Halloween Bike Ride 2015

Posted on October 31, 2015January 19, 2017 by PN2K Team

Once at Copley Square, we were blown away by the array of costumes and the creative genius that sparked some insane ideas. (I wonder how much wind resistance they put up with?)

Those who came last year might recall the 700+ cyclists that rode out in the streets and the wild battles between a few motorists and cyclists that followed (traffic was not obeyed as streets were inundated with bikes). This year, Boston Bike Party organized the masses, and they followed a strict code. Click here to read about how we rode (also a great resource for people organizing random, large groups of bikers in suburban areas).

Thanks BBP for a wonderful time! Join our upcoming events:

PN2K presents "Bike Trivia" on Sunday, Nov 8 @ 2-5 PM: For those needing free minor bike repairs, pressure-washing, bike safety tips, or some free food, music, and good company, come have fun and test your bike trivia knowledge at the MIT Johnson Z-Center (front lobby) in Building W35. Free admission. We have helmets for $20 donations, bike lights for $15, memberships for $25, and sign-ups for shirts for $40.

Boston Bike Party presents "Sleep Tight" on Friday, Nov 13 @ 6:45 PM: Don't ride alone! Roll out with us in your costume from MIT to Copley Square for a ride around town.

Keep Calm & Pedal On!

“Don’t Forget Me”

Posted on October 28, 2015November 22, 2015 by PN2K Team

11903896_10154158384378642_3861488295910772140_n We were recently contacted by an artist from New York who has compiled a 148 page book depicting photographs of ghost bikes from over 50 cities, like the ghost bike on Mass Ave & Vassar St, set up in memory of our dear friend Phyo. Seeing the compilation of ghost bikes like this has the same effect as teaching kids about littering through visualization: “Throw one can to the ground; you see no difference – but how about we look over here where we have 1000 cans piled up high. You see how much we are destroying the earth?” It’s powerful visualisation. Here is Ms Barnes’ story:

Photographer Genea Barnes releases Don’t Forget Me, an art book memorializing Ghost Bikes

Brooklyn, October 21, 2015 – Photographer Genea Barnes is releasing an art book featuring her Ghost Bike art. Ghost Bikes are bicycles that have been painted white and placed near a location where a cyclist was killed. Barnes has traveled to over 50 cities photographing these bikes. The book has two parts. The first part chronicles her travels with journals and snapshots of the bikes. The second part displays Barnes’s memorial art: Ghost Bike images, and photo montages that combines the Ghost Bike images with studio-shot models to represent fallen cyclists. The book is 10.25in x 10.25in x 0.75in, and is 143 pages.

Each year, the US sees more than 600 bicyclist fatalities, and more than 50,000 bicyclists report injuries. Ghost Bikes symbolize the need for drivers and cyclists to be more aware of their surroundings. Barnes lives in Brooklyn, New York and is from San Francisco, CA.

“I started photographing Ghost Bikes because you can pass a memorial hundreds of times and eventually forget what it represents,” said Barnes. Over time, many Ghost Bikes have been removed. ”I hope this project and my book will help raise awareness, and enable the memorials and their sentiment live on.”

In 2010, San Francisco Bay Guardian readers voted Barnes best emerging artist. She has exhibited her photography in world class art hubs like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Milan. Her current projects explore death, decay, and facets of what is left behind.

Genea Barnes Brooklyn, New York (917) 789-3875
http://geneabarnes.com/blog/book/
http://geneabarnes.com/blog/presskit/
geneabarnes@geneabarnes.com
http://geneabarnes.com

Fall Foliage + Bikes

Posted on October 25, 2015January 19, 2017 by PN2K Team

Sunday bike adventures, continued! Jane and I went on the Fall Foliage Musical Mystery Ride (organized by Commonwheels Bicycle Coop and led by Peter Cheung and other volunteers from the biking community). Some of the colors were bright and bold enough to make your heart sing.

The ride went out to Waltham, MA. We visited the Charles Museum of Industry & Innovation where I saw some sleek tandem bikes. There were three musical stops, an eclectic sort of bands, and musical revelries. The third stop was on top of an abandoned bridge that we didn’t know we weren’t allowed on (until the cops came at the end and threatened arresting anyone who went on again). Jane and I had growling stomachs by the end, and decided to finish off the evening with a stop at Harvard Clover Food Labs – We can’t wait until the Halloween Bike Ride this coming Saturday!

Chief Jedi

Got helmets (year 2)

Posted on October 24, 2015November 22, 2015 by PN2K Team

In celebration of Family Day weekend, we were invited out to table at the MIT family activities fair this Saturday morning/afternoon from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. MIT really knows how to put on a show - I was expecting a simple line of tables - I went in and saw decorations, a popcorn machine, and a balloon man. While discussing PN2K semantics with a parent who was attracted by the helmets set up at our table, Mr. Balloon Man came over with this elaborately architectured balloon structure of an alien riding a bike. I was impressed.

The event proceeded to go by very smoothly (compared to our bike events) though there were times when a queue began to form and people started vying for attention. In general, parents loved the concept of donating to a nonprofit organization for a $20 helmet. One of the most exciting moments (besides the surprise gift from Mr. Balloon-Man) was seeing a mother who had dropped by our event LAST year. I had remembered her holding two helmets in her hand, but she was concerned about packing her luggage. The meeting went like this:

Me: I remember you!
Her: I remember you! I remember I had trouble last year because I could not pack the helmets, but then I realized that this is for a good cause and I should do whatever it takes. So I am going to buy today.

I remembered last year she had the red and blue one in her hand -- she was surprised I remembered. Anyway, she ended up getting them both. Thank you for your support and keeping safe!

Simultaneously, behind her was another important person who, as he says "on this fateful day, one year ago" was pulled into the scene that was PN2K when we met -- Will! Excitedly, I got to meet his parents again - and such a warm hello his father and mother both gave. Absolutely lovely folks, I think, and what a great son.

The person beside me was doing honey-research, so in between the mini-dance performances on the side, watching families take photos with TIM the Beaver (I missed it, sadly), and the chaos of families interested in learning more about PN2K, I tried some honey samples from the actual honey-combs.

Inventory was horrendous, I won't lie. As a starting non-profit, you have to figure out ways to make sure the quantity of helmets you order match up with the money you bring back. This seems straight-forward, but then you take into consideration the following:

people don't always have cash, so you need credit/debit options and multiple ways of accepting payment (e.g., online via PN2K.org);
helmet quantities are kept in my current office (room) and in the MIT COOP storage
when people are purchasing helmets, you have to make sure we have adequate quantities beforehand
you realize that after the event, you need to recount and make sure you know (1) the # of helmets sold (2) the amount of cash you have in your hand + the money paid online + the money paid through other means (e.g., card-swiper) matches the # of helmets sold (3) whether everything is documented correctly
helmets ordered via PN2K.org instantly deducts inventory count of helmets in the backend, but you need to manually deduct inventory in the backend for helmets paid by cash
people don't just want to buy helmets -- they are also interested in buying bike lights. (And thus, you fulfill their wishes and tell them you will get them lights because, hey, bike safety)

It was a solid 2-3 hours re-modifying the google excel spreadsheet and writing out steps for the next time we have to do this (Nov 8, bike event!) There are still a few things to do, like write up Thank You Donor Receipts and deliver those bike lights that were paid for today.

I then visited Anthony - the MIT COOP was definitely busier than usual with all the parents. I think he has a great mind for logistics (his response: "well I have to be good at logistics" while looking around crazily and slashing through numbers and notes on his pen-pad). I gave him the balloon. He needed it more than me.

Anthony, our star MIT COOP-er, with the loving alien-on-a-bike balloon in one hand, an MIT sweatshirt for an awaiting customer in the other, and a cell phone smashed between his ear and shoulder (customer 2, presumably). Thank you, Anthony for the work you do 🙂

Result -- Total: 10 helmets sold, 2 bike lights set, 2 x $20 donations (from dads who were empathetic) and more people who said they would follow up online/by email.

Thank you to Elena Byrne, Asst. Director of Student/Alumni Relations, and their organizing committee for inviting us to this fabulous event! Thank you MIT COOP and especially Anthony for partnering with us to make all these families happy. And importantly, thank you all the people of the tech world who create such fascinating technology that we can use to facilitate multi-tiered transactions. I have happy news: the inventory count was solid.

Keep Calm & Pedal On,

Chief Jedi

Costumes + Pad Thai

Posted on October 23, 2015January 19, 2017 by PN2K Team

In preparation for the Boston Halloween Bike Ride next Saturday, our crew thought we'd hit up some shops around town for costumes. An unsuspecting cyclist, Xin, joined us. He's a new-comer to this area and had some interesting comments while cycling. For instance:

While riding up the BU bridge on the bike lane: "Oh, this is the bike lane. It's very small." (I didn't get the feeling he believed it was safe. But we survived.)

While riding along Commonwealth Ave's bike lane along the parked cars and teaching him to bike nearer to the traffic (a bit away from the deathly door zone): "Yes, I was wondering how to avoid the cars opening their doors"

We also went over a few basic things, like crossing subway tracks at a perpendicular fashion and slowing down as a means to increase safety.

Our group ended up all around town, from charity shops to REI and larger department stores. We tried on some wacky costumes, and in the end, decided that we could probably be more creative making some of our own. The best part of the thing might have been the Pad Thai at the end (Rod Dee) and curry. Never miss a chance at team-building!

Har Har, Mateys! Pirates, Babies, Bikes

Posted on October 16, 2015February 28, 2016 by PN2K Team

We're just kidding. No babies were kidnapped or harmed in the making of this event. However, at our event last Friday, "Pirates on Wheels!" from 2-5 PM at the MIT Student Center, there were more kids than usual - it's like we told the stork we were developing our youth kids bike safety education program and all of a sudden they arranged this huge delivery. Mommies and daddies of the world: if you need a bedtime story for your two-year old, swing by and grab one of our Bike Safety & Me kids books, absolutely free. Take a picture and place it on the inside of the back cover, just like so (see Yaoming's iPhone photo to the right. We give him major creative points for thinking of this).

Our excellent organizing team with Dingfang, Yaoming, Will, and Tian also helped to run the show -- Dingfang helped checked in everyone who came on our registration iPad. PN2K had Planet Bike lights that were sold for a subsidized $15/set. This time, our helmet orders were purchased through our online system (PN2K helmets click here), as well as our high-viz T-shirts, which were half off with a purchase of PN2K membership. (Learn more by visiting the links under "Keep Calm & Shop On" in the footer section of PN2K.org). We were also glad to welcome back some familiar faces (Mr. Goldmann from our SidPac culture coffee hour video), and meet new ones.

Upcoming dates - check our calendar under "Events" but here's a preview:

Meeting: Fri, 10/16 @ 6-7 PM in 1-132
Come for a study break, enjoy snacks, and meet the MIT PN2K community. Learn about our next events and join as a prospective officer, join a committee, volunteer, come on a bike ride.
Bike Ride Social: Fri, 10/23: Details TBA (determined at our Fri 10/16 meeting. Check back later). *Update: We will be meeting and leaving the MIT Student Center at 5:00 PM to go Goodwill hunting for Halloween costumes and local shops (REI? etc.) for winter cycling gear like ski gloves, beanies, etc. to keep warm. See you there!

Bike Ride: Sat, 10/31 @ 6:30 PM at the MIT Student Center front steps -- MIT convoy to Copley Square for the annual Boston Halloween Bike Ride!

Next bike event: Sun, 11/8 @ 2-5 PM in the MIT Johnson Lobby (Z Center Building W35) *Please note the venue change.

Keep Calm & Pedal On!

(Back: Nick, John, Kwinsi, Ye, Roy, Ari. Front: Dingfang, Tian, Yaoming, Will)

Thank you, Bike Boom, for being awesome and making some really messed-up bikes safer. These guys are great - they're also in Davis Square (check them out here). If you need more serious repairs, we'd recommend purchasing one of our PN2K memberships ($25 online, $10 for students offline) and then you'll have the 50% of $70 complete tune-ups anytime in the year when you visit Bike Boom as well as other benefits.

And now, for your viewing pleasure (and to satiate your recommended dose of daily cuteness):

Check out the full event album on Facebook. All photo creds to Dingfang Zhou and Yaoming Duan

Cornucopia, rain, and bikes

Posted on October 12, 2015November 22, 2015 by PN2K Team

Every 2nd Friday of the month, Boston Bike Party holds these large parties - on bikes! Organizers and volunteers plan a ride around town - so if you have no plans on a Friday evening, you have a bike, and the weather's great, you have NO EXCUSE not to join us. How about when it's drenching (like this past Friday)? To be fair, the rain let off by the time the ride started (thank goodness!) Personally speaking (and I hope this helps others), I don't have fenders on my bike - and because I love the lightweight look and feel of my bike, I haven't seriously thought to install them. Thus, the huge stripe of cold wet rain and mud that ran along my back afterwards. Oh well. Embrace, accept, and then you can properly enjoy splashing through puddles.

For the first time since summer, the bike ride reverted to Winter Mode, meaning volunteers helped to control traffic at intersections in order to keep the group safe and together. The music was an eclectic compilation of sorts - But when songs like "Lean on Me" and other familiar pop songs came on, it was hard not to bounce around to the beat of the music. It was just really awesome, surrounded by bikers in costumes, doing wheelies, playing drums, and ringing cowbells - overall a really positive and vibrant feel.

The rain did nothing to abate Yaoming and Dingfang's enthusiasm to capture some highlights (click here for full album photos)

So, how to join? It's easy: if you've never been and want to cycle with us to Copley Square, meet us at the MIT Student Center front steps (either 6:45 PM or 7:15 PM - check with Boston Bike Party's website and follow along on our Facebook community page as we announce updates from the PN2K side). Don't forget the Boston Halloween Bike Ride on October 31, which was my official first large group ride - it was a BLAST. Keep on the lookout for more news.

*Note to newbie cyclists wondering how to keep dry while cycling: find a store that sells legitimate camping gear for weatherproof items.

(Pre-event) Bike like a Pirate!

Posted on October 11, 2015November 22, 2015 by PN2K Team

Are you biking like a Pirate? If not, perhaps you should be!

We hope to see everyone again at our event, Pirates on Wheels, this afternoon at the MIT Student Center Steps.

A few things to keep in mind:

The bike repair line might close up to an hour early to make sure we wrap up on time.
The bike pressure-washer area will NOT be between the MIT Z Center and Student Center, as before. Due to construction, the area is temporarily moved to the area just outside the entrance to the MIT Z Center building (W35) on the side where the bike rack stands. It's a 30 second walk away from where we normally are. You should see orange cones and a rope lining off that area -- You can take your bike directly there first and then join us in line.
It seems chilly out there - bundle up!

Please see our event page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/197562660575721/
MIT event calendar: http://events.mit.edu/event.html?id=16473207

Keep Calm & Pedal On,

PN2K organizing committee

Pre-BBP with MIT PN2K details

Posted on October 9, 2015January 19, 2017 by PN2K Team

We will be meeting outside the MIT Student Center Front Steps (exact address: 84 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139) this evening at 6:45 PM (ready to leave at 6:50 PM) from MIT and heading over to Copley Square, Boston.

If this is the first time you are joining us, we're excited to have you! Here are a few tips to keep safe and warm:

Bring your own bike (make sure it's safe aka no flat tires or dead brakes), helmet, bike lights, and bike lock
Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated (or coffee/tea in a thermo)
Bundle up! Dress in layers, wear gloves if you have them! (they are a good investment)

If you don't have helmets or bike lights, we have them for $20 and $15, respectively. Contact us ASAP to coordinate.

Keep Calm, Pedal On, advocate for cycle-tracks, and ride predictably!

“The British are coming!”

Posted on October 4, 2015January 19, 2017 by Ye

This Sunday morning, we went along the Minuteman Bikeway. Historically, this route is a close approximation of the route that Paul Revere took on his famous ride on April 18, 1775 to warn John Hancock and Sam Adams that the British were coming (marching from Boston to Lexington).

Sometimes I forget that we're in New England and surrounded by places of historical significance. Then I see historic markings and trace them back in memory to all those history textbooks I poured over in high school. So if you want to explore, jump on a bike and get out there-- especially as we enjoy the last few weeks/months of nice weather in Boston before the winter storms!

Cycling along the path and back, I saw so many families and kids biking - It was fair to say that the number of kids I saw today was more than the combined total number of kids I've seen from all my years of living near central Cambridge/Boston. Wouldn't it be nice if this sort of path stretched all along Mass Ave and had drop offs at each location (like a Subway station express, but for bikes!) -- long, smooth, and contiguous.

So where did we go for food? We biked to Izzy's where they had the most aromatic facility, with mozzarella and tomato basil sandwiches. Amazing. I biked home and for the first time ever tried Life Alive's Swami bowl. Another fascinating treat.

Keep Calm & Pedal On!