2018 bike program series starts with Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 18

Mayor Martin J. Walsh and BTD Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca will kick off the season at Boston’s National Bike to Work Day Festival on City Hall Plaza, beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday, May 18. Fun, on-bike opportunities will continue through mid-October.

“I’m pleased to welcome everyone to City Hall Plaza for our annual Bike to Work Day Festival,” said Mayor Walsh. “An increasing number of Boston residents and members of our daily workforce are biking to work, for exercise and for recreation. We are making great strides in our efforts to improve and expand Boston’s bike infrastructure so that people may safely and efficiently cycle on our local streets, riding their own bikes or one of the thousands of Blue Bikes that are docked at locations around the City and available to share.”

Mayor Walsh’s FY19 recommended budget is designed to transform the future of transportation in Boston, providing increased and improved opportunities for people traveling around the City using all modes, including bicycles. In FY19, with the anticipated completion of major new projects, there will be a total of 6.5 miles of strategically located bike lanes in Boston. New projects expected to be completed include Columbus Avenue in the South End, Commonwealth Avenue in Allston, and Seaport Boulevard. Additional projects to be constructed over the next four years will raise the total to 15 miles of protected bike lanes in the City. Planned bike related investments include:

•  $400,000 for the Green Links Program to fill missing bike and pedestrian connections to parks and paths including three that are already underway: the Roxbury-Fenway Connector linking the Southwest Corridor to the Emerald Necklace; the Roslindale Gateway path; and a multi-use path connecting Fenway and Yawkey Stations;
• An additional $300,000 for the strategic bike network program, raising the annual investment to $1.2 million for building high quality bike infrastructure in Boston;
• Two new planners and two new engineers to focus on Vision Zero programs and efforts to make quick improvements to challenging intersections and improve multi-modal safety and access;
• Up to four new maintenance and operations personnel tasked with keeping infrastructure, such as flex posts delineating bike lanes, in good repair.

Boston’s National Bike to Work Day Festival is the City’s annual celebration of bicycling and kicks off the warm-weather riding season. This year, Mayor Walsh will be joined by Andrew Dreyfus, the President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, to celebrate the rebranding of the public bike share system as Blue Bikes. The new brand recognizes Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts as the new title sponsor of the publicly-owned system, which is expanding this year.

People on their way to the festival can join one of a dozen bike convoys at stops all across the Boston area, or ride over on their own. Once they arrive, they’ll be greeted by bike-friendly exhibitors and free breakfast provided by Clif Bar, High Brew Coffee, Iggy’s Bread of the World and Whole Foods - Charles River Plaza. People who pre-register for the event may receive a 2018 Bike to Work Day shirt. Blue Bikes members can receive Blue Bikes sunglasses. Registration, a map of the convoys, and other event details can be found at boston.gov/bike-to-work-day.

Following Bike to Work Day, BTD will offer plenty of opportunities to get more people pedaling safely throughout the City.

“With Go Boston 2030, we envision bicycling becoming an even more important transportation option,” said Commissioner Fiandaca. “I’m looking forward to this season’s series of workshops and events to inspire more people to take a bike ride. Whether they want to explore our beautiful off-street paths or hop on a shared bike to get to work, biking is a fun, healthy, and economical option for lots of our residents.”

The “Basic Skills” clinics are for those who have never ridden a bike before, haven't been on a bike for years, or can ride a little but need to build basic skills like starting, stopping, turning and hand signaling. “Intro to Street Skills” clinics are for those who have the basics down, but want to build their confidence riding on the street. Participation in these clinics is limited to Boston residents who identify as female or gender-nonconforming. Pre-registration is required, the clinics are free of charge, and bikes and helmets are provided upon request.

City of Boston residents who are interested in the region’s public bike share system but haven’t yet tried it out can join one of four Boston by Bike(share) events this year. These events are a great way to try bike share for free and learn more about the different membership options available. Participants go on a bike ride as a group through the neighborhood with an experienced ride leader, traveling along comfortable on-and off-street routes. Helmets will be provided and participants should be a minimum of 16 years old.

Schedule of events planned for 2018:

More information about these programs may be found at boston.gov/women-bike and boston.gov/bikes.