May Is Bike Month!

[Laura Asermily]

Walk and Roll to School THIS Wed May 1 Get recognized for walking and rolling to school the first Wednesday of the month. We thank families for not idling at drop off or pick up, slowing down for a safer town and teach rules of the road. Review them here.

Addison County Bike Club (ACBC) Check out what's happening to support mountain biking in our region. For more about group rides, trail work days, clinics and safety training for the next generation of mountain bikers, visit addisoncountybikeclub.org.  

Middlebury Bike Swap, THIS Sat May 4, 9-12  Cannon Park. Drop off bikes and gear you wish to give away or sell on consignment at Frog Hollow Bikes up to noon Fri May 3. Look for displays from local groups, demo rides, electric bikes and cars and great deals.  Proceeds benefit Middlebury Safe Routes. For more, contact froghol...@gmail.com.  

Human Powered Parade & Celebration, Sat May 18, 10 - 1 pm For the 6th year, Bristol's streets will be buzzing with the thrum of creative motion. Come celebrate human power at this season's parade and activity fair showcasing organizations engaged in EMERGENCE efforts globally and locally. Gather at Bristol Rec Park near the skatepark and join or watch this family friendly zany parade.

Park Your CARbon Challenge, May 13-17, pledge to reduce car use. get rewards. See options at Go! VT connectingcommuters.com 

Ride of Silence, Wed May 15 Join others nationwide in taking a slow-paced bike ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roads, including Middlebury's Kelly Boe for which we had an annual ride for several years but won't do an organized escorted one this year. The route went through Middlebury and Weybridge via Weybridge St, Hamilton Rd, and Morgan Horse Farm Rd.

National Bike to Work Day, Fri May 17. Post your miles cycled with American League of Cyclists at nationalbikechallenge.org. Get recognized and prizes for your efforts. 

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 Vermonters. Addison County schools, including in Middlebury, arranged for the Local Motion Bike Smart Trailer to teach bike skills in PE classes last month. Always a hit!

Middlebury Safe Routes 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 rules of the road, 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.r...@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. We are mapping a Triangle road bike loop best connecting our Addison County hubs of Bristol, Vergennes and Middlebury via New Haven. Council members work with state and regional agencies, municipal staff, schools and other interested community partners. Anyone interested should visit walkbikeaddison.org.