Re-Founder of Transportation Alternatives Speaks on 21s Century Activism

The keynote speaker for the Second Annual MassBike Boot Camp will be longtime transportation advocate Charles Komanoff of New York City.

“Charlie’s work - in cycling, energy and transportation - has been nothing short of profound. Rarely do we find people who have such cache as both an academic and an activist,” said Richard Fries, executive director of MassBike. “I’ve followed his work for decade and completely understand why mayors and governors respect this person.”

Yesterday, MassBike, along with a team of investigative partners, released a video to challenge a police investigation that failed to charge a truck driver in the 2015 death of Dr. Anita Kurmann.

Simply learning the rhythm of the calendar has taken me some time. I believe I’ve brought a different perspective to running a non-profit but I’ve had to learn a whole lot from some fantastic individuals who have worked hard in this field for years, if not decades.

As the holidays approach every non-profit turns towards membership drives, raising funds, setting budgets, and preparing annual reports for a board. We look where we have gone and where we want to go. 

This Tuesday, December 19th, MassBike goes live! Join us via Facebook Live for a day of panels and discussion centered around MassBike's legislative work, connectivity across the state, and how this impacts you!

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. After celebrating Thanksgiving, hearing all about Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, we know you've had a lot going on in the last few days. A lot of folks are selling you things. A lot of folks are asking for things.

But we really need your help with this one.

I had intended this report to be more celebratory, given we did not record a single bicycle fatality in October. Mind you we were very busy helping to prepare for the November 19 World Day of Remembrance. We’re helping to drive a powerful report on the death of Dr. Anita Kurmann; we helped organize and attended the ghost bike service in Beverly for Peabody firefighter Dan Pimenta. And we also continued to work on the legacy of Joe Lavins, another talented doctor, of Lexington.

But I SO MUCH wanted to comment on the glorious light of October and pedaling about paths and trails and roads amid summer temperatures reluctant to leave us. Foliage rides in Fall River, Topsfield and Carlisle yielded experiences of near rapture for me. A trail ride with our board member Jon Brideau, including a detour for the Swamp Walk and a bakery, added to the gifts of the warmest October of recent record.

Massachusetts ranked as 4th Bicycle Friendly State by the League of American Bicyclists

The League of American Bicyclists (League) released its 2017 Bicycle Friendly State ranking. This is the League’s 9th Bicycle Friendly State rank and first since 2015. Massachusetts was ranked as the fourth Bicycle Friendly State (BFSSM).

To see each state’s ranking, report card, and learn more about the data used for the ranking please visit the following links:

• Ranking

• Report Cards

• Bicycle Friendly Action Maps and other materials

I often refer to Massachusetts as the World’s Largest College Town, and in September we got a strong reminder of that. The entire Bay State just buzzes with students on bikes from Boston and Cambridge, to Northampton and Amherst - be they wobbly freshmen or established post-docs - going to and fro.

We often state that the number one thing a person can get to make a bike ride safer is not a helmet, bell, light or mirror. What makes a bike rider safer is another bike rider.

MassBike is on a mission to shine bright lights across the Commonwealth. As we approach darker months of the year and the fall time-change, rider safety can become more challenging. Throughout the entire month of October, MassBike will raise funds to purchase lights from Planet Bike, to distribute to area colleges across the state and key locations around downtown Boston prior the end of Daylight Savings Time.

Many folks refer to August as the “Dog Days of Summer.” We hope you had time to turn some miles, perhaps visit some new places, and be with your family and friends. For MassBike, August proved to be an extremely busy month.