Local Motion, in partnership with AARP Vermont, the Preservation Trust of Vermont, and Front Porch Forum, announced today the recipients of a combined $10,000 in micro-grants from the Streets as Places Program. Launched in March, the program is designed to foster community connections, reimagine neighborhood streets as shared public spaces, and spark lasting local change. Grants were open to Vermont residents organizing events on neighborhood or village streets across the state.

The Town of Brattleboro was recently awarded a bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists.

Over the years I have found additions to my bikes that have made my riding easier and safer.

This month, the EZ Breezy ride will end at Zero Gravity. Local Motion is a recipient of the Green State for Good program this May. Hang around for a post-ride beverage - and support our mission to make it safe, accessible, and fun to bike, walk, and roll in Vermont!

Back to our usual time: Meet at 6 pm at our Trailside Center and head out for a casual 7.6 mile ride around the City. It's truly springtime now. Let's ride slow, play music (sing along?), and wave at all our neighbors together. Oh, and end at Zero Gravity for some good food and drinks.

See the route

This ride is made possible with the help of volunteers. And, volunteers earn City Market Member Worker hours! Sign up for a shift

Also check out:

Generator and Local Motion will be at Zero Gravity two more times for Free Bike & Gear Repair Days this spring. As you're getting ready for bigger rides and warmer adventures, stop by and make sure your bike & gear are safe and ready.

• Wednesday, May 20th from 4-8pm
• Thursday, June 18th from 4-8pm

Join some of Burlington’s favorite organizations at Zero Gravity for a fun, FREE, hands-on, community powered Bike & Gear Repair Series on the following dates:

• Tuesday, April 28th from 4-8pm
• Wednesday, May 20th from 4-8pm
• Thursday, June 18th from 4-8pm

Got a bike that needs some love? A jacket with a battle scar? A pack that’s held together by hope and one good strap… We’re here to help you fix it!

In a world that’s quick to throw things away, choosing to repair is a small act with a real impact. Every stitch, patch, and tune-up keeps good gear out of the landfill and removes it from the endless cycle of replacement. Rather than extracting additional resources to make something new, let’s focus on extracting as much life as possible from what we already have!

So, clear your schedule, round up your broken stuff, and meet us at Zero Gravity on Tuesday, April 28th, Wednesday, May 20th, and Thursday, June 18th!

FREE Bike Repair

Volunteer mechanics from Generator, Local Motion, Champlain College, and VMBA will be providing basic tune-ups (safety checks, brakes, shifting, etc). Think of it as a wellness visit for your wheels. We won’t have spare parts on hand, so it’s more spa day than surgery, but we’ll do our best to get you rolling smoothly.

PS. Want to volunteer? Sign up here! (Volunteers are eligible for City Market Member Worker Hours!)

FREE Gear & Clothing Repair

Generator will be showing up again with sewing machines, scrap fabric, and other supplies. Torn jacket? Busted buckle? Fraying pack straps? Drag it all in. We’ll be offering basic repairs like patches, snaps, and stitches for free.

The Sandbox will also be on-site offering simple repairs and hi-vis safety patching! They’ll fix what they can, and can help make arrangements for more complex repairs outside of the event.

NOTICE: More complex fixes likely won’t be free, but anything coming through this event will receive a discount at The Sandbox.

Hang Out & Hydrate

All of this goes down at Zero Gravity, home to some of the best beer and food in Burlington. Come for the repairs, stay for the pint and good company.

Bike Maintenance Workshops @ Generator

And don’t miss out on our low cost Bike Maintenance Workshops at Generator. These are 2.5 hour sessions where we teach you how to take care of common maintenance and repair tasks on your own. We currently have sessions scheduled on Monday, May 11th, Tuesday, June 2nd, and Wednesday, July 1st from 5:30-8pm, $20/non-members & free/members.

Join some of Burlington’s favorite organizations at Zero Gravity for a fun, FREE, hands-on, community powered Bike & Gear Repair Series on the following dates:

• Tuesday, April 28th from 4-8pm
• Wednesday, May 20th from 4-8pm
• Thursday, June 18th from 4-8pm

Got a bike that needs some love? A jacket with a battle scar? A pack that’s held together by hope and one good strap… We’re here to help you fix it!

In a world that’s quick to throw things away, choosing to repair is a small act with a real impact. Every stitch, patch, and tune-up keeps good gear out of the landfill and removes it from the endless cycle of replacement. Rather than extracting additional resources to make something new, let’s focus on extracting as much life as possible from what we already have!

So, clear your schedule, round up your broken stuff, and meet us at Zero Gravity on Tuesday, April 28th, Wednesday, May 20th, and Thursday, June 18th!

FREE Bike Repair

Volunteer mechanics from Generator, Local Motion, Champlain College, and VMBA will be providing basic tune-ups (safety checks, brakes, shifting, etc). Think of it as a wellness visit for your wheels. We won’t have spare parts on hand, so it’s more spa day than surgery, but we’ll do our best to get you rolling smoothly.

PS. Want to volunteer? Sign up here! (Volunteers are eligible for City Market Member Worker Hours!)

FREE Gear & Clothing Repair

Generator will be showing up again with sewing machines, scrap fabric, and other supplies. Torn jacket? Busted buckle? Fraying pack straps? Drag it all in. We’ll be offering basic repairs like patches, snaps, and stitches for free.

The Sandbox will also be on-site offering simple repairs and hi-vis safety patching! They’ll fix what they can, and can help make arrangements for more complex repairs outside of the event.

NOTICE: More complex fixes likely won’t be free, but anything coming through this event will receive a discount at The Sandbox.

Hang Out & Hydrate

All of this goes down at Zero Gravity, home to some of the best beer and food in Burlington. Come for the repairs, stay for the pint and good company.

Bike Maintenance Workshops @ Generator

And don’t miss out on our low cost Bike Maintenance Workshops at Generator. These are 2.5 hour sessions where we teach you how to take care of common maintenance and repair tasks on your own. We currently have sessions scheduled on Monday, May 11th, Tuesday, June 2nd, and Wednesday, July 1st from 5:30-8pm, $20/non-members & free/members.

This was my third time at the National Bike Summit and Lobby Day, hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. Part family reunion, part pep rally, this was again an excellent opportunity to see how the work we do in Vermont connects to that of our peers across the country, and is all tied together with federal policy efforts.

This has been a difficult winter for riding. A few times, when I was climbing the Colchester Avenue Hill going into Burlington, I felt that I was pushing my physical and psychological limits, but I am a stubborn person, so I always made it to the top of the hill! I have not yet missed a day riding this winter. Luckily I have not fallen off my bike or fallen when walking on ice. On the coldest days my heated mittens and heated inner soles have really helped. Early in the season, three degrees would be something I faced with trepidation, but by February that kind of temperature was routine! When I first started riding all winter, about 40 years ago, I seldom saw anyone riding in the snow. Although I still don’t see many people during actual storms, there are many more year round riders. It is good to see them, and feel a sense of camaraderie!

Have you ever wished there were easier opportunities to get to know your neighbors? Have you thought about hosting a block party or neighborhood gathering on your street? When a street closes to cars and opens to people - even for a few hours - kids play freely, neighbors meet and talk, and the whole block feels different. A block party isn’t just a party; it’s a glimpse of what people-centered streets can be.

Other dates available:
May 4th, 11th, 18th - with E-bikes
June 15th, 22nd, 29th

*E-bike sessions will include some e-bike specific content, especially in the classroom session, but are open to riders on any type of bike. Could be helpful for those who are e-bike curious!

Interested in offering Smart Cycling in your workspace or community? Contact us for ways to collaborate: [email protected]

Overview
First session: Classroom (at Local Motion)
Why bike? 
Rules of the road
Road etiquette/tips (gear, visibility, signaling, etc)
Route planning & maps 

Second session: On-bike
Parking lot drills, essential basic biking skills

Third session: On-bike (start Local Motion)
Group bike ride around Burlington! Put everything you’ve learned together and join us for a fun ride on one of our usual EZ Breezy routes.