Massachusetts Bike Week 2004
Saturday, May 15 through
Sunday, May 23

Bike Week is part of Bike Month, a national event to celebrate and encourage bicycling.

All events are tentative!

Email Doug Mink your Massachusetts Bike Week (or Bike Month) events as soon as you have them scheduled.

Check out local event calendars in Cambridge and the Pioneer Valley.
A printable calendar of Boston Area events is available as a PDF file.

See the pages for previous bike weeks for ideas:
[1995] [1996] [1997] [1998] [1999] [2000] [2001] [2002] [2003]

Before Bike Week:

Wake Up the Earth Day Saturday, May 1 Boston 11:00 am - 4:00 pm	Enjoy this celebration of spring along the Southwest Corridor near the Stony Brook MBTA station. There is a rain date of Sunday, May 2. If you can help at a MassBike table, contact Doug Mink.
8th Annual Mystic Herring Run Festival Sunday, May 2 Somerville 1:00 - 5:00 pm	This river festival includes a 5K road race along the banks of the Mystic River. This year the festival will highlight the potential new bike path across the Amelia Earhart Dam.

All Week:

Bike to Work Week Commuter Challenge	Check with your local Transportation Management Association (TMA) or fill out the forms on the ABC TMA web site (http://www.abctma.com/events_bikeweek.htm) to participate in the Bike to Work Corporate Challenge during Bike Week May 15-23th. You have to work in Boston or nearby parts of Cambridge to enter. Click here for help concerning bike commuting from the League of American Bicyclists.
Theater Discount all week Worcester	$1 off admission at the Bijou Theater in Worcester May 14th to 21st. Show your bike helmet.

Saturday, May 15:

Coast-to-Coast Bike Tour 10:00 am - ? Orleans	The Town of Orleans will be celebrating its 4th annual Coast-to-Coast Bike Tour on Saturday, May 15th, at 10:00 AM, kicking off Mass Bike Week. This event is co-sponsored by the Town of Orleans Bikeways Committee and the Orleans Police Department. The five-mile escorted ride from Rock Harbor on Cape Cod Bay, through the town, to Nauset Beach on the Atlantic Ocean focuses on safe cycling for all ages and biking abilities. At the finish area at Nauset Beach parking lot there will be refreshments, a rodeo sponsored and carried out by Orleans Police, and a raffle with donations from local businesses.
Milton Bike Day 7:00 am - ? Milton	Celebrate the beginning of Bike Week with this fun event for everyone. Proceeds will benefit the Milton Rotary Club Scholarship program. Click here for more information. Public Ride: Beginning at 9:00 am at Cunningham Park and going 6 miles into the Blue Hills Reservation and returning to Cunningham Park. Bicycle Parade: Decoration of children's bikes begins at 8:30 am. Family Races: Starting at 10:00 am, racers will compete grouped by age and gender. Race entry fee of $20 for adults, $10 for children by mail before May 7 or by 8:00 am on Bike Day.
Bike Checks 8:00 am - noon Falmouth	Helmet and bike checks will be carried out at the bike path parking lot on Woods Hole Road.
Bike Rodeo 9:00 -10:30 am Turner's Falls	At the Sheffield School. For more information: http://www.greenfieldkiwanis.org
Harbortrail Visioning 9:30 am Boston	Thanks to the financial support of the Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund, we will be conducting a public art visioning session on Saturday, May 15 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End. Mayor Menino will launch this free public discussion focusing on the issue of public art and what this public art/gateway project means to the future of our City as the South Bay Harbor Trail begins to take shape.
GoGreen Bicycle Tour 10:00 am Cambridge	Meet in Cambridge Common. Rain date is Sunday, May 16 at noon. Planned and led by the Cambridge Bicycle Committee in collaboration with the Community Development Department, the Cambridge Arts Council and the Cambridge Historical Commission, this exploratory tour will show you parts of Cambridge you've never seen and safe routes to get between them. The tour will progress at a leisurely rate and will have a few intermediate gathering points, so feel free to join us for all or part of the route. Light refreshments will be provided at the lunch stop in Lechmere Canal Park. Approximately 45 minutes after we depart Cambridge Common, there will be a pause at the mural on Davenport Street. One hour and fifteen minutes after we depart Cambridge Common, there will be a second pause at the Beat the Belt mural on the back of the Microcenter building on Memorial Drive. The lunch stop at Lechmere Canal Park will be the official end of the tour, approximately 2 hours from the beginning of the ride -- bring your own lunch or purchase it at the Cambridgeside Galleria Food Court next to the park. There will be a guided route back to Cambridge Common after lunch. Please see the map for the route and stops. Contact Tim Ledlie - 617-493-6579 or email him.
Road Ride ?? Westfield	15-20 mile road ride. Contact Don Podolski, 413-562-5237 for details.
Harborside Kite Festival 11:00 am-2:00 pm East Boston	Join BNAN, Kites over New England and Seaside Kites at the northern end of the East Boston Greenway, Belle Isle Marsh Reservation on Bennington Street, as we take to the air with our kites. Bring your kite to fly while listening to the sounds of local musicians and watching stunt kite flyers strutting their stuff. A limited number of kite making kits will be provided for participants to assemble and design (first come first serve). The Festival is FREE. For more information call BNAN at 617-576-7696 or check online at http://www.bostonnatural.org.
Bike Rodeo 1:00 -2:30 pm South Deerfield	At the Municipal Building. For more information: http://www.greenfieldkiwanis.org
Trail Work 1:00 - 3:30 pm Maynard	Meet at Ray and Sons Cyclery and Ski on Main St., opposite the Clocktower Place parking lot to work on the Assabet River Rail Trail spreading wood chips on the High - Mill St section to make it more walkable. Rain date is Sunday, May 16th, same time. Things you should bring include: Wheelbarrow Rakes & shovels Heavy work gloves, bottles of drinking water
Scenic Bike Ride 1:30 pm Natick	Meet at the entrance to Shaw's Park on Eliot Street (Route 16, just west of Union Street) for a moderate on-road bike ride in South Natick, Sherborn and Dover. about 7 pretty miles with some hills, a lot of history, and the upper Charles River. Bring water. Leader: Martin Kessel (508/653-5083 or email him) Boston

Sunday, May 16:

Charles River Wheelmen Spring Century 7:30 am Wakefield	Join The Charles River Wheelmen on one of four beautiful routes on slightly rolling rural roads through the Merrimack Valley of northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. The 100 mile ride will take you through Exeter and Hampton Falls, NH. The other routes travel through such towns as Boxford, Groveland and Topsfield. All routes pass through the Harold Parker State Forest. 7:30: 100 miles (Full Century) 9:30: 62 & 50 miles (Metric & Half Century) 10:30: 25 miles (Quarter Century)
Bike Checks 8:00 am - noon Falmouth	Helmet and bike checks will be carried out at the bike path parking lot on Woods Hole Road.
BIKE-Arlington Tour 9:30 am Arlington	The 7th annual BIKE-Arlington Tour is an easy-paced bicycle tour around town organized by the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee (ABAC) as part of the Arlington Alternative Transportation Fair. The tour is free of charge, and all participants will be responsible for their own safety. Bicycle helmets required. Bring something to drink. Meet at the Alewife MBTA Station. For more information, see the ABAC website.
Neponset Greenway 10:00 am Boston	Meet at the snack stand near Fort Independence on Castle Island in South Boston for a ride along the harbor and up the Neponset River, mostly on bikepaths. We will return either on streets through Dorchester or up the Southwest Corridor to the starting point.
Harborside Kite Festival 11:00 am-2:00 pm Dorchester	Join BNAN, Kites over New England and Seaside Kites at Pope John Paul II Park, Gallivan Boulevard as we take to the air with our kites. Bring your kite to fly while listening to the sounds of local musicians and watching stunt kite flyers strutting their stuff. A limited number of kite making kits will be provided for participants to assemble and design (first come first serve). The Festival is FREE. For more information call BNAN at 617-576-7696 or check online at http://www.bostonnatural.org.
Bikepath Ride noon-1:30 pm Falmouth	Community members are invited to join Falmouth High School's Ecology Club on a ride along the Shining Sea Bike Path from the bike path parking lot on Woods Hole Road.

Monday, May 17:

University Park Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:30 - 9:00 am Cambridge	On Mass. Ave. at Sidney Street, the Charles River Transportation Management Association will sponsor a bicycle commuter breakfast in University Park, near Central Square. Cyclists will show their helmets to get breakfast. Contact Jim Gascoigne at 617-324-6119 or email him.
Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 am West Springfield	At City Hall; contact Catherine Miller, 413-781-6045, for more information.
9th Annual Bike Valet Party 5:00 - 10:00 pm Davis Square, Somerville	Redbones, 55 Chester St., Davis Square, Somerville, MA $10.00 includes great food, a pint of beer, lemonade, or soda, bicycle valet parking and a raffle ticket. There are a lot of raffle prizes, and proceeds benefit MassBike and NEMBA. There is more info on the Redbones web site.
Bike Movie evening Greenfield	At People's Pint; contact Dan Young, 413-773-0333.

Tuesday, May 18:

Pancake Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 am Cambridge	Broadway Bicycle School, 351 Broadway, Cambridge Meet your fellow bicycle commuters over free coffee and pancakes. See the faces behind some of the names you see on the Internet.
Bike Commuter Breakfast 8:00 - 10:00 am Chicopee	At Mickey's Bike SHop; contact Hank, 413-592-4282, for more information.
Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 am Westfield	At New Horizons Sports; contact Don Podolski, 413-562-5237, for more information.
Pizza Ride 6:00 pm Westfield	Contact Don Podolski, 413-562-5237, for more information.
Easy Bike Ride 6:30 pm Natick	Meet at the Parking lot for Pegan Cove Park, on Washington Avenue across from Cochituate Street for an easy bike ride around Pegan Cove Park, Middlesex Path and Dell Park Cemetery complete with historic commentary. There will be some dirt trails, mostly smooth. Leader: Dick Miller (508/653-6136, 9am-9pm, or email him)

Wednesday, May 19:

Bike to Work Day Bike Commuter Breakfast 6:30 - 9:30 am Falmouth	Town residents are encouraged to leave cars at home and walk or bike to work. Kiosks will be set up at the Trunk River parking lot on the Shining Sea Bike Path and at Peg Noonan Park on Main Street from 6:30 to 9:30 am. At each kiosk, food and drink will be provided to participants, bike mechanics will be on hand to assist with bicycle checks, and information to raise cycling awareness will be distributed. Water bottles and other prizes will be awarded to participants. Participants can sign up for a prize drawing by visiting either one of the kiosks or the web site.
Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:00 - 9:00 am Easthampton	At the Manhan Rail Trail. For information, call Bill Burgart, 413-527-9080.
Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:00 - 10:00 am Northampton	At the corner of Main & King. For information, call Robert Shycon, 413-586-7459
Morning Bike Ride 7:15 am Westfield	For information, call Don Podolski, 413-562-5237
Harvard Square Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 am Cambridge	In front of the Au Bon Pain in Harvard Square, Harvard University will host a bicycle commuter breakfast. Cyclists will show their helmets to get breakfast. Contact Holly Bogle - 617-496-5354 or email her.
Seaport TMA Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 am Boston	Join the Seaport TMA for a FREE breakfast and bike safety checks. Seaport TMA member cyclists must show their bike helmets in order to receive FREE breakfast. For more information, contact the Seaport TMA by email.
Rail-Trail Design Seminar 10:30 am- 12:30 pm Worcester	Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), with the generous support of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, is launching the Trails and Greenways Seminar Series to bring you information you need to build, advocate for and manage your trail. Registration deadline is May 12th.
Bicyclists Lunch noon Holyoke	Red Cat Cafe, behind City Hall. For more information, call Karen Mendrala, 413-322-5575
Casual Bike Road Ride 6:00 pm Natick	Meet at Landry's Bicycles, 60 Worcester Road (Route 9 Eastbound) or at 6:15 pm at Natick's Cole Recreation Center, 179 Boden Lane, West Natick. Ride 12 to 18 miles (1 to 1-1/2 hours) through scenic parts of Natick, Sherborn and Dover. Helmets are required. No riders get dropped or left behind. Bring a water bottle. Leader: Cory Lovett email)
City Cycling Clinic 7:00 PM Boston	REI Boston (at the Landmark Center on Park Drive at the Riverway) will run a clinic about how to keep you and your bike safe when commuting to work or school. One of their cycling specialists will cover rules of the road, safety equipment, and general strategies for navigating your way around potholes and car doors that suddenly open. If you are thinking about biking to work or are a college student who plans to use your bike for getting to class, then this is the clinic for you. It is free and open to all.

Thursday, May 20:

Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:00 - 9:00 am Hadley	At Valley Bicycles trailside on Norwottuck Rail Trail. For information, call Jay Vinskey, 413-586-7806
Back Bay Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 am Boston	Breakfast on the Boylston St. Plaza of the Prudential Center, sponsored by the Back Bay TMA.
Kendall Square Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 am Cambridge	In the park between Six Cambridge Center (Marriott Residence Inn) and Eight Cambridge Center (Cambridge Technology Partners) in Kendall Square, the Charles River Transportation Management Association will sponsor a bicycle commuter breakfast. Cyclists will show their helmets to get breakfast. Contact Jim Gascoigne at 617-324-6119 or email him.
Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 am Amherst	On Town Common North. For information, call Meryl Mandel, MHD, 413-584-1611 X251
Longwood Medical Area Bike Commuter Breakfast 375 Longwood Avenue 8:00-9:30 am	Join Commute Works for a FREE breakfast (first come, first serve) and bike safety checks. Registered bike week cyclists must show their bike helmets in order to receive FREE breakfast. For more information, contact Commute Works via email.

Friday, May 21:

Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:00-9:00 Springfield	At Boland Park. For more information, call Ed Marrone, 413-794-2420.
Bike Commuter Breakfast 7:30-9:30 Worcester	Breakfast sponsored by MassBike/Worcester behind Worcester City Hall.
Bike Commuter Breakfast ? South Deerfield	In Center. For more information, call Karen Jones 413-367-9585.
Bike Commuter Appreciation 7:30-9:00 Cambridge	As part of National Bike to Work Day, the Cambridge Bicycle Committee and the City of Cambridge will be thanking commuters who bike to work by presenting them with a small giveaway. Members of the Bicycle Committee will be stationed at locations throughout the city to catch cyclists on their way to work and give them their gift. Watch for them at Central Square, Harvard Square, and Alewife/Minuteman Bikeway. Contact Stephanie Anderberg at 617-349-4671 or via email.
Bicyclists' Lunch noon Greenfield	On the Town Common For more information, call Don Young 413-773-0333.
National Bike to Work Day All Day Everywhere	The official bike-to-work day is Friday, but we hope you'll wrap up a week of cycling to work today.

Saturday, May 22:

Tour of Historic Somerville 10:00 am	Join the Somerville Bicycle Committee and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission for the 3rd Annual Bicycle Tour of Historic Somerville. The ride starts on Saturday, May 22 at 10 am in the parking lot of Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue (just east of School Street). We'll ride for about 10 miles, and we should be finished around 1 pm. We'll visit historic sites throughout Somerville, including the Prospect Hill Tower, the Old Powder House, the site of the former Middlesex Canal, and beautiful old houses from East Somerville to Tufts University. If you've ridden with us in the past, please join us again -- this year's route is substantially different from previous years. If there is steady rain, we'll postpone the ride to Sunday, May 23, same time and starting place. For more information, contact Ron Newman, 617-628-8895 or email him.
Easy Bike Ride 1:30 pm Natick	Meet at the south side of the parking lot for "Especially for Pets", on Route 27 just south of Route 30 in Cochituate. Take an unusual and quite-bumpy bike ride on the little-known Snake Brook Trail in Cochituate State Park (North Natick and Cochituate) and to Cochituate Dam. Slow and interesting. Leader: Jill Miller (508/653-6136, 9am-9pm, email her)
Road Ride ? Westfield	15-20 miles. For more information, call Don Podolski, 413-562-5237.
Bike Party ? Greenfield	At People's Pint For more information, call Dan Young, 413-773-0333.

Sunday, May 23:

Bikes Not Bombs 17th Annual Bike-A-Thon Roxbury	Bikes-Not-Bombs biggest fundraiser, and one of their most fun and social events. BNB is also the place to donate your extra bike, or pick up an inexpensive city beater bicycle. All three rides begin in Jamaica Plain at Jamaica Pond and end at Mississippi's Restaurant in Mission Hill. To ride, you have to collect pledges. Check the web site for more info: http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/bat-2004.htm.
Blessing of the Bicycles 5:00 pm Acton	Short family-friendly service followed by barbecue at the Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) 164 Newtown Rd. (Newtown and Arlington Streets) Phone (978) 263-5782 for more information.

After Bike Week

Wednesday, May 26:

Bike Week Bash Flattop Johnny's, Cambridge 5:00-7:00 pm	Winners of the Bike Week Corporate Challenge will be presented awards at the Boston Bike Week Bike Bash, sponsored by the Boston and Cambridge TMAs. FREE food and a cash bar will be available. Raffle winners will also be chosen at the Bike Week Bash.

Thursday, May 27:

Commute a Better Way Day
all day
Cambridge

Cambridge's voluntary car-free day to encourage single occupant vehicle commuters to try a different mode of transportation. Participants will take the "Commute A Better Way pledge", stating that they will try walking, cycling, taking the T, carpooling, or another option, instead of driving to work. Commuters who take the pledge will receive a recognition packet in return. They will also be entered into a drawing to win a FREE copy of "Car-Free in Boston". To take the pledge, send an email, including your name, commute mode choice for May 21, usual commute mode, round trip commute mileage, and mailing address (for the recognition packet).
Contact Stephanie Anderberg at 617-349-4671 or via email.

Here are some good reasons to ride a bike from the League of American Bicyclists.

Send event notices or corrections to Doug Mink.