Berkshire Bike Path Council                                                                                                        

March 2009 Update


Getting ready for Biking Season

As the snow melts and the days grow longer, we get the urge to get on our bikes, only to be confronted with shoulders dangerously covered with sand and the Ashuwillticook Trail holding on to it's icy remains.  April is the month to get our bodies and our bikes ready.  This month's newlsetter will highlight some important tune-up tips to ready our bikes for our outdoor adventures. Berkshire Cycle Association's will hold their annual tire changing clinic, which always seems to be an important skill to master.  Take a moment to read about the new Mass bike law and review some safety suggestions on our web page. Help ready the Ashuwillticook Rail trail by joining in DCR's Annual Park Service Day.  And before you know it you'll be sitting in the saddle enjoying a safe, fun-filled 2009 cycling season.

Marge Cohan   President, Berkshire Bike Path Council

Spotlight                                                                                                                                 

Bike Safety . . . 

New Bike Law 
 
The new bike law is in effect.  It clarifies that you are not required to use hand signals when both hands are needed to control brakes, steering or shifting and also that riding two abreast is permitted as long as you allow faster cars to get by.  A clear summary of the new law is on the MassBike web site.  Check it out and share the info with friends.  MassBike also has informative information on safety tips for riding with traffic. 

Tune up hints

Safe riding starts with getting your bike into shape. Before you start riding, you should inspect your bike to make sure it is safe.

  • Are all parts fastened on tightly? Check the saddle, handlebars, handlebar stem, brake levers, cranks, and derailleurs.
  • Are the tires fully inflated and free from cuts? Tires should have all cuts repaired and no bulges, and no cords should be showing.
  • Are all rotating parts properly adjusted? Check the wheel bearings for wobble, quick releases, head set (steering) bearings.
  • Will the brakes stop you quickly? Check that brake pads are properly positioned, brake cables and cable housings are intact and clean and that the whole brake system is properly adjusted. 
  • Do the gears change and drive properly? Make sure all gears work and shift properly without the chain falling off the sprocket.
  • Do you have the proper tools for making roadside repairs? Check that you have the right size tools for your bike, a bicycle pump and a spare tube that will fit your bike.

If you are unsure or uncomfortable about making these safety checks take your bike to a reputable bike shop.  The money spent for a tune up is good insurance for an accident free season.  Bike shops in Berkshire County are listed on our webpage. 

Tire changing clinic
 
If you ride a bicycle sooner or later you will have to change a flat tire.  The Berkshire Bicycle Association (BCA) will hold a tire change clinic on Thursday evening, April 16.  The location will be 1 Fenn St. in the 3rd floor Board Room.  Be sure to bring your front wheel and tire irons.  This event is open to the public. It will also be a chance to meet with other bikers and join BCA. For further information go to events page or send inquiries to info@berkshirebikepath.com.


Celebrating Recreation and Alternative Transportation in Berkshire County                            

Request for Digital Images:    Deadline April 1, 2009

For the "Bicycling through the Berkshires" Poster and Our Enewsletter

The Berkshire Bike Path Council is seeking digital images that will help us celebrate and illustrate the diversity of bicyclists, walkers, hikers, in-line skaters and others who enjoy recreation and alternative transportation in all seasons in beautiful Berkshire County. The images may be used for our monthly enewsletter and the new "Bicycling through the Berkshires" poster, which is being developed in cooperation with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and National Park Service. Here are the details:
 
Deadline: April 1, 2009...no fooling
 
Digital Only: You may submit digital photos as JPEG or TIFF files. Digital images may be emailed if attachments are under 10 megabytes. Otherwise please mail a CD formatted for all computers (no DVD or CD-RW). We can't accept prints or negatives.
 
Identify:  Please assign each image with a number, file name, or some other
clear and concise identifier. It would also be helpful to attach an image list with brief description/caption, location, and photographer's name/contact information.

Berkshire Only: Make sure your photos are taken in Berkshire County

Email: email your photos to pictures@berkshirebikepath.com

Mail: send your image CDs to Charles Tracy, NPS, 15 State St., Boston MA 02109

Calendar                                                                                                                                 

Upcoming Events . . .

Tire Changing Clinic, Thursday, April 16

See above.

Care for a Trail: Park Serve Day, Saturday April 25

The Department of Conservation and Recreation's (DCR) Park Serve Day, scheduled for April 25, 2009 will include a spring spruce up on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. Tasks include: planting, cutting and removing brush, sweeping, painting fences and special projects. Contact Rebecca Barnes at (413) 499-7003 or Rebecca.Barnes@state.ma.us

Do the Numbers: Ashuwillticook Trail User Count, May 2 and 5

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will continue its program to count users on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in 2009. Counts are taken three times a year (May, July and September) at three locations: Berkshire Mall Road in Lanesborough, Farnam's Road in Cheshire and Russell Field in Adams. The data gathered will be used to gain a better understanding of what types of trail activities people most enjoy on the trail, and will help build a foundation for predicting future use. The data collected will also be used to advocate for greater trail development.  
 
The first round of counts will take place on Saturday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 5. Volunteers are needed to help count! Volunteers are asked to commit to a two-hour shift anytime between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd and from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m on Tuesday, May 5th. This is a passive survey as volunteers are asked simply to record the number of one way trips they see. No experience is necessary and no survey work required.
 
To volunteer in May, please contact: Christine Neumann (413) 442-1521, ext. 16. Click here for more information on the Ashuwillticook Trail Count Program.
 

ashiwillticock count 2008
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january   


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We welcome your support and ideas on improving bicycling in Berkshire County.

For more information, visit http://www.berkshirebikepath.com





                                      Thank you for your continued support!                                 

Please support our efforts to advocate for better bicycling in Berkshire County. Mail your check, made out to Berkshire Bike Path Council, 55 South Mountain Rd, Pittsfield, MA  01201. Per IRS regulations, your donation to the Berkshire Bike Path Council will be treated similarly to a donation made to a 501(c)(3) organization and will be tax deductible.