MethuenRailTrail

From NPR December 2, 2009
‘Road Rage’ Case Highlights Cyclist Vs. Driver Tension
by MANDALIT DEL BARCO

Tags: bicycling, radio

That’s it. In a nutshell. It is not that Methuen doesn’t care about people on bikes, as a community we don’t seem to WANT people on bikes. Obviously not on the roads, as any biker can tell you of close calls with scary cars and broken curbstones, but they don’t even want to just let bikers ‘BE’.

In celebration of today’s Bike to Work day or week or whatever they hell it is, I figured I’d do what I could and use my bike to do a bit of shopping over at Twaites. (I am still not brave enough to try to go so far as Stop and Shop or Demoulas.) I got across Gaunt Square easy peasy and decided to take our lovely scenic bridge and skip the challenge that is Five Corners. And THAT’s when I almost took a header on this lovely freaking surprise. The morons at Mill Falls Apartment took their damaged and never installed bike rack from the parking lot and tossed it onto the bridge. If I weren’t going so slowly I wouldn’t be typing to you now, I’d be sitting somewhere with a gash on my head wondering what the hell just happened.

Now I know they don’t WANT a bike rack there else they would have one that was properly installed and wasn’t dented by snow plows, but simply shoving it out of the way like this is irresponsible.

Nevertheless I DID make it to Twaites and took a little side trip to Mexico Lindo to pick up a few noshes. Ignoring the fact that as a city we have about 7 bike racks to our name. (45 thousand people 7 bike racks..go figure) But I did have a nicely bloodless trip.

Now I need to find some removable panniers if I am going to do this kind of thing on a regular basis. Cause right now I am wishing I had stopped at Rostens and bought a few beers. So I can sulk in silence. Is it just too much to ask why we don’t like BIKES here?

Tags: bike racks, City Of Methuen, Cycling, Methuen

Mud season is here in New England . . . that means spring can’t be far away! Time to roll out your bike, old new, expensive or cheap, if they can be ridden they should be ready to be ridden. Here are some tips to get your bike ready for another year of cycling. If you get it done straight away, then there is no reason not to go for a ride as soon as the spirit moves you. My first instinct when the sun peak out and melted the ice on the drive was to roll ‘Daisy’ right into the living room and get started.

If you have kids have them cleaning their own bike, especially if you are cleaning yours at the same time. Get them into the habit of taking care of their bikes and they will make your investment in their bike last longer.

Cleaning - I am always amazed how many people just park their bike and spend little time cleaning it. Any conscientious biker will wipe down their bike before and after each use. Dirt, grime and road salt are so easy to avoid. and cleaning it off will easily extend the life of your bike and its moving parts. Clean everything tires, rims, seat, chain, chain rings, cassette, derailleurs, pedals, brakes, even your basket and panniers. Many people have recommended Simple Green, but any good biodegradable cleaner will do, I try to stay away from harsh chemicals because i don’t want to lose the ancient decals on my bikes.

Tires – Check tires for splits, cracks,and tread for uneven excessive wear. Replace the tires if needed. Tires and tubes are relatively cheap, and much cheaper than having blow out on the road just because it needed to be replaced.

Wheels - Clean the rims with a cloth and rubbing alcohol, some of the road tars are tough to remove. If your bike is ancient like mine, rust and spots on the chrome can be tackled with a good chrome polish. There is even biodegradable non toxic chrome polish that even kids can use. Check the balance of the wheel does it spin straight or is it untrue? If you can make the minor adjustments to the wheel with a spoke wrench go for it, if not take the wheel to the shop and get it up on a truing stand. Uneven wheels cause brake wear, difficulty steering and a bumpy ride.

Brakes - Check the brake pads, make sure they are wearing evenly. If they have any uneven wear, get new ones, they are another inexpensive item that can save you lots of trouble being replaced before they become a problem. Check the brake cables, do the pads strike the rim at the same time when applied? Adjust the brake arm tension screws so the brakes are even.

Chain – Elevate the rear wheel and spin the pedals, you may need help doing this unless you have a stand, you can always use the bike rack on your car. You should be able to shift through all the rear gears smooth; if it skips any gears try adjusting your rear derailleur. If the problem persists take it to the shop, if you use your bike a lot you may just need a new chain. They are relatively inexpensive and are another thing to keep in perfect working order to prevent problems on the road. If you can change the chain yourself you probably don’t need my advice, I only have 3 gears and they are all internal.

Lubrication - get out the bike lube, apply even coat to the chain, on the inside and outside of each link and between the pins and rollers. Let is set and then wipe off the excess with a rag. Apply lube to all the pivot points on the front and rear derailleur, as well as any hinges and levers on the brakes.

Check your gear – If you have a seat bag with essentials, check to make sure everything is in order. For just kicking around town I carry a first aid kit, a spare tube, tire levers, puncture patches, multi-tool, c-wrench, pen note pad, small bungee cords, zip ties, a bandanna, disposable camera.

Springs coming get ready to ride.

Tags: Cycling, tools

I stumbled on this super resource for adapting for Bike-Ped transportation.
I was most interested in – Lesson 20: Restriping Existing Roads With Bike Lanes,
which gives us many options on how to work with what we have.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lesson 1: The Need for Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility (PDF, 269 Kb)
Lesson 2: Bicycling and Walking in the United States Today (PDF, 179 Kb)
Lesson 3: Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Overview (PDF, 387 Kb)
Lesson 4: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Types (PDF, 1.65 Mb)
Lesson 5: Adapting Suburban Communities for Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel (PDF, 181 Kb)
Lesson 6: Neo-Traditional Neighborhood Design (PDF, 678 Kb)
Lesson 7: Using Land-Use Regulations to Encourage Non-Motorized Travel (PDF, 3.5 Mb)
Lesson 8: Tort Liability and Risk Management (PDF, 149 Kb)
Lesson 9: Bicycle and Pedestrian Connections to Transit (PDF, 250 Kb)
Lesson 10: Off-Road Trails (PDF, 105 Kb)
Lesson 11: Traffic Calming (PDF, 1.13 Mb)
Lesson 12: Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities in Work Zones (PDF, 108 Kb)
Lesson 13: Walkways,Sidewalks and Public Spaces (PDF, 273 Kb)
Lesson 14: Pedestrian Signing and Pavement Markings (PDF, 195 Kb)
Lesson 15: Pedestrian Accommodations at Intersections (PDF, 327 Kb)
Lesson 16: Mid-Block Crossings (PDF, 453 Kb)
Lesson 17: Pedestrians With Disabilities (PDF, 72 Kb)
Lesson 18: Shared Roadways (PDF, 1.2 Mb)
Lesson 19: Bike Lanes (PDF, 460 Kb)
Lesson 20: Restriping Existing Roads With Bike Lanes (PDF, 341 Kb)
Lesson 21: Bicycle Facility Maintenance (PDF, 69 Kb)
Lesson 22: Bicycle Parking and Storage (PDF, 178 Kb)
Lesson 23: European Approaches to Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Design (PDF, 212 Kb)
Lesson 24: Education,Encouragement, and Enforcement (PDF, 153 Kb)

PDF of the entire 282pages (12.4mb)

Tags: Cycling, health, walking

For a few weeks I drove around town and inventoried bike racks in the city.
This is what I found:

There is not enough municipal or privately provided bicycle parking in Methuen to support the present level of cycling in the area. Proper parking for bicycles should be provided at all municipal facilities and encouraged through out the local business community.

With models starting at $300, bicycles are an expensive investment either for transportation or recreation. They should be locked securely to a stationary object in plain view. Many modern ‘road’ bikes do not have kickstands and must be leaned against a solid object when not in use.

Methuen Residents who wish to use their bicycle for in town errands are forced to chain their bicycle to the nearest suitable object, be it a tree, railing, or trash can. Allowing for obvious increases in alternate transportation and bicycle usage, cyclists may find themselves at odds with property owners, not to mention an increase in thefts.

View Larger Map

PUBLIC:
There are no bike racks at municipal buildings. The few public bike racks extant are those installed with newly constructed facilities such as Veterans Park or Riverwalk Park.

There is no bike parking at any of the schools or playgrounds, nor the skateboard park on Burnham Road, nor even the athletic facilities at the High School.

Nevins Library included a bike rack in its new renovations and the size chosen is quite adequate to present demand.

PRIVATE:
There are no bike racks at any of the department or grocery stores. Large retailers such as Walmart, Target and Home Depot which are easily accessible by public transportation have made no provision for cyclist parking.

The two serpentine style racks installed at the Loop, in front of Old Navy and K-B toy seem to be targeted toward non-adult riders. However, the Loop’s own policy discouraging youth congregation, causes these racks to go unused. Bike parking would be more practical installed in front of Stop and Shop and Loews Cinema and targeted towards the adult cyclist.

Several of other bike racks are improperly installed or in advanced states of disrepair, which discourages their use.

Available Bike Parking as of Sept 1, 2008

	Nevins Memorial Library 305 Broadway Cora Brand 4 bike Unit
	Veteran’s Park Milk st Serpentine bike rack Holds 9 bikes
	KB Toys 90 Pleasant Valley st Serpentine Rack holds 7 bikes
	Old Navy 90 Pleasant Valley St # 102 serpentine holds 7 bikes
	Mill Falls Apartments 51 Osgood St incorrectly installed. not accessible from one side, not enough clearance for bikes between cars may not be properly bolted to the ground
	Choice Fitness 126 Merrimack St
	YMCA 129 Haverhill St Unit predates existing facility
	Commuter parking lot Pelham St Serpentine rack holds 9 bikes only accessible from one side. insecure parking area, impractical for bicycle parking.
	Riverwalk Osgood st Serpentine unit holds 7 bikes
	Park near Water Treatment Plant old lowboy bike rack, Crushed by a tractor during construction too far from present activity area.

Tags: bike racks, Methuen

Founded in 1971, the Granite State Wheelmen is New England’s most active adult recreational bicycling club. GSW offers its members organized weekday, weekend and multi-day rides for road and off-road adult enthusiasts of all ages, as well social events and winter activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

September 20-21 • The annual Tri-State Seacoast Century is the largest GSW event of the year. The scenic ride on 100 miles of coastlines in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts has received several national awards. Many riders come back year after year making this event part of their annual vacation plans.

September 8 • Tonight 7-9pm one of the general GSW meetings will be held at Buchika’s in Salem, NH.

Annuall membership is $15 and has many benefits, not the least of which is a chance to connect with other Methuen members and the network of cyclists from around the area.

more information:

Granite State Wheelmen, Inc.
PMB 216
215 South Broadway
Salem, NH 03079-3309
Phone: 603.898.5479
www.granitestatewheelmen.org

From the official site:

The 2007 Massachusetts Bicycle Transportation Plan is being prepared in cooperation with the U.S Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.

The primary purpose of the plan update is to develop a prioritized plan of on- and off-road bicycling improvements in order to implement a statewide bicycling network. The network will serve to improve multi-modal transportation generally and bicycle transportation specifically, as well as recreation, tourism, and economic vitality.

• Full Draft Masssachusetts Bicycle Plan with Links to Graphics. (2.2MB PDF), released: 10/19/07
• Executive Summary. (388KB PDF), released: 10/12/07
  
• Draft Report. (33MB PDF), released: 10/05/07
  
• Appendix. (19.6MB PDF), released: 10/12/07

Tags: Massachusetts

The US Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration came up with a checklist to judge the bikeability of your community.

(Direct Link) (Printable PDF version)

Tags: Cycling, DOT, Federal

this in from MassBike:

Governor Patrick Signs Bicyclist Safety Bill

Yes, it’s true: the Bicyclist Safety Bill is law after 8 years and 4 legislative sessions — perseverance and grassroots support paid off in the end! MassBike played a central role throughout the history of the bill, from drafting the language, to lobbying for its passage, to the successful 2006 effort that ended in a veto, and now to a law! MassBike thanks our many supporters in the House and Senate for their persistence, and thanks Governor Patrick for recognizing that this law will help make Massachusetts a healthier, greener, more sustainable state.

This is a great victory for cyclists, and it was a true team effort, ranging from MassBike to legislators to you, our members and supporters. Without all your calls, emails, and letters to legislators and governors over the years, this could not have happened. You let the politicians know that bicyclist safety is an important issue, and they heard the message! So thanks to all of you.

Governor Patrick signed the bill into law yesterday. Coming on the heels of a year that saw gas prices soar to over $4 a gallon, huge increases in ridership on public transportation, and a surge in interest in bicycle commuting, the law will help more people, particularly new and less experienced bicyclists, take advantage of bicycling as an affordable transportation option.

Among the many changes the new law makes, it adds police training on bicycle law and dangerous behavior by bicyclists and motorists; explains how a motorist should safely pass a bicycle; explains how a motorist should safely make a turn in front of a bicycle; makes “dooring” (opening a car door into the path of a bicycle or other vehicle) subject to ticket and fine; permits bicyclists to ride two abreast when it does not impede cars from passing; and adds legal protections for bicyclists who choose to ride to the right of other traffic. Click here for the full text of the new law. We will post guidance on exactly what the new law means on the MassBike website (www.massbike.org) as soon as possible.

This great day would not have happened without the help and support of our friends in the Legislature, many of whom threw their support behind efforts to get the bill signed. Representative William Brownsberger, who assumed a leading role in moving the bill forward immediately upon taking office two years ago, kept the pressure on in the final months, weeks, days, and, yes, even hours, leading up to the signing. Representative Kay Khan, the House sponsor of the bill, who was instrumental in garnering the support of dozens of like-minded colleagues in the House and Senate – including Representative Robert DeLeo, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and Representative Frank Smizik, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture – to urge the Governor to sign the bill.

The Bicyclist Safety Bill was originally introduced in 2001 by now-retired Representative Anne Paulsen, who worked closely with MassBike to draft a bill designed to modernize Massachusetts’ bicycle laws and improve bicyclist safety. Paulsen championed the bill until her retirement in December 2006, when the bill passed the House and Senate only to be vetoed by the outgoing Romney administration. (Anne then joined MassBike’s Board of Directors where she has continued her efforts on our behalf.) Following Representative Paulsen’s retirement, Senator Pamela Resor (who herself just retired) took up leadership on the bill, filing the version that was ultimately signed into law by the Governor.

Now that the bill is law, our work really begins. We will start getting the word our to bicyclists, motorists, and the police, so that we can begin to see the improvements that the new law makes possible. And this is not the end of the road for bicycle legislation: the law and the needs of bicyclists continue to evolve, and MassBike will continue working to ensure those needs are met.

FULL TEXT OF NEW LAW