By Laurie Keve, Development Manager

Rosalba Bellen seems to me a force majeure: Unstoppable, joyful, and absolutely passionate about her recumbent electric-assist bike.

One warm June afternoon, Rosalba and her Lancaster Recumbent bike zipped into my Colchester home driveway. She hopped out of the seat, introduced herself, and asked about my kinetic brass garden sprinkler and of course, I asked her about her very cool recumbent bike. The bike has changed her life, she said, in so many ways. She rode a regular bike until recently, but she decided on a recumbent bike when vertigo made riding uncomfortable and unsafe. She purchased this one last fall and now arranges her days around the best time to get out for a ride. She hits the road nearly every day, weather permitting.

By Peter Burns

Helpful Hint

If you want to ride first thing in the morning, but have trouble motivating yourself, set out all your bike gear and clothing the night before. Some people wear their bike gear to bed! When you invest in the ride ahead of time it might be the nudge you need to get on your bike instead of taking the car. Driving is too easy. Unless there has been a snowstorm you can generally just jump into your car and go. A more radical solution is to get rid of your car. Motivation is less difficult when you have no choice. I have no car so if I want to get to work I have to either walk, take the bus or ride my bike. Riding my bike is the easiest choice most of the time.

By Peter Burns

Helpful Hint

At a four-way stop sign make eye contact with car drivers in the intersection. Even if you are riding with lights and reflective clothing, it is possible for a driver not to see you. Signal your intentions clearly by pointing in the direction you are going to go. If possible take the center of the lane when you get to a stop sign. You are much less visible to cars if you are over to the right and a car taking a right turn is more likely to turn into you.  

Spring is one of our favorite seasons, as we’re busy planning out the year ahead and getting ready for summer!

What are we doing this spring?

• Installing a Demonstration Project to make a village safe and pleasant for pedestrians
• Sending our Bike Smart trailer to 20 schools
• Developing a new interactive mobile Island Line Map
• Prepping our Bike Ferry for a long fun season on the water
• Tuning our rental bikes for the Trailside Center
• And more! Scroll down to discover what we’re doing!

We’re excited for all our programs and services to roll out for the season and encouraging all Vermonters to experience the joy of biking and walking!

By Peter Burns

Helpful Hints

A banana holder keeps your banana from getting squished in your backpack or pannier on a long ride. You can get one online or at Outdoor Gear Exchange. Even if the hinge snaps off, as mine did, a rubber band will keep the two halves of the banana holder in place. If you don’t want to get a banana holder but enjoy bananas, you can squish a banana with peanut butter and put it in a small plastic container. It makes a good fast-energy snack. I prefer peanut butter with no sugar added, and I miss the peanut grinder at City Market. It was removed soon after the pandemic began. I enjoyed making my own peanut butter. I liked watching the machine extrude the freshly made peanut butter. I keep a  supply of snacks on hand for longer bike rides. I have dried fruit, pretzels, apples, and trail mix, and of course bananas. I like my bananas ripe and you can often get reduced price bananas at City Market. They have some brown spots but they are perfectly edible. I try to stop every hour for a snack.  Admittedly a banana holder is not a necessity, but I like specialized equipment that improves my bike riding experience. I don’t own a car and the money I save is significant but it would be easy to spend it all on high-end bike equipment. I do not include a banana holder in the category of high-end bike equipment.

Crashes are not accidental - they are entirely predictable. 

By Peter Burns

Helpful Hints

Every commuter bike should have fenders. They make a big difference if you are riding in the rain or in slushy conditions. They are especially useful during mud season. Fenders are available for most kinds of bikes. Fenders are lightweight and will not slow you down.

The birds are chirping and the fresh scent of spring is in the air! Been itching to get back on your bike after the long winter break? Here are some tips to help you get ready to ride again. 

By Peter Burns

Helpful Hint

Consider joining a Facebook group such as Bikeable Burlington Now or Vermont Bike Commuters. Being part of a virtual bike community can help you feel less isolated as a bike rider. If you are riding all winter long, it helps to know that others are doing the same thing and sharing some of the same challenges. It is also a great place to get answers to your bike-related questions and find out about infrastructure developments and ways you can help improve bike riding and walking for everyone. Also, don’t forget to join and support Local Motion!

By Peter Burns

Helpful Hint

Whenever possible ride on the road.  Sidewalks are primarily for pedestrians and when you are on the sidewalk it is easy for car drivers to ignore you. This means that when you are crossing a street it is more likely that a car will turn into you.