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The Bicycle: Social Impacts, Past & Present

The Surprising Social Impact of Bicycles and Local Learning Opportunities Did you know that before inventing the world’s first successful airplane, Orville and Wilbur Wright owned a bicycle shop? They repaired and rented out bicycles and eventually went on to build their own bicycles and invent small improvements to the machines. In addition to gaining practice in engineering skills, this business funded their aviation experiments. Simpler and less expensive than cars, bicycles… Read More

Category: Collaborative Consumption, Hilltown Families, History, Suggested Activity, Sustainability Tags: Bicycle, bicycle exchange, Bicycles, bike, Bike Riding, collaborative consumption, Massachusetts, New England, Transporation History, transportation, western massachusetts

Q&A: Where to Get New/Used Bikes for the Family in Western MA

QUESTION AND ANSWERS Earth Day is being celebrated today and Summer time is on it’s way! So let’s talk BIKES… where’s a good place to get a new or used bike for the family in Western MA? Amanda Saklad suggests, “Craigslist is good and good for the earth – REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!” Kara Kitchen suggests, “FJ Rogers in Florence.” Susan Rees suggests, “Full Circle in Florence. Great tune-ups too.” Abbe Laine Schiowitz… Read More

Category: Question and Answer, Questions and Answers Tags: bicycle exchange, Bicycles, bike, Massachusetts, New England, transportation, western massachusetts

Q&A: How Are You Teaching Your Kids to Ride A Bike?

Question and Answer Anyone have kids just learning to ride a bike, or transitioning out of training wheels? How are you teaching them to ride their bikes? Anyone have some great advise to lend to parents and kids learning to two-wheel it? Amanda Saklad suggests: “Ride on grass – falling is less painful.” Laura Hoffman suggests: “Yeah, it’s great to find a grassy small decline that they can coast down without pedaling,… Read More