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MAD BIKES OF WAITSFIELD The summer of 2008 saw the unveiling of a free, community bike program in the Mad River Valley. The program got off to a successful start with approximately 20 green bikes placed throughout the Waitsfield commercial district. Making adjustments to the program in 2008 has set the stage for a more robust program for the 2009 biking season. The idea for the bike program came from discussion at the 2007 Valley Futures Network (VFN) retreat. Two participants, Laura Brines and Bobbi Rood volunteered to head-up Valley Moves, a VFN working group focused on issues of transportation, out of which grew the Mad Bikes project.
The Project's success to date is largely due to the important partnerships with other organizations and businesses. Most importantly, the Waitsfield Selectboard brought this project under the auspices of the Town by creating a new committee to manage the Mad Bikes project. The Mad Bikes of Waitsfield has received funding from the Mad River Valley Rec District. The Mad River Valley Health Center designed and built 12 bike racks with financial support from the Mad River Valley Rotary Club, local businesses, and private individuals. Troy Kingsbury of the Village Grocery and other volunteers have been very active in finding bikes for the fleet, ensuring that they are maintained, and helping to keep them distributed around town. The Valley bikes shops have been very supportive. Steve Skilton and his students at the Harwood Union High School will be repairing Mad Bikes over the winter. A private landowner in Duxbury has offered temporary storage for the bikes and racks during the winter months. Valley Moves and the Mad Bikes Committee are working with the Mad River Valley Health Center to sponsor bike safety education programs. They are also collaborating with the Mad River Planning District to integrate this Project with other transportation-related sustainability initiatives. With the initial growing pains worked out, and ongoing financial support from the Mad River Valley Rec District, the program will be in good shape for rolling out year two this spring in conjunction with the annual Mad River Valley Walk and Roll Festival which happens May 11-15 and includes bike-to-work day. Aside from its primary service of providing bikes to those who choose to use them within Waitsfield, the project is helping to enhance Waitsfield as a bike-friendly community and setting the stage for further development of bicycle oriented projects and infrastructure. The Mad Bikes
of Waitsfield Committee members:
Updated February 1, 2009
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