Vital Communities is helping the Upper Valley to ramp up for Get Out & Bike Week, May 18-25, with a great webpage of cycling “to do’s”, and a “toolkit” including a virtual workshop on May 19th, and NH and VT guidance.
The League of American Bicyclists, which runs the Bike Friendly Community program that the City of Lebanon is a bronze-level participant in, also recognizes that this May is a bit different due to COVID-19 but also reminds us that National Bike Month is a celebration of the benefits of biking, through thick and thin and that "bikes unite us even while we’re apart, so that we may get through the most difficult situations together."
The following events have been rescheduled:
- Bike to Work Week - September 21-27, 2020
- Bike to Work Day - Tuesday, September 22
Get your bike tuned - Don’t forget to make sure your bike is in good working order first. Since bike services are an essential service in the transportation sector, many in the Lebanon area have adapted to stay open to the public. Todd Chewning, owner of Cowbell Bike Shop, says “Being a Mobile Bike Shop means that I operate entirely out of my van and I am able to meet my customers at the location of their choice, usually that means meeting at either their office or home … but the biggest change I’ve made is that all of my tunes are now ’contactless’.” Many local shops have adopted similar “contactless” practices. View this listing of Lebanon area bike shops and services.
Try new routes - Lebanon’s dedicated off-road options like the Mascoma River Greenway, Northern Rail Trail and Mt. Support Road path are key corridors for recreation and transportation; however, those get busy as demand increases with good weather, kids out of school and people rediscovering biking in general. Try this fun loop: Pumping Station Road links to Bank Street Extension and the Rail Trail. Remember sidewalks can be used for kids under age 12.
We encourage everyone to get on a bike, go for a ride, and share the joy online together!