Cycling can be an integral part of the transportation mix for many Brattleboro residents. It’s all about living a local lifestyle and creating more sustainable lives. From the vantage point of cost to the user, climate change, health, and enjoyability, the bike wins feet down over private automobiles and public transportation. But then comes winter and conventional wisdom says that “bike season” is finished. Or is it?

The good new is that in cities and towns across the US there is a tremendous upsurge of bicycle ridership and in places like Minneapolis, Chicago and Toronto there are now rapidly growing communities of year-round riders. Minneapolis boasts over 6000 riders dedicated to commuting to work by bike in the winter while Chicago’s Bike Winter conducts a variety of workshops and events to get folks on their bikes in the winter.

Toronto, setting the pace for forward thinking urban centers, leads the way to promote winter bike commuting with brochures and a host of educational programs. More and more bicyclists are finding that with the right frame of mind, good clothing, and some preparation, winter biking is not only possible, but also practical and exhilarating.

The aim of the Brattleboro’s Winter Biking Workshop is to promote and demonstrate the viability (and thrill) of biking in our cold months of ice and snow. The main focus will be on utilitarian biking - commuting and errands - and cover important tips on clothing, equipment, and safety. Seasoned winter bikers will be on hand to explain how they ride in comfort and will discuss tips on clothing, equipment and riding technique. Also included in the workshop will be short films highlighting the accomplishments of winter biking groups in Chicago and Toronto. Event organizer, Phil Brubaker says “cycling most aptly represents the spirit of Vermont. I believe with a little creative promotion and education winter biking could become almost as ‘Vermont’ as skiing and maple syrup!”

The Brattleboro Winter Biking Workshop is the inaugural event of the newly born Brattleboro Area Bike Action (BABA). Starting up in the spring 2012, BABA will be producing a variety of inspiring education workshops called Coming Back to the Bike. The purpose of these events is to reintroduce folks to the power and dignity of bike transportation with the aim of promoting greater balance and sustainability to our minds, bodies and communities and to the land in which we live. We cover such topics as do-it-yourself bike repair, commuting, riding with children, shopping, local auto-free family trips, beginning riding technique for safety and climbing hills, getting around Brattleboro by bike, and many other bike related issues.

This event is free and accessible to all. Everybody from the curious to experienced ice bikers is welcome.



Contact: Dave Cohen 802-258-7013 or email brattleborowinterbike@gmail.com
Co-sponsored by Post-Oil Solutions and the Children and Parents Project
Brattleboro Winter Biking Workshop
Date: Thursday, November 17, 2011
Time: 7 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: River Garden, Main St