As of July 1, drivers are required to provide 4' of clearance when passing a vulnerable user.

A bicycle is an inexpensive way to get around.  Every time you chose to ride instead of driving, you save money and you are helping the environment.  

You’ve seen them everywhere: parked outside the farmer’s market, loaded with kids in the school pickup line, passing you up a hill… Electric bikes are out there, being adopted by riders of all types. 

In This Newsletter:

• Bike Smart Summer Scheduling
• Reminder: Free Helmets if you fill out Travel Tallies & Parent Surveys!
• Crossing Guard Survey Results + Winning Schools
• Show and Tell: Share your Photos and Tell us of your Activities
• 2024 Vermont Walk-Bike Summit
• Resources You Can Use
• What’s Next

One of the great pleasures of living in Vermont is taking long bike rides.  I ride all winter and in the spring I gradually lengthen my rides. This past winter I had some issues with my right knee, and so I have been very cautious about building up to longer mileage.  It makes sense for everyone to take a gradual approach to building up strength and stamina.  Pushing too hard can result in an injury. 

There are a lot of things to get excited about in May: flowers opening, trees leafing, sun shining… oh yeah, and bike riding! May is National Bike Month, a time to celebrate our bikes and all they do for us. Whether you are a seasoned commuter, a racer, a casual path spinner, or are picking up a bike for the first time, this is a time to spread the joy of cycling.

This month, we ask you to challenge yourself by riding more. That could mean using your bike to get to work or run an errand, changing up your normal ride type (dust off that old MTB or road bike!), or inviting a group of friends to go on a ride together.

Find inspiration below, as well as a calendar chock full of exciting events.

Your riding safety depends on staying vigilant and not putting yourself in dangerous situations. It is also important that you are visible, both during the day and at night. Vehicle drivers do not want to hit you. Our job as riders is to help them avoid hitting us.

In This Newsletter:

• Bike Smart Summer Scheduling
• Inspiration from a Shelburne Student
• Spring Walk and Roll to School Months and the Muddy Boot Award
• Reminder: Free Helmets if you fill out Travel Tallies & Family Surveys!
• Show and Tell: Share your Photos and Tell us of your Activities
• Free National Webinar: Engaging and Including Students with Disabilities in Safe Routes Programs
• What’s Next

In April of 2021 the Winooski Parks and Recreation Department sent out a call for volunteers to lead a weekly bike ride.  I was one of three people to volunteer.   Astin and Kristine also responded.  Astin is a social worker and Kristine teaches high school math.  We were given the title of ‘Bike Ambassadors.’ We decided to meet every Wednesday at 5:30 in  front of Monkey House which is on the Winooski traffic circle.  That first year we averaged about 10 riders per week.  Kristine gradually expanded out online presence and started posting our bike routes.  Astin was very good at welcoming new riders into the fold.  

Monday

My day started like most, with a walk down the hill from my house in the Old North End in Burlington down to Local Motion’s office on the waterfront. However, this time I was lugging a suitcase and had that nervous pre-trip excitement. Instead of a typical office day, I boarded the Amtrak train to New York City before continuing on to Washington, DC to attend the League of American Bicyclists' National Bike Summit.