Rolling into Roxbury



Joseantonio Santos, of Bikes Not Bombs helps a young girl navigate her new bike.



Thanks to everyone who attended our last bike giveaway in Roxbury, and thanks to the Orchard Garden Community Center for hosting.  The Boston Globe online ran an article on the program here, and there's an additional gallery of photos here. 

Mayor Menino encourages a captivated new rider to always wear his helmet!

This bike giveaway could not have been possible without the generosity and community-mindedness of International Bike Centers.  All bikes distributed at this event came from their long-standing "trade-up" program of children's bikes. 

We also want to tip our hat to all the volunteers who showed up, especially our partners at Bikes Not Bombs, who brought a spirited energy and dedicated crew of youth to help set up the event and to teach the young kids safe bike handling skills.

Featured: First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign, January 2011

January 2011: A substantial profile of Boston's Community Cycling Programs, including Roll it Forward, was recently featured on First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" blog.

Stirring photos from latest bike giveaways

These photos come from an album posted by our friends at the Boston Housing Authority.  Their photographer, Rachel Boillot, did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the program.  See the whole gallery here.

IBC Preps over 200 bikes!

 Thom Parsons at IBC has been such a dedicated part of the Roll it Forward effort. And now we know from this blog post that it isn't just sweat he's put into it.  He completes the trifecta with blood and tears.  Thom, don't you know to always wear your helmet, especially in your storage warehouse?  Check out the link to discover what Thom goes through to prep over 200 bikes (and counting) for our distributions.

Thom also composed a great report about our bike distribution in Dorchester for residents of Franklin Field, hosted at Sportsmen's Tennis Club. 

Who would win in your Super Bowl of bikes?  And can you believe we somehow prevented 50 kids from skidding their bikes?

Boston Metro Press, Fall 2010

Press highlights from larger publications:

Localized feature articles from the Boston Globe via boston.com:  Belmont, Hingham

 David's Bicycle Blog from About.com bicycle columnist.

Local Press, Fall 2010/Winter 2011

Grassroots coverage:

• Green Streets Initiative
• Fixed Gear forums: bostonfixed.us
• Livable Streets' Steve Miller's article Overcoming Discouragements to Walking & Bicycling , under "Equipment/Affordability"
• Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian committee
• East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition mention
• Boston University Bike Safety days blog mention
• Boston Architectural College student development blog
• Haitian Community Information Network

Local coverage from across the Boston metro area,  November 2010:

• Shop Highlight: Eastern Mountain Sports, Hingham
• Shop Highlight: Eastern Mountain Sports, Newton
• Shop Highlight: Ace Wheelworks, Somerville
• Cambridge: Cantabrigia blog
• Local Spur, Belmont
• Sudbury Patch, Newton Patch
• Wicked Local: Somerville, Hingham, Newton
• Even more local:  Oak Hill PTO announcement

Article from the Epoch Times

Alice Taylor donation with Mayor Menino, September 2010

Thom Parson's report from the Alice Taylor bike donation, where Mayor Thomas Menino spoke to 30 children receiving bicycles from Roll it Forward.

http://internationalbicycle.blogspot.com/2010/09/alice-taylor-kids-bike-donation.html

Holland School donation, June 2010

A report from mechanic partner Thom Parsons about the bike giveaway at the John P. Holland school in Dorchester, MA.

http://internationalbicycle.blogspot.com/2010/06/holland-school-kids-bike-donation-2010.html