Maynard & Stow Ride is On!

The Maynard and Stow Revolutionary rides are on rain or shine! 

Bring your rain gear. 

Click here for complete details. 

Lexington Ride is On!

In the spirit of raising awareness rain or shine, we are still planning to make the Revolutionary Ride tomorrow from Lexington to Concord. 

Please forward this message to anyone you know who is planning to ride tomorrow as we have changed our route for safety reasons. 

We will now be taking the bike path to Bedford and then follow Route 62 into Concord. The route is much flatter and on good road surfaces the whole way. Here is a link with an online map of the route. 

The plan is to gather on the Lexington Green (across from Hancock Church) at 12:15 PM and depart for Concord at 12:30PM. 

Parking is available in the parking lot behind Hancock Church (1912 Mass Ave.) or in the St. Brigid's parking lot (2001 Mass Ave.), or behind the Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam Street (back of church, MIDDLE spaces only, not along perimeter). 

I rode both routes on Wednesday. The bike path route is a little bit longer, but that should only add 5 minutes or so to the ride as there are far fewer hills.

The current weather claims that there will be rain free afternoon tomorrow with temperatures rising to 65! 

They say there will be rain in the morning, then no rain in the afternoon, followed by rain in the evening. Sounds like perfect timing if it holds. 

We made the decision to avoid the Minuteman path as it had a lot of leaves on it, and those leaves could be wet from the rain in the morning. 

Lexington Route Update

We'll plan to use the following alternate route in the event of rain on Saturday. 

We'll leave Lexington Center via the bike path towards Bedford and then travel from Bedford Center down Rt. 62 to Concord. Click here for an online version of the route. 


The plan is to gather on the Lexington Green (across from Hancock Church) at 12:15 PM and depart for Concord at 12:30PM. 

Parking is available in the parking lot behind Hancock Church (1912 Mass Ave.) or in the St. Brigid's parking lot (2001 Mass Ave.), or behind the Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam Street (back of church, MIDDLE spaces only, not along perimeter). 

Free 350.org bike rider's bibs - Lexington

We will be handing out 350.org rider's bibs to first 30 riders to arrive at the Lexington Green for the Revolutionary Ride on Saturday October 24th. 


The plan is to gather on the Lexington Green (across from Hancock Church) at 12:15 PM and depart for Concord at 12:30PM. 


Parking is available in the parking lot behind Hancock Church (1912 Mass Ave.) or in the St. Brigid's parking lot (2001 Mass Ave.), or behind the Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam Street (back of church, MIDDLE spaces only, not along perimeter). 


Click here to see an online map of the route.
Register for the ride to help us plan by clicking here.

Hybrid or mountain bikes are recommended as we will be traveling 1 mile on the Battle road trail through theMinuteman National Park.

Bring a helmet, a water bottle and something to eat!

Bike to Concord - Raise Awareness of Dangers of Climate Change

The science is now clear and consistent. Earth is warming faster than anybody had predicted only a few years ago and our planet’s ability to support us with a reasonable quality of life is at great risk. It is our children and their children who will most impacted. It is our responsibility to continue and accelerate the restoration.

Efficient lives will help. Mass utilization of alternative forms of Energy will help more. Overarching actions such as reining in US and global population and consumption growth will help the most over the long term. Only local political action can make all this happen. Think globally, act locally.

October 24, 2009 will be a day for citizens around the world to show support for a strong climate treaty to be agreed to at the United Nations talks in Copenhagen in December.  More than 3500 rallies, demonstrations and other events are being planned at some of the Earth's most iconic places – in over 160 countries.

Please bike (or whatever) to Concord and join people from many surrounding communities to kindle the message. Unified bike ride info for all towns biking to Concord is available on this blog. Scroll down to see the details for your town. 

Check out http://www.350.org/ for more info; search there for “Concord, MA” for the latest updates, schedules and local events. And that site will give you info on all participating locations in case the Concord options don’t work for you.

This is a guest post written by Mike Hanauer.

Questions: Contact Mike Hanauer at 978/318-1980 or MGHanauer@yahoo.com

Revolutionary Ride Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

REVOLUTIONARY RIDE FROM LEXINGTON TO CONCORD SOUNDS ALARM

Bike riders call for a clean energy revolution as part of the

International Day of Climate Action on October 24^th.

We’re all familiar with the story of the revolution that started in Lexington when riders raised the alarm that the British were coming. On October 24th, a group of bike riders will be riding from the Lexington Green to the Old North Bridge in Concord to sound a different kind of alarm and to signal the start of a new revolution, an energy revolution.

The riders will be raising the alarm that climate change is coming and calling each of us to muster the courage to take a stand to reverse the environmental pollution that is putting our civilization at risk.

When the riders reach the Old North Bridge, they will be joined by hundreds of attendees from area towns across the region for an Energy Revolution Rally which will be held in Minuteman National Park starting at 2PM on October 24^th. The energy revolution rally in Concord will be one of 1,800 events held in over 140 countries around the world as part of the International Day of Climate Action and will send a message to our political leaders that there is strong worldwide support for immediate action to protect our climate.

Climate Change Impact in Lexington

Recent studies predict that Lexington will experience 62 days a year of temperatures over 90 degrees and 12 days a year of temperatures over 100 degrees, if we don’t change the way we use and produce our energy. These studies call for a significant reduction in our use of fossil fuels as the best way to lower the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million.

The number 350 comes from the latest scientific estimates of how much carbon dioxide is a safe level in the atmosphere. At the moment, burning coal, oil, and gas have taken that number too high—the atmosphere currently holds about 385 parts per million of carbon dioxide. “As a result, the planet is heating up too fast,” said Bill McKibben, former Lexington resident and environmental author and coordinator of the worldwide 350.org campaign.

“In December of 2009, the world’s leaders will meet in Copenhagen to forge an international agreement on global warming,” McKibben said. “So people in every country on earth are mobilizing to make sure that they don’t bend to the special interests and instead meet the targets science has laid out.”

Revolutionary Ride Details

Revolutionary Riders (and carpoolers) will be gathering on the Lexington Green in front of Hancock Church at 1912 Massachusetts Ave. at 12:15PM and will depart for the Old North Bridge at 12:30PM. The riders will follow the Old Battle Road trail through the Minuteman National Park.

Mountain bikes or hybrid bikes are recommended. Bring a helmet, a water bottle and something to eat.

The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend.

Let us know you are coming by clicking here - http://www.350.org/node/6716

Bedford Revolutionary Ride

12:40 PM: Bedford bike riders will assemble at the Town Common

1:00 PM: Riders will depart to bike to the 2 PM Regional Energy Revolution Rally in Concord.

The town common is at the signalized intersection of The Great Road (aka Rts 4/225/62) and South Rd. Just east of the Fire Station, between the Fire Station and the traffic signal.

It is a 5 mile ride to the Old North Bridge. Click here for a detailed map of the route.

Contact joel.parks@verizon.net, the ride coordinator

Carlisle Revolutionary Ride

On Saturday, October 24, 2009, Carlisle Climate Action (CCA), is organizing a bike ride from the Town Green in Carlisle center to the Old North Bridge in Concord for the Energy Revolution Rally. Click here to see a detailed map of the route.

This rally is being spearheaded by author and activist Bill McKibben and the 350.org group. The event will be one of over 1,800 similar events that will be held in over 140 countries around the world to show our support for forging a strong international climate agreement in Copenhagen this December.

CCA will have walks, bike rides and car pools from Carlisle to this fun, informative and pivotal event. And you will hear church bells ring 350 times to signify the importance of getting and keeping carbon dioxide levels below 350 parts per million to stop dramatic climate change.

Carlisle specifics for October 24 (town green at School Street):

• 11:00: Begin ringing of the church bells 350 times
• 11:45: A walk to the Concord visitors center (via Estabrook Trail)
• 12:45: A bike ride will commence to the visitors center
• 1:30: Car pool will begin to the visitors center
• 2:00-3:30: Rally at the National Park Visitors Center in Concord (near the flagpole overlooking the bridge).

Expect: Speakers, Minutemen, American History Being Made, and Fun!

Please make history and join us in Carlisle and/or in Concord: Taken together, these combined events will quite likely constitute the largest global citizens' climate rally ever held.

Questions: Contact Mike Hanauer at (978) 318-1980 or MGHanauer@yahoo.com

Lexington Ride - Handout

Click on the image to see it full size or to download it.

Maynard & Stow Revolutionary Ride

Click here to see an online map of the route.

The ride from Maynard to the rally and back is being led by Robin Schulman, a certified safe cycling instructor.

The ride from Stow to the Old North Bridge is 9 miles and from Maynard 7 miles. The terrain is flat to gently rolling. Bring lunch, snacks, and water.

Contacts:

Maynard - Robin Schulman rschu92@yahoo.com

Stow - Arnie Epstein arnold.epstein@comcast.net

Logistics:

11:45 AM - Stow bikers gather at Lower Common (next to Shaw's) for send off with ride sharers and bus riders..

12:05 PM - Stow bikers start off from Lower Common

12:15 PM - Maynard bikers gather at the Boys & Girls Club (intersection of 117 and 27)

12:30 PM - Stow bikers meet up with Maynard bikers at the Boys & Girls Club for safety check and ride details.

1:00 PM - Depart Maynard for rally

1:45 PM - Arrive at Concord

3:30 PM - Early Concord departure (slower riders)

4:00 PM - Depart Concord

4:45 PM - Arrive Maynard

5:00 PM - Arrive Stow

Revolutionary Ride from Lexington Green

Do you live near the Lexington Green?

Are you planning to attend the Revolutionary Rally at the Old North Bridge in Concord, MA?

What better way to get there than to ride your bike along the route the Minutemen took from Lexington Green to the Old North Bridge in 1775.

Register for the ride to help us plan by clicking here.

The Revolutionary Ride will be the perfect way to arrive at the International Day of Climate Change event at the Old North Bridge.

We will be gathering on the Lexington Green in front of Hancock Church (1912 Massachusetts Avenue) at 12:15 PM.

We will be leaving at 12:30 PM from the Lexington Green for the 7 mile ride to the Old North Bridge. We'll be raising the 350 alarm to the surrounding communities on our way to Concord.

Hybrid or mountain bikes are recommended as we will be traveling 1 mile on the Battle road trail through the Minuteman National Park.

Bring a helmet, a water bottle and something to eat!

Click here to see an online map of the route.