Free ebike training course for teenagers (and adults too)

People for Bikes is offering a course for ebike riders that is free for the month of May.  If you are new to ebikes or brushing up on your skills, this will help round out your knowledge.  It takes about 90 minutes, and can be paused and then resumed.  Here is a link to the sign up page:

https://ebikecourse.com/MBM/

May bicycle events in the valley, part 4 - RIDE THE CONES Friday, May 15th ALL DAY ALL NIGHT

Ride the cones in the morning! Meet for Coffee & Snacks on the Green 7:30 AM - 9 AM!! Should Bikes be separated from Cars? Coming into town on Lebanon Street?! Scan the QR code and let us know! *** Experience separated lanes **** Tell us what you think!!! @ https://bit.ly/ridethecones Cones will be up Fri May 15 ALL DAY ALL NIGHT

A map of the route and comments received so far...

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Vermont Bill S.261- Limiting Liability for Rail with Trail

Rail with Trail in Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley
south of Cleveland, with a wooden fence.
Credit: Anthony Cherolis / CT News Junkie

The US Route 5 Bicycle Corridor survey of 2023 has grown into the idea of a Connecticut River Valley Trail (CRVT) that would connect the northern end of the Farmington Canal Trail and Connecticut River Greenway state park in Northampton, Massachusetts, along the river through Vermont, up to La Route Verte trail network in Quebec.  The CRVT would also connect the 10 Vermont and New Hampshire Rail Trails that run east-west from the valley, as well as greatly improve bicycle and pedestrian safety for everyday riders and walkers in the 30 towns along the route.

The watershed has some breath taking views of the river and hills, and many sports and outdoor activities that are supported by the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, the Connecticut River Conservancy and state agencies.  Non vehicular access should be better.     Read more...

May bicycle events in the valley, part 3 - Norwich, Thetford, Lyme, Hanover

2nd Annual SCVT Bike ride along the CT River and Future US Route 5 Bike Corridor

Sun, May 31, 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Norwich Green 22 Church St, Norwich, VT 05055

Because it was so much fun last year, we are doing this again! Come Ride with Us!

Join the Vermont and New Hampshire Sierra Clubs, Upper Valley E-Bike Initiative (UVEBI is an affiliate of the Bike/Walk/Alliance of NH BWANH), and Local Motion on a casual bike ride from Norwich, VT, to Thetford along U.S. Route 5, and then return through NH. 

We will start in Norwich and bike to the Cedar Circle Farms and Education Center in Thetford. There is a cafe at the farm, so we'll allow a rest time beverage and snack. After our break...

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Two bicycle movies with local connections to our valley

There are two bicycle movies with local connections that you might enjoy watching: Motherload and From Rails to Trails, and both are free to watch.

The first movie is Motherload, which was filmed by Liz Canning, a California mom with two kids who was discovering in 2013 that cars were stifling her and her kids physical activities.  I came across Liz talking about her film project on Facebook back when it was named "Less Car More Go".  I sent her...

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May bicycle events in the valley, part 2 - St. Johnsbury

 St Johnsbury and Montpelier are celebrating Bike to Work (or Anywhere!) Day on Friday, May 15.

Make it an adventure and bike all the way. Or coordinate with friends and colleagues to meet at a designated “Park & Pedal” location and bike part of the way to work. FREE breakfast will be served at the St Johnsbury Welcome Center (5:30am-9am) and at Hunger Mountain Co-op in Montpelier (6am-9am) for anyone who arrives on a bicycle or foot.

Do you live in St J or along the US 2 corridor? Try Bike to Bus! Bike or walk to the St J Welcome Center, grab breakfast, and jump on the US 2 Commuter bus to Montpelier. Or bike to one of the Park & Rides or bus stops, load your bike, and enjoy breakfast at St J Welcome Center or Hunger Mountain Co-op. Come early to grab breakfast before the US 2 Commuter departs from the Welcome Center for Montpelier at 6:05am.

Bellows Falls Community Bike Project movie and fundraiser ride

 Greetings, everyone!

Our BFCBP Spring & Summer fundraisers are coming!

We’re having a Movie event May 14th, followed by our 

Pedals to the People Fundraiser Challenge, from May 15 ~ July 15!

MOVIE Fundraiser:

“The Flying Scotsman”  (Based on a true story)

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Ticket To Ride - Promoting Bicycle Commuting in Caledonia, Washington & Lamoille Counties

 

A new non-profit is encouraging NEK residents to get on bikes. This year, the organization is launching a program called Ticket to Ride, which is a comprehensive service to assist people in using bicycles for transportation.

Ticket to Ride is currently seeking community members to enroll in a free, six-month program. Participants will be provided the mentorship, education, and equipment to try out bicycle commuting. The goal is to help people engage safely and confidently in bicycling and multi-modal transportation (bike to bus).   Read more...

On walking, bicycling, and the duties we entrust to public officials

A Light Remark on a Serious Subject: On walking, bicycling, and the duties we entrust to public officials

"Courage should come from our Councilors,
not our children."  Tom Flood, Rovelo Creative

There are moments when a room grows still, not from wisdom but from the absence of it. One such moment came on April 23, during the New Hampshire House debate on SB 559, when Representative Walsh, who chairs the Transportation Committee, rose to speak. “It is against the law to run over pedestrians,” he said, “and against the law to run bicycles off the road, even though it’s sometimes very tempting.” The chamber laughed.

It is a curious thing to hear laughter where there ought to be care. SB 559 concerns the setting of speed limits on local roads—a modest, practical effort to make those roads safer for everyone, and particularly for the people who use them on foot and on bicycles. To treat that subject lightly is not merely a lapse in taste; it suggests a misunderstanding of the matter at hand.

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May bicycle events in the valley, part 1 - Hartford, Lebanon, and Hanover

May is National Bike Month and since 1956 the League of American Bicyclists has called for Ride a Bike Day, Bike to Work Day, and Bike to Work Week. There are several biking events scheduled for May here in the Upper Valley.

In Lebanon there are two events:

-May 6th at Colburn Park from 7-9 AM with free bike checks (courtesy of Omer & Bob’s), free breakfast, and we will welcome Hanover Street Elementary and Lebanon Middle School students walking through the Lebanon Green.

-May 21st at Colburn Park we will host a Farmers Market edition: come to find out more about local bike projects and use our bike valet while you explore the Farmers Market

In Cornish there will be a bike rodeo at at the elementary school on May 6.

In Hartford, we will gather on May 6th at Hartford Town Hall from 7-9 AM for a free breakfast and to cheer on White River School Elementary students as they walk by.

In Hanover, we will gather on May 15th on the Dartmouth Green for free breakfast and a pop-up protected bike lane through town.

More information on these events, plus other Upper Valley bike, pedestrian, and bus news, can be found on the Vital Communities Ways to Go! webpage.