Walk-Bike Council of Addison County

As a walk/bike advisory council, our members would like everyone to know about the following events coming up in the month of May.  Please contact Laura Asermily at lasermily@yahoo.com if you have any questions.   Bike Smart Training, April 15-19, Middlebury Rec Park/ Mary Hogan   Kohl's bike smart trailer returns with over 30 bikes and helmets and props to hone skills and teach rules of the road. Mary Hogan students will receive training in their PE classes that week. Walk & Roll to School Day, Wed May 1   Join in this statewide celebration of the many benefits of walking and rolling to school. Improves health. Relieves traffic congestion. Form "walking" school bus and "bike" train routes from your neighborhoods. Mary Hogan Elementary class with highest rate of participants wins the "golden shoe" and a fancy fruit plate.  Bike Swap, Fri May 3, 3-6:30 pm   Cannon Park. Drop off bikes and gear you wish to give away or sell on consignment at Frog Hollow Bikes up to noon Fri May 3. Look for displays from local groups, demo rides and great deals.  Proceeds benefit Middlebury Safe Routes. For more or to arrange display, contact froghollowbikes@gmail.com.  Human Powered Parade & Celebration, Sun May 11, 10-2:30 pm   Bristol Rec Park. This community event launches with a professional high flying BMX show and moves through town on human powered wheels.  An after party includes a community-wide party at the skate park with bands, pickleball, cargo bike test rides and bike races for kids.  Kelly Boe Memorial Bike Ride, Fri May 17, 4 pm, departs MUHS Lot  A slow-paced 8-mile bike ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roads, including Middlebury's Kelly Boe for which the ride was started and named. Goes through Middlebury and Weybridge via Weybridge St and Hamilton Rd, escorted by police and returns to MUHS by about 5 pm. Wear helmet. Cancelled in event of heavy rain. Vermont Gran Fondo, Sat June 29  Road cycling over Addison County mountain gaps: Appalachian, Middlebury, Lincoln. Choose from three courses. Details at http://vermontgranfondo.com. Mountain Bike Group Rides, Saturdays 8:30 am and Tuesdays 5:30 pm, departs Frog Hollow Bikes  Join Addison County Bike Club (ACBC) cyclists on Trail Around Middlebury rides. For more about group rides, trail work days, clinics and safety training for the next generation of mountain bikers, visit addisoncountybikeclub.org.  Local Motion's Everyday Biking Workshops  Visit localmotion.org to see and arrange area workshops and resources designed to bring walking and biking within reach of all Vermonters.  Cargo Bikes 101  Visit vbikesolutions.org to take an online tutorial of electric-assisted cargo bikes and how they're transforming bike culture. See other mobility options like the ELF.  Middlebury Safe Routes hosts "Walk and Roll to School Day" first Wednesday of month, monitors traffic patterns and student travel behavior, plans activities to teach bike skills and rules of the road, and recommends improvements to roads, parking lots, drop offs, sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic lights, signage, bus routes, bike routes, bike racks, and more. Contact Laura Asermily at lasermily@yahoo.com to help or offer input. And last but not least, if you are interested in a challenge (as well as a few prizes and recognition for your miles), you may post your miles cycled with the League of American Bicyclists here:  Love to Ride USA  

During 2018, three Middlebury College students created a project for their Environmental Studies Senior Seminar, and their ideas and research have resulted in a $35,000 grant to fund the development of the "Tri-Town Bike Loop".  This professionally-planned route will connect the three Addison County towns of Middlebury, Bristol, and Vergennes, and supporters envision that this will be a benefit for local residents as well as a way to encourage bicycle tourism to the area. Read the background on this project here:  Tri-Town Bike Loop