Calling All Cyclists! May Is Bike Month!

[Laura Asermily]

Pledge to PARK YOUR CARbon (Week of May 16-20) with Go! VT at connectingcommuter.org. They’ll plant a tree for every pledge to avoid single occupant car use this week. Post your miles cycled with American League of Cyclists at nationalbikechallenge.org. 

 Bike Smart Training, Mary Hogan School  Kohl's bike smart trailer returned last month with over 30 bikes and helmets and props to hone skills and teach rules of the road. Just in time to warm us up for May, bike month! Mary Hogan students received training in their PE classes. Older classes practiced group rides crossing intersections.

 Walk & Roll to School Days, Wed May 4  and June 1  Join in this celebration of the many benefits of walking and rolling to school on first Wed of the month. Improves health. Relieves traffic congestion. Form "walking" school bus and "bike" train routes from your neighborhoods.

 Bike Swap, Sat May 7, Cannon Park. Thanks for dropping off bikes and gear you wished to give away or sell on consignment at Frog Hollow Bikes. It was an incredible success. Proceeds from donated bikes benefitted Middlebury Safe Routes. You can still get a used bike for sale at Frog Hollow Bikes.  

Free E-Bike Loan Program Reserve an electric assisted bike or cargo bike to try free for up to 3-5 days through Ilsley Library with support from Frog Hollow Bikes. See how under Ilsley's Library of Things. Our library is loaning at lot more than books these days!

Human Powered Parade & Celebration, THIS Sat May 14, 10 am – 1 pm   Bristol Rec Park. This super fun community event starts with decorating your bike, skateboard, scooter or any human powered device you bring, then a parade through the streets of Bristol at 11 am and returns to the park by noon for the biggest game of DAB you’ve seen.  Flyer attached.

Kelly Boe Memorial Bike Ride, THIS Tues May 17, 4 pm, departs MUHS Lot  A slow-paced 8-mile bike ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roads, including Middlebury's Kelly Boe for which the ride was started and named. Goes through Middlebury and Weybridge via Weybridge St and Hamilton Rd, escorted by police and returns to MUHS by ~5 pm. Wear helmet. Cancelled in event of heavy rain. Assemble at MUHS by 3:30 pm to sign waiver of liability. 

Local Motion's Everyday Biking Workshops  Visit localmotion.org to see and arrange area workshops and resources designed to bring walking and biking within reach of all. 

Cargo and e-Bikes 101  Visit vbikesolutions.org to take an online tutorial of electric-assisted cargo bikes and how they're transforming bike culture and more.

 Safe Routes Middlebury hosts "Walk and Roll to School Day" first Wednesday of month, monitors traffic patterns and student travel behavior, plans activities to teach bike skills, and recommends improvements to roads, parking lots, drop offs, sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic lights, signage, bus routes, bike routes, bike racks, and more. Contact Erik Remsen at erik....@gmail.com to help or offer input.

Walk-Bike Council of Addison County is a county-wide, citizen-led advisory group that meets every 6-8 weeks in Middlebury. The Council seeks to build momentum and capacity for safer walking and biking to our towns and villages. Council members work with state and regional agencies, municipal staff, schools and other interested community partners.  Anyone interested should visit www.walkbikeaddison.org.