Bicycling ‘Double Header’ September 24

On Saturday, September 24, the Medford Historical Society, the Medford Bicycle Coalition, and Green Medford will join forces for a bicycle double header.

Beginning at 10:00 am, the Medford Historical Society will present The Great Women of Medford bicycle tour, and at 1:00 pm, Green Medford will sponsor a ride into Boston for Moving Planet New England, a worldwide day of action to move beyond fossil fuels and demand real solutions to the climate crisis. The Medford Bicycle Coalition is participating in both events.

Great Women of Medford Bike Tour, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Medford has been home to some very important women, some of whom are household words like Amelia Earhart and Fannie Farmer, and others who should be. Learn about them all and see where they lived, worked, and how they made their mark on Medford. “You can learn quite a bit about the various historic figures and historic sites of Medford on these rides,” said Bruce Kulik, one of the ride’s organizers.

Riders will stop at the Royall House, Swan Street, the Burial Grounds, Fannie Farmer’s House, Gillis Field and Amelia Earhart’s House among other stops. Kyna Hamill, Co-President of the Medford Historical Society, recommends that “people should try to explore their city by foot and by bike. You see things differently, move slower and learn about local history at the same time.”

Riders can meet for snacks at the Whole Foods parking lot at 10:00 am; the tour begins at 10:30 am and will last about 2 hours. To RVSP or for more info, contact kynahamill@yahoo.com. Rain Date: Sunday, September 25, same time and place.

Moving Planet for Climate Action 1:00pm to 5:00pm

After the Medford Historical Society ride, residents of Medford and many neighboring communities are traveling into Boston on September 24 to be part of a worldwide event to bring attention to the need to end the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. Groups from all over the Northeast who will arrive in Boston using little or no fossil fuel—traveling by bike, public transit, wheelchair, skateboard, or sneakers.

The Boston rally will be echoed by events in Ireland, Italy, Indonesia, and around the world—with everyone coming together on the same day to send the same urgent message to our leaders: We must get off fossil fuels, and we must do it fast. Susan Altman of Green Medford said, “The Medford Moving Planet Team is joining this action to demand a better future for ourselves and our children. Fossil fuels are not sustainable, and this is one way to show our concern and commitment to moving away from them.”

We will gather at the West Medford Commuter Rail Stop at 1:00 pm. Those who want to take the Commuter Rail to North Station can catch the 1:32 pm departure. Bikers may meet contingents from Arlington, Belmont, and other nearby communities to ride to North Station. From there we will parade to Christopher Columbus Park near the Aquarium, where we will be joined by large groups arriving from several other locations.

The big rally begins at 3:50 pm—the time chosen to remember the upper safe limit of carbon in the atmosphere: 350 parts per million.

The first twenty people to sign in for Moving Planet at the West Medford Commuter Rail Stop will receive a special prize. We will also present an award for the best costume, so be creative—wear a costume, bring a banner, paint your face, beat a drum!

This event happens no matter what the weather. Whole Foods and the West Medford Community Center are supporting the Great Women of Medford tour.

Contact Information:
Bruce Kulik: bkulik@alum.mit.edu
Kyna Hamill: kynahamill@yahoo.com
Susan Altman: susan.altman@comcast.net
More details about Moving Planet at http://moving-newengland.org/

– Submitted by Susan Altman, Green Medford. Pictured above: the 2009 Medford Historical Society bike tour. Courtesy photo.