The Massachusetts Trails Team (MassTrails) recently announced the release of a new interactive Priority Trails Network vision map for current and future shared-use path projects throughout the Commonwealth. The map provides a centralized inventory of key rail trail projects that will help support an envisioned comprehensive statewide transportation trail network. MassBike is encouraged by the release of this map as it signals a commitment to building a statewide trail network that serves as a critical piece of our transportation infrastructure.

The map specifically identifies approximately 320 miles of trails that have been constructed and are in use, 24 trails that are currently under construction, and another 60 miles of proposed paths that have been funded but not yet constructed. Additionally, the map lists priority shared-use path project locations that either have been proposed for consideration or will be pursued for funding and development to help address key gaps in the network. This will be a crucial tool for advocates across the state who are tracking their local trail projects and garnering support for trails in their community.

In 2022, the legislature included $1M in the transportation bond bill to establish e-bike rebates in Massachusetts and directed the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to conduct an evaluation of how to implement the program. 

The bill unlocked funding for DOER to provide rebates for electric bicycles similar to their electric vehicle rebate program and evaluate whether the rebate can take place at point-of-sale through retailers. E-bike purchasers would receive a rebate of up to $500 for electric bicycles (and up to $750 for low- and moderate-income consumers), not more than 40% of the retail price of the purchase.

Along with being Bike Month, May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Most bicyclists know the feelings of relaxation and joy that come with a simple bike ride. Bicycling can be moving meditation, a soothing activity for both your body and mind. With each ride, you also enjoy fresh air and nature, which most see as a natural mood booster.

But you don’t have to take our word on the mental health benefits of bicycling, scientific research on the topic backs up our experiences! According to the CDC, the immediate health benefits of physical activity for adults include, improved sleep quality, reduced anxiety, and lower blood pressure. The Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines, also state that physical activity can reduce the risk of depression and lead to an improved quality of life.

Northampton Mayor Sciarra reads Bike to Work Day Proclamation in 2022

National Bike to Work Week will take place May 15-21, 2023, and Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 19th. We’re excited to see communities across the Commonwealth are already gearing up for Bike to Work Week by planning bike commuter-focused events.

Bike to Work Week is the perfect time to try out bike commuting or to encourage your friends and co-workers to try biking to work if it’s already a part of your daily routine. Across Massachusetts, there will be bike commuter events to help you to leave your car keys at home and opt for some pedal-powered transportation.

The Massachusetts mandatory 4-foot passing law for vulnerable road users has now been in effect for over a month and Bay State Bike Month is a great opportunity to bring more awareness to this new law. For example, on May 11, 2023, WalkBike Springfield is hosting a Bike Audit on the Roosevelt Ave Corridor, where they’ll be attaching 4-foot foam noodles to their bicycles to demonstrate the new law. Municipalities and local advocates across the commonwealth have been doing their part to put together educational 4-foot passing campaigns.

Beginning on May 1st, Bay State Bike Month returns for another year of bike-friendly celebrations across the Commonwealth! The MassBike team is gearing up to join events across the State and we're looking forward to experiencing all the #BikeJoy. 

We want to see how your community is celebrating Bike Month. Please share photos by tagging us on social media or sending them to [email protected] We may feature them in an upcoming email or a Bike Month blog.

Bay State Bike Month depends on support from our generous sponsors. Thank you for keeping Bike Month Rolling in 2023:

• Platinum Sponsors: Biogen, HubLuv, Lyft
• Gold Sponsors: Harvard Transportation & Parking
• Silver Sponsors: Alexandria, Helen & William Mazer Foundation, Landry’s Bicycles, WS Development
• Bronze Sponsors: Alta Revolution, Assembly Connect, Boynton Yards, DivcoWest, Longwood Collective, MathWorks, UMass Transportation Center

A list of bike-friendly events across the State can be found on the Bay State Bike Month Calendar! If you're hosting a bike-related event this May, submit it today to be featured in an upcoming Bike Month email & on MassBike's social media channels.

Read on to learn about our Bike Month Photo Challenges and how you can win cool prizes by riding your bike!

Alejandro, Galen, Vivian, & Larry with MassBike's Kittie Knox Display

During the last week of March, MassBike staff and Massachusetts advocates participated in the National Bike Summit hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. The summit was hosted in a hybrid fashion, with some participants making their way down to DC to enjoy learning from fellow bike advocates in the midst of peak cherry blossom season, while others tuned in to virtual workshops and plenary sessions. No matter how folks engaged, there was a lot to learn from the educational sessions offered by the Bike League and fellow participants.

Educational Sessions & Workshops

The Bike Summit was packed with three days of educational sessions and workshops. On Sunday, Galen and Jes took part in the Active Transportation Leadership Institute. They attended sessions about campaigning for slower speeds, membership programs for bike advocacy organizers, benchmarks for better biking and walking, partnering on state/local campaigns with national experts, and more. These sessions allowed the MassBike team to trade ideas with bicycling advocates from across the country and national experts. 

A conceptual plan made by Stantec could be used to redesign the Mass/Appleton corridor.

On March 13th, MassBike Executive Director, Galen Mook, and State Senator Will Brownsberger, hosted a webinar discussing the new vulnerable road users laws that will go into effect in Massachusetts on April 1, 2023.

The laws include a variety of measures that will increase roadway safety across the commonwealth. Senator Brownsberger noted that this legislative win has been in the works for the past ten years and was a testament to the collaborative efforts of legislators and advocates. Mook provided an overview of the new laws and fielded a robust Q&A from participants.

You can view the webinar on the MassBike YouTube Channel and check out the Vulnerable Road Users Laws webinar slides. Below you will find an excerpt from our Massachusetts Vulnerable Road Users Laws One-Pager and the most pertinent questions from our Q&A session.

Lexington LCI Seminar - October 2021

MassBike is hosting a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Seminar in Worcester this April to increase the number of quality bicycling instructors in Massachusetts. We're seeking folks passionate about bicycling to join this intensive training program designed to prepare participants to facilitate bicycling education and get more folks riding. During the course, attendees will learn a variety of instruction techniques and practice on-bike skills to teach riders of all ages.