Bedford Employers Embrace Biking and Bay State Bike to Work Week

Submitted by Alyssa Sandoval, Bedford’s Economic Development Coordinator

Local companies welcomed bicycle commuters with special events this week - Courtesy image (c) 2016 all rights reserved — Local companies welcomed bicycle commuters with special events and services this week – Courtesy image (c) 2016 all rights reserved

In celebration of Bay State Bike Week (BSBW) May 14 through 22, Bedford businesses and property owners have held a series of bike-related promotional events to encourage commuting to work by bike both frequently and safely.

Middlesex 3's TMA offered healthy drinks, snacks and goody bags - Courtesy image (c) 2016 all rights reserved — Middlesex 3’s TMA offered healthy drinks, snacks and goody bags – Courtesy image (c) 2016 all rights reserved

The Middlesex 3 Transportation Management Association (TMA) worked with Bedford Economic Development and Bedford employers to bring special bike commuting events to Crosby Drive, a prominent business district in Bedford. The events coincided with the morning commute to work, and took place near the bike racks at the XChange and the Crosby Corporate Center business parks on Crosby Drive on May 18 and 19. A third event was held at MITRE Corporation on May 20. The events featured healthy refreshments, goody bags catering to bicyclist enthusiasts, mini-bicycle tune-ups, as well as bicycle safety tips. According to Middlesex 3 TMA Manager Michele Brooks, the bicyclists attending the events also had a lot of fun.

Bedford benefits from being located on the heavily-used Minuteman Bikeway — direct from the Alewife T station in Cambridge to Bedford,a total length almost 10 miles. Companies along Wiggins Avenue in Bedford have incorporated bike parking as part of their business park amenities and view the proximity of the Minuteman Bikeway as an asset when marketing their properties to prospective tenants. Beyond bicycle racks, companies are also interested in improving bicycle connectivity within the business areas. According to Dawn Leaman, Executive Director, at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., owner of a large business park on Wiggins Avenue “we’re working with the Town of Bedford on improvement of the bike path that runs along the side of our property.”

Encouraging bicycle commuting not only encourages healthy exercise as part of one’s daily routine but also takes [automobiles] off Bedford streets, helping to minimize traffic congestion.

This is a great compliment to other efforts being undertaken in Bedford, such as the Park and Pedal program https://www.bedfordma.gov/healthy-bedford/pages/park-and-pedal-program as well as the continuing implementation of the Bedford Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan https://www.bedfordma.gov/engineeringgis-division/pages/pedestrian-and-bicycle-master-plan .