2021 Annual Report
Thank you for riding with us all across the commonwealth in 2021!
Mission
MassBike advocates for policies that encourage and support community wellness, equity, and inclusion, enable sustainable growth, drive economic vitality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Vision
Bicycling in Massachusetts is a safe, respected, convenient, and enjoyable way to get around. Roads throughout the state are safe and welcoming for cyclists, and all users interact in a courteous and legal manner. Car-free pathways connect our communities, bicycles are fully integrated into our public transportation system, and secure bike parking is located where people need it. People of all kinds and means choose to bicycle for life, work, and play.
Letter from our Executive Director Of the lessons we learned In 2021, one that we take most to heart is how better bicycling is bolstered by an emerging diversity of riders not traditionally seen in bicycle advocacy. We see older adults getting back on the bike to enjoy more active lifestyles and combat isolation, blue-collar bicycle commuters finding themselves called “essential workers,” climate activists looking toward electric bicycles as an enjoyable way to quickly get to their destinations while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, youths organizing group rides as a way to build their community, and folks in majority-minority neighborhoods want to benefit from bike lanes and shared-use paths. None of this is new, but this year, more and more people are interested in supporting safer cycling. At MassBike, we are seeing how overlapping issues shared by converging interests play into bicycle advocacy. This past year we pivoted to meet partners where they’re at: to support their efforts, join their rides, and expand collective networks with our influence and power. In our ever-expanding coalition, MassBike hopes to provide a platform for people to engage in the greater conversation, to activate resources from the local to state to federal level, and remind each other that we only succeed when we’re together. A diversity of interests is absolutely essential to our success in providing equitable access to bicycling across the commonwealth. Read on for some of the highlights from 2021. Thank you for being part of and making possible the successes from MassBike and our partners. Galen Mook MassBike Executive Director
Education Safe Routes to Schools
Our Safe Routes to School instructors hosted digital and in-person educational sessions that reached over 2,000 students across the commonwealth. At the beginning of the year, Basic Bike Safety classes were conducted over video covering the rules of the road, ABC Quick Check, proper helmet fit, hand signaling, and more. As in-person instruction resumed, we partnered with the City of Cambridge to provide on-bike education to every 6th grade student. MassBike staff facilitated bicycle safety talks and bicycle rodeos from the Cape to the Berkshires and worked to build relationships to expand to more communities in 2022.
Older Adult Workshops
In partnership with the City of Cambridge Community Development Department and AARP Massachusetts, we expanded our older adult education curriculum. We hosted in-person older adult group rides with the Cambridge Community Development Department.
We hosted two virtual workshops with AARP Massachusetts aimed at older adults who are looking to get back on the bicycle. Recordings of both workshops can be found at www.massbike.org/webinars.
Bus Driver Training Alongside the LivableStreets Alliance, we redesigned the MBTA new operator training with an all-day curriculum about driving around people on bikes. The program launched in Spring 2021, just in time to train drivers as the MBTA was staffing up and expanding their service. This training was developed with the ability to be adapted for use at other Regional Transit Authorities, reach out to us at bikeinfo@massbike.org for more information.
Virtual Programs Webinars Our virtual programming allowed us to connect with advocates across the state and made our programming more accessible, presenting a wide variety of topics including: how to properly clean your bicycle, bike touring, better biking in workplaces, basic bicycle maintenance, winter bicycling tips, and more.
Classes & Clinics MassBike offered a variety of virtual classes & clinics to help riders grow their skills. We worked with Transportation Management Associations and workplaces to host private virtual classes on bike commuting and bicycle maintenance. We also hosted virtual classes with libraries, universities, residential management companies, and more to encourage bicycling and build a cycling community network. We will continue to provide digital education in the future to ensure access to supporters for better bicycling– no matter where in the state they reside. The MassBike YouTube channel hosts our recorded webinars & provides an educational archive.
Monthly Meet-Ups New in 2021, our monthly virtual “MassBike MeetUps” allowed MassBike staff, board members, and advocates from across Massachusetts to connect on a variety of bicycling topics. The virtual sessions every fourth Monday of the month, allow members to learn about bicycling advocacy topics and foster connections across the state. The meet-ups highlighted rotating topics with featured speakers including: Trail Development with State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Pete Sutton and a MA Bike-Friendly Bill Update which included key legislative partners who are championing their bills, including Representative Natalie Blais (1st Franklin) Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (1st Hampshire), Representative Tommy Vitolo (15th Norfolk), Representative Steve Owens (29th Middlesex), Senator Will Brownsberger (2nd Suffolk and Middlesex), and Senator Sal DiDomencio (Middlesex and Suffolk).
Advocacy New Advocates The status quo for bicycling advocacy is changing. Overlapping coalitions are converging on of issues of shared interest and are working together. Specifically this year we have supported the BikeLife communities in Boston, Worcester, and Springfield to bolster youth in leading group rides in urban cores. MassBike has expanded our educational offerings for older adults to engage with bicycling to improve active lifestyles and combat isolation. Expanding the tent of bicycling advocacy and providing a platform for people to engage in the conversation, is absolutely essential to our success in providing equitable access to bicycling across the commonwealth.
LightsBrigade
We distributed over 1,000 lights to people riding across Massachusetts. Our #LightsBrigade volunteers hosted over 35 events to distribute the lights from Cape Cod to the Berkshires. These lights are a critical safety intervention, helping people stay seen while riding at night. Thanks to support from Delta Cycle and their Bkin lights, we were able to extend the program to be year-round. Our #LightsBrigade also received generous support from Lyft, REI, and Speed and Sprocket Cycle Works that will support the program into 2022. Donate or volunteer today at www.massbike.org/lightsbrigade
Bay State Bike Month
MassBike hosted Bay State Bike Month in September 2021. The Bay State Bike Month Events Calendar showcased over 100 bicycle-friendly events that happened across the state. MassBike hosted weekly social media challenges and co-hosted the 26th annual MassCommute Bicycle Challenge. Bay State Bike Month will be returning May 2022, learn more at www.BayStateBikeMonth.org.
Legislation E-Bikes
Electric pedal-assist bikes are becoming increasingly popular across the commonwealth and the country. As more people are riding e-bikes, MassBike is working to ensure that Massachusetts has a statewide standard that regulates them as bicycles, not motor vehicles. We hosted a demo day at Hale Reservation to help stakeholders and decision makers learn more about this new technology from behind the handlebars. You can learn more about e-bikes & proposed legislation at www.massbike.org/ebikes.
Fatal Crashes
We remember the bicyclists who tragically lost their lives on our roadways in 2021: • Donald “Chip” Crowell • Benjamin Kaplan • Ben Colarneri • Charles Braun MassBike works to install Ghost Bikes at the site of fatal crashes to commemorate the lives of those lost and as a sign of the dangers of the roadway.
Charlie Proctor Ghost Bike Memorial
As part of the Vision Zero Coalition, we envision a day where there are no deaths of people cycling on our roadways. To help with this effort, MassBike intern Noah Rowan went through 10 years of fatal crash data to put together The 105 Report, which catalogs the incidents and presents the basic analysis as to the circumstances of the collisions. The report is intended as an advocacy recommendation and a commemorative memorial. We are currently pursuing legislation that would make our roadways safer for all users. You can learn more about the status of these bills at www.massbike.org/legislation.
Supporting Trail Development with Community Preservation Act Funding
A key win in 2021 was the passage of language in the Governor’s budget that explicitly allows Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to go toward acquiring land for rail-trails. This is a subtle yet significant change to the CPA law, and impacts 187 municipalities in MA. This funding mechanism is critical for Southampton to acquire land for the missing piece of a contiguous trail between Northampton and New Haven and also for Sudbury and Framingham to connect sections of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. We’re thankful to our champions in the legislature for helping to get this bill passed and paving the way for these missing trail links.
Infrastructure Advocating for safer roadways and trails
Belmont Community Path
Appleton & Mass Ave The fatal Appleton and Mass Ave intersection in Arlington was modified through a monthslong Town process which required formation of a design committee and review and approval from the Select Board. MassBike hired an intern and local resident, Petru Sofio, to engage in the design review process and help build resident capacity to engage with local elected officials. Some of Petru’s design recommendations were implemented in the quick-build project that includes safety measures for people cycling, walking, and driving.
MassBike connected with the Friends of the Belmont Community Path, who were concerned that their trail was on the chopping block for the regional planning organization, which would delay implementation by years. MassBike worked with the Friends of the Belmont Community Path to provide technical assistance and a platform via our website for crafting a call-to-action template to encourage residents to send a letter of support to the Boston MPO and build local and political support. This call to action drew over 350 letters of support, which helped keep this project on the TIP and moving forward in 2021 to receive funding.
Trails opened statewide In 2021 we celebrated ribbon cuttings across the state. MassBike attended 12 ceremonies, recording the speaking portions and telling the stories via our social media and blog of projects that have been in progress for decades. This work encourages policy makers, funders, designers, engineers, and advocates by showing how much their work truly matters. Thank you to MassDOT, DCR, the Baker Administration, and legislators from across the state for their years long efforts to build out our pathway network. These new trail sections are pieces of our growing network of safe, continuous pathways. We looking forward to redoubling our efforts to work with leaders across the state to accelerate the pace of trail construction and connect these paths to population centers. If you have a trail project coming online in 2022 or one that needs support, let us know at bikeinfo@massbike.org.
Meet Our Team Staff
Galen Mook (Allston) Executive Director
Chrystal Walsh (Mattapoisett) Development Coordinator
Jes Slavin (Northampton) Communications Coordinator
Board
We brought on 8 new board members, the MassBike Board now consists of: Allison Burson (Board Chair), Vidhee Garg (Vice Chair), Doug Cornelius (Secretary), Eric Poch (Treasurer), Katherine Jansen, Kathleen Lambert, Erica Mattison, Aileen O’Rourke, James Adius Pierre, and Lispeth Tibbits-Nutt. Huge thank you to our outgoing board members Charlie Philbrook, Erica Mattison, Jimmy Pereira, Jon Brideau, and Richard Banfield for their service to MassBike!
Bicycling Instructors
Our Safe Routes to Schools programming was made possible by our stellar group of bicycling instructors. Thank you to Che, Tristan Dajafaar, SüSi Ecker, Laura J. Gray, Laura Smeaton, Peter Perlmutter, and PQ.
Advocacy Interns
“Working with MassBike never feels trivial; there are real lives at stake here and MassBike’s mission always centers the fight for safety, equity and education.” - Noah
“MassBike has given me the unique opportunity to make real change across the Commonwealth. I’ve learned so much about the local politics of projects, and effective communication with city staff and elected officials.” - Petru
Noah Rowan, GIS & Graphic Design Intern, is a lifelong cyclist and a current undergraduate student at Clark University in Worcester pursuing a B.A in Geography. This year, Noah created “The 105 Report”, designed one-pager “how-to” guides for Bay State Bike Month, and more. Petru Sofio, Design Review & Advocacy Intern, is a high school student in Arlington where he bikes daily to and from school, year-round, using the Minuteman Bike Trail. This year, Petru worked with MassBike to successfully advocate for safety improvements at the fatal Appleton and Massachusetts Ave intersection.
Finances $30,757
$1,420
$41,500
Revenue Direct Contributions Government Grants Non-Government Grants
$223,110
$71,807
Program Related Sales Other Income Revenue: $368,593
3.5%
3%
Expenses Payroll and Professional Development
12%
Business Related Rent & Other
Events, Travel, & Meetings 82%
Expenses: $299,938
Donors
Thank you to our donors for keeping MassBike rolling!
Assembly Connect • Axiom Partners • Bkin • Breakstone, White & Gluck • Bryton Cell Signaling Technology • Charles River Wheelers • City Cycle in Stoneham CoxLevin LLC • Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers • Hire a Helper Inspection Support Network • Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers Kittelson & Associates • MathWorks • North Shore Cyclists • Porch • REI Co-op Speed & Sprocket Cycleworks • Superpedestrian • Thermo Fisher Scientific UMass Transportation Center • WheelWorks • ValleyBike • Zisson & Jacobs LLC Plus, over 50 individual donors giving $500+ MassBike encourages gifts of all sizes from donors all across the commonwealth (and beyond). Additionally, we accept gifts of stock, retirement plan contributions, and have a Legacy Society for planned gifts. For further information on how to support MassBike and our programming, please contact Chrystal Walsh at chrystal@massbike.org.
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SAVE THE DATE
March 27-30, 2022 - National Bike Summit April 2022 - 30 Days of Biking Challenge May 2022 - Bay State Bike Month May 29, 2022 - Charlie Proctor Memorial Ride July 30, 2022 - Golden Spike Conference September 2022 - “For Pete’s Sake” Ride for Peter Del Sette, Jr. November 20, 2022 - World Day of Remembrance
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Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition • 50 Milk St, 16th Floor Boston MA 02109 www.MassBike.org