Showing posts with label bicycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bicycle. Show all posts
Friday, July 29, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Lesson learned: bike shops don't open early
Saturday was a great day for a bike ride.
We got a later start than we wanted. We knew the tires needed to be filled before riding and I do have a bike pump, so it should have have been quick and easy to fill and go. What surprised me was D's new bike has some funky new tube connections. These connections would not fit my pump nor work with the gas station air pump. We would need to get to the bike shop before riding. As it was 8:30 AM when we discovered this, I anticipated that one of the shops would open at 9:00. No such luck, one opens at 10:00 and the other at 11:00.
We were at Crossing Cycle when the doors opened at 10:00. Bought the adapter for the connection, a new pump with the capability to do both connections (standard and new one), filled the tire and were off, finally!
We biked about a dozen miles along the Blackstone River Bike Path. And we'll be ready to get an early start even if the tires need some air next time!
We got a later start than we wanted. We knew the tires needed to be filled before riding and I do have a bike pump, so it should have have been quick and easy to fill and go. What surprised me was D's new bike has some funky new tube connections. These connections would not fit my pump nor work with the gas station air pump. We would need to get to the bike shop before riding. As it was 8:30 AM when we discovered this, I anticipated that one of the shops would open at 9:00. No such luck, one opens at 10:00 and the other at 11:00.
We were at Crossing Cycle when the doors opened at 10:00. Bought the adapter for the connection, a new pump with the capability to do both connections (standard and new one), filled the tire and were off, finally!
We biked about a dozen miles along the Blackstone River Bike Path. And we'll be ready to get an early start even if the tires need some air next time!
Friday, May 20, 2011
"Go By Bike!"
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 5/19/11
Check out the updated "Go By Bike!" brochure that has just been released for Bay State Bike Week 2011. MassDOT Planning, the MassDOT Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), and the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) all partnered to update this useful guide to bicycling in Massachusetts. The "Go By Bike!" brochure provides a concise and easily understood summary of biking basics that can be used to help a range of ages and experience levels get an easy ride when they "Go By Bike!" Like Bay State Bike Week, "Go By Bike!" is another product of the MassBike – MassDOT partnership. This partnership reconstituted Bay State Bike Week as a truly statewide event and jointly promotes the Same Roads Same Rules initiative that promotes safe and cooperative sharing of the road among bikers, pedestrians, and motor vehicle drivers.
The document can be printed on demand in keeping with MassDOT's GreenDOT sustainability policy.
Please view and download the "Go By Bike!" brochure. For more information, visit baystatebikeweek.org , www.massbike.org and MassDOT Biking and Walking on the web. This document is a great reference for bicycling in Massachusetts as an active transportation mode that is healthy, green and fun!
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Bay State Bike Week 2011
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 3/25/11
The 2nd annual Bay State Bike Week is set for May 14-20, a week of celebrating bicycle transportation across the Commonwealth. Last year was the first year that MassDOT and the State Bicycle Advocacy group MassBike partnered to make Bay State Bike Week a truly statewide celebration and as we learned unique in the country.
This year Bay State Bike Week will build on the successful 2010 effort and a long history of Bike Week celebrations across the Commonwealth, as MassDOT, MassBike, and MassRIDES, the statewide travel options program collaborate again on Bike Week rides and other events throughout Massachusetts. This collaboration enables these organizations to work together to get the word out as widely as possible, and to broaden the scope of Bike Week events.
Biking as a mode of transportation is safe, economical, healthy, environmentally friendly, fast, and fun! Check out the Bike Week website at baystatebikeweek.org to find information for event organizers and participants.
Event organizers are asked to submit your event for the website's statewide calendar! In addition, watch for information on how to receive cool stuff for your event, including t-shirts, reflectors and posters while supplies last. Organizers will also provide ideas and advice on organizing new events.
May is fast approaching, so start planning now! Mark May 14th to May 20th on your calendar for Bay State Bike Week and check the website for more information.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Blackstone Valley Bike Path Moves Forward
If you Haven't had an opportunity to ride or walk along the Blackstone Valley Bike Path, I would recommend it. Especially now as we get into the fall colors, the bike path will be a nice place to visit.
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 10/1/10
Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray today announced $15 million in Accelerated Bridge Program funds for design and construction of the first segment of the Blackstone Valley Bike Path. Once completed, the proposed 48-mile trail will connect Worcester to Providence. Improvements to this path will also support the the East Coast Greenway, a project to create a 2,900-mile trail system linking cities along the coast from Maine to Florida.
Lieutenant Governor Murray joined state and local officials to celebrate the first phase of the project, a 2.5-mile pathway including 11 bridges between the Triad Bridge in Millville located in the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park and along the Rhode Island border.
The Blackstone Valley Bike Path will connect historic and cultural sites, natural resources, recreation facilities, and commercial and residential areas. The project is a joint effort between MassDOT and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Design is underway with construction expected to begin in spring 2012.
Lieutenant Governor Murray joined state and local officials to celebrate the first phase of the project, a 2.5-mile pathway including 11 bridges between the Triad Bridge in Millville located in the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park and along the Rhode Island border.
The Blackstone Valley Bike Path will connect historic and cultural sites, natural resources, recreation facilities, and commercial and residential areas. The project is a joint effort between MassDOT and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Design is underway with construction expected to begin in spring 2012.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Franklin Police offering Bike Helmets
The Safety Division has a number of bicycle safety helmets available, free of charge, on a first come first served basis.
Sizes from toddler to adult available.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
"the school system has declined to come out and endorse cycling to school"
Arlington has an interesting discussion underway about cycling to school. Basically, in one community that is acknowledged as leading the cycling effort, the Arlington School Dept banned students cycling to school. There is no busing as most homes are located within one mile of their elementary school. The schools do not have bike racks. Most of the traffic the cyclists would have to navigate through is other parents dropping off kids at school.
This is an educational opportunity for better health practices (cycling vs autos) apparently being missed.
Read the full article here in the Boston Globe West edition of today's paper
Franklin, MA
This is an educational opportunity for better health practices (cycling vs autos) apparently being missed.
Read the full article here in the Boston Globe West edition of today's paper
Franklin, MA
Friday, January 15, 2010
Watertown Multi-Use Path Construction Set
This should be of interest to Franklin area walking enthusiasts, in particular the Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee:
Governor Deval Patrick today announced construction of a multi-use path and intersection improvements in Watertown will move forward this spring.
The Charles River/Alewife Connector project in Watertown will construct a multi-use path along an abandoned rail corridor, left, from School Street to the Arlington Street intersection at Nichols Avenue, Coolidge Hill Road and Crawford Street, with a spur connecting the new path to Arsenal Street across from the Watertown Mall parking lot.
The $847,000 project will include removal of existing railroad rails and ties followed by construction of a ten-foot wide asphalt path with grass shoulders over a distance of approximately two-thirds of a mile.
In addition, a $1.4 million project approved in late December will resurface the intersections of Spring and Summer, Mount Auburn and Summer, and Arlington and Nichols at the eastern limit of the new multi-use path, including new traffic sensing devices and more accessible sidewalks with wheelchair ramps.
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 1/15/10
Governor Deval Patrick today announced construction of a multi-use path and intersection improvements in Watertown will move forward this spring.The Charles River/Alewife Connector project in Watertown will construct a multi-use path along an abandoned rail corridor, left, from School Street to the Arlington Street intersection at Nichols Avenue, Coolidge Hill Road and Crawford Street, with a spur connecting the new path to Arsenal Street across from the Watertown Mall parking lot.
The $847,000 project will include removal of existing railroad rails and ties followed by construction of a ten-foot wide asphalt path with grass shoulders over a distance of approximately two-thirds of a mile.
In addition, a $1.4 million project approved in late December will resurface the intersections of Spring and Summer, Mount Auburn and Summer, and Arlington and Nichols at the eastern limit of the new multi-use path, including new traffic sensing devices and more accessible sidewalks with wheelchair ramps.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Bikes Not Bombs collection Saturday
The Bikes Not Bombs bicycle collection will be held rain or shine Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of the Department of Public Works, 257 Fisher St.Read the full story in the Milford Daily News
Franklin teen advocates bikes, not bombs
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Franklin Police Department Receives Grant
Franklin Police Department Receives Pedestrian, Bicycle and Moped-Type Safety Enforcement and Equipment Grant Award
Franklin, MA -The Franklin Police Department was awarded $7,490.52 in federal grant funding as part of the 2009-2010 Pedestrian, Bicycle and Moped-Type Safety Enforcement and Equipment Grant Program from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). This program provides overtime funds for targeted enforcement of pedestrian, bicycle, and moped laws, equipment, and materials. The EOPSS awarded 16 of these grants totaling $100,000 in federal highway safety fundsJ
"We are pleased to receive these funds to enhance our pedestrian, bicycle and mopedtype enforcement activities in Franklin" said Sgt. Chris Spillane of the Franklin Police Department. "Any loss on our roadways is one too many and this program will help to reduce the instances of pedestrian, bicycle and moped crashes with motor vehicles."
According to the Massachusetts Crash Data System, in 2007 there were 66 pedestrian fatalities and 1,273 non-fatal injuries along with 11 pedalcyclist fatalities and 800 nonfatal injuries on Massachusetts roadways. Additionally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2007, pedestrians made up 15% of motor vehicle-related fatalities in Massachusetts, compared to the national average of 11 % in
2007. Similarly, in 2007, pedalcyclists made up 2.5% of all motor vehicle-related fatalities in Massachusetts, compared to the national average of 1.7%.
For more information on this program go to wvvw.mass.gov/highwaysafety and click on 2009-2010 Pedestrian, Bicycle and Moped-Type Safety Enforcement and Equipment Grant.
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For additional information you can also contact Sgt. Chris Spillane at 508-528-1212
Franklin, MA -The Franklin Police Department was awarded $7,490.52 in federal grant funding as part of the 2009-2010 Pedestrian, Bicycle and Moped-Type Safety Enforcement and Equipment Grant Program from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). This program provides overtime funds for targeted enforcement of pedestrian, bicycle, and moped laws, equipment, and materials. The EOPSS awarded 16 of these grants totaling $100,000 in federal highway safety fundsJ
"We are pleased to receive these funds to enhance our pedestrian, bicycle and mopedtype enforcement activities in Franklin" said Sgt. Chris Spillane of the Franklin Police Department. "Any loss on our roadways is one too many and this program will help to reduce the instances of pedestrian, bicycle and moped crashes with motor vehicles."
According to the Massachusetts Crash Data System, in 2007 there were 66 pedestrian fatalities and 1,273 non-fatal injuries along with 11 pedalcyclist fatalities and 800 nonfatal injuries on Massachusetts roadways. Additionally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2007, pedestrians made up 15% of motor vehicle-related fatalities in Massachusetts, compared to the national average of 11 % in
2007. Similarly, in 2007, pedalcyclists made up 2.5% of all motor vehicle-related fatalities in Massachusetts, compared to the national average of 1.7%.
For more information on this program go to wvvw.mass.gov/highwaysafety and click on 2009-2010 Pedestrian, Bicycle and Moped-Type Safety Enforcement and Equipment Grant.
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For additional information you can also contact Sgt. Chris Spillane at 508-528-1212
Monday, August 3, 2009
PMC - Nutting quoted
Franklin Town Administrator Jeff Nutting was amongst the thousands who participated in the PMC Challenge this year. Jeff rode as part of the Phils Phriends Team. He finished in Wellesley and was part of the Team NECN recap of the event. You can view the video here
Photos from the activity on Saturday morning at the PMC Franklin water stop can be found here
Photos from the activity on Saturday morning at the PMC Franklin water stop can be found here
Saturday, August 1, 2009
PMC - Franklin Water Stop
The Pan Mass Challenge had a water stop this morning at the Remington/Jefferson School on Washington St. It was quite a colorful and festive affair. One rider after pulling over to catch her breath, asked what town she was in. When my wife and I answered, Franklin. She responded; "Oh Franklin, yes, you're a great water stop!"
Here are some pictures of the riders and greeters today:
May the road be kind to all the riders today, and may the wind be at your back!
If you would like to contribute to a rider, you can search for a rider by name here.
For some of the many Franklin PMC riders, there donations pages can be found here:
Here are some pictures of the riders and greeters today:
May the road be kind to all the riders today, and may the wind be at your back!
If you would like to contribute to a rider, you can search for a rider by name here.
For some of the many Franklin PMC riders, there donations pages can be found here:
To donate to Ethan Pearl's ride, logon to https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=EP0070,
for Michele Pearl, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=MP0164 ,
for Jeff Roy, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=JR0142
for Jeff Nutting, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=JN0077
for Sue Rohrbach, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=SR0109
Friday, July 31, 2009
PanMass Challenge rides through on Saturday
Be aware that along the following routes and approximate times, the PanMass Challenge will ride through Franklin.
For more information about the Pan-Mass Challenge, including the routes, events and history, and how to make a donation, go to www.pmc.org.
A few of Franklin's riders were highlighted earlier this week here
If you know of other Franklin riders, please let me know so I can share their info here as well.
- Between 7:10 and 10:10 a.m., riders will pass through North Street in Bellingham and continue toward Prospect Street in Franklin.
- Between 7:20 and 10:45 a.m., riders will pass through Prospect Street in Franklin and continue toward Otis Street in Wrentham.
For more information about the Pan-Mass Challenge, including the routes, events and history, and how to make a donation, go to www.pmc.org.
A few of Franklin's riders were highlighted earlier this week here
If you know of other Franklin riders, please let me know so I can share their info here as well.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
"Everyone is so supportive, it's just amazing,"
On Saturday and Sunday, the Pearls and about 20 teammates, including Franklin Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting, Franklin School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy and School Committee member Susan Rohrbach, will ride for Emily.
Ethan Pearl will trek 48 miles in the "Teen Stride," and his mother will ride 182 miles, from Sturbridge to Bourne, and then from Bourne to Wellesley.
Read the full article about the Pan Mass Challenge in the MIlford Daily News here
The Pan Mass Challenge will be held this weekend. If you have not already contributed to someone doing a ride, please consider doing so. There are hundreds of worthy stories similar to Emily's.
To donate to Ethan Pearl's ride, logon to https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=EP0070,
for Michele Pearl, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=MP0164 ,
for Jeff Roy, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=JR0142
for Jeff Nutting, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=JN0077
for Sue Rohrbach, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=SR0109
or you could write a check out to PMC and mail to the Pearl Family, 383 Lincoln St., Franklin.
Note: when you follow the links above to each rider's page, it may look like you have to re-select the rider. The links did work when I tested them. Just click on the "Sponsor one rider with one donation" and then "Search for a person by Name" and that individual should be already selected for you.
In the worst case, you can re-select the individual by name or by rider ID. The rider ID is the two letters and four numbers after the "Add=" shown above.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Trail meeting in Blackstone
Someday, wouldn't it be nice be able to bike from Franklin to Providence, or Worcester or to Western Mass without having to deal with the traffic on a road?
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
"It would be great if every community had a trails committee and would give it some support," said Lisa Mosczynski, president of the Metacomet Land Trust, a nonprofit conservation group dedicated to protecting open space and natural resources in south central Massachusetts.Help make this dream a reality!The trust and the Grand Trunk Trail Blazers trail group are inviting the public to the gathering at Blackstone Public Library, at 86 Main St., at 7 p.m., to collaborate on establishing a non-motorized, 80-mile, east-to-west trail linking Franklin and Blackstone with the Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Sunday, January 18, 2009
"The project will not cost the town anything"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Building a multi-purpose bike path from Franklin State Forest to Palmer is going to require a lot of time, passion, and help, but it's legwork that Franklin bicyclists are ready to put in.
On Jan. 14, the Franklin Odd Fellows along with representatives from the Masonic Order, Army Corps of Engineers, Grandtruck Trailblazers, Conservation Commission, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Bellingham Lions Club, and other local bicyclists and nature lovers formed "Friends of the Bike Path Committee" to begin discussions on creating Franklin's portion of the bike trail.
The trail will replace unused rail bed, starting in Franklin, and weaving through 15 towns including Bellingham and Blackstone, to Palmer and back to Southbridge and Sturbridge. In Franklin, the railroad splits at Cottage and Union streets, with the inactive part of the line beginning at Grove Street.
Read the full article about the proposed bike/exercise path in the Milford Daily News here
The group welcomes volunteers and meets again on Wed., Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Lodge. They will talk about how to present their case for developing the path to the town.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Franklin Blogger: Martinator's Bicycling Blog
The Hitchhiker Team found Martinator's blog in January. Martin lives here in Franklin and writes of himself:
I am a Web Designer. Actually, I am more on the interface coding side of web design. I like to bike and ski, though I haven't skied in quite a while. I am also a gadget freak and I try to incorporate technology into everything I do.If you are interested in bike riding, this is one site to check out regularly.
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