work MassBike secured the passage of the Bicyclists Safety Bill which made several important changes to the bicycling laws in Massachusetts.
  • Continued to expand our Safe Routes To School education program reaching over 2500 students
  • Parked over 500 bicycles as part of our expanding bicycle valet service.
  • Upgraded our website!
  • MassBike worked with other advocacy groups to get an ordinance passed in Boston resulting in 100$ fine for vehicles parked in bike lanes. (official pdf here, Image of letter sent by Massbike here)
  • Worked hard to get another set of Bike Cages installed at the Forest Hills T-station in Boston. (more)

2010:

  • Fought hard with other advocacy groups to save the bike lanes on the Longfellow bridge. (more here and here)
  • Led effort to revise bike/ped engineering directive (more here)
  • Announced new pro-infrastructure policy. (more here)
  • Supported mountain biking in Middlesex Fells (more here)
  • Launched the “and I ride” campaign, to put a face on cycling. (more here)
  • Made sure cyclists could ride on the streets of Nantucket (more here)
  • Successfully worked with the RMV to create new bicycle safety questions to be included in the motorist driver’s manual and on the written test.
  • Went to Washington D.C. to fight for federal funding for bike projects in Massachusetts.(more here)
  • Launched the Building for Bicycling campaign to gain infrastructure on precedent-setting projects across the state. (more here)
  • Worked with the MBTA and other advocates to create a new bicycle safety training for bus drivers to ensure that drivers are aware of bicyclists and are safe around them. All drivers will take at least part of the training over the next two years. (more here)
  • Held the first MassBike Chapter Summit to improve support to current chapters and encourage the formation of new ones. (more here)
  • Began working with the Boston Police to provide training for officers on bicyclists’ rights and concerns. (more here)

2011:

  • Started a new legislative campaign, the Vulnerable Road Users Bill, aimed at increasing motorist awareness of bicyclists and pedestrians. (more here)
  • Continued work on police training to ensure that officers in Massachusetts know bicyclists’ rights and concerns. (more here)
  • MassBike collaborated with the MBTA and the Chelsea Creek Action Group (CCAG) to initiate a 6-month pilot project on the Blue Line to allow additional bicycle access in both inbound and outbound directions. (more here)
  • Despite a slow start—Price, MassBike’s Program Manager, was hired in April—the Safe Routes To School education program has reached over 1200 students
  • Began designing an advocacy toolkit so that local advocates and individuals have what they need to effectively work for better bicycling in their own communities. (more here)
  • Ensures that the $3 billion designated to fix bridges across the state includes accessibility for bicycles in each bridge design.
  • Works to get more bicyclists on our streets and paths through the Bay State Bike Week, valet bike parking, Pump & Lube Stations, and the MassBike Spins Ride Series.