Fifth Wheel

Fifth annual bike fair returns to Longwood

Galen Mook helps MPH student Fiona Pinto. Image: Julie Nickerson

Bicyclists commuting to the Harvard Medical School Quad usually find that it’s a very bumpy ride. Even as cycling has grown as a way to travel in the city, it still isn’t easy getting around the Longwood Medical Area.

“Thirty-nine percent of traffic volume on Longwood Ave. comes from cyclists during rush hour, and yet there are no bike lanes on that street,” said Becca Wolfson executive director of the Boston Cyclists Union.

Get more HMS news here

The union, one of many vendors that attended the Longwood Bike Fair on Sept. 21, is actively working to get bike lanes installed on Longwood Ave. by 2018. The group also supports Vision Zero Boston, a city initiative that aims to reduce the number of fatalities on Boston roads to zero.

“So far this year there have been nine fatalities on the roads in Boston,” said Wolfson.

Union members weren’t the only bike fair participants. Tents lined the Quad promenade where 14 vendors handed out water bottles, reflective gear, fresh fruit and safety gear to cyclists and other attendees at the bike fair.

“Our main purpose for the event is to embrace our cyclists in the Longwood area and encourage people to learn more about bike safety in the city,” said Ann Arsenault, office manager at the HMS Commuter Services and Parking Office and a member of the HMS bike fair planning committee.

Members of Harvard Cycling attended the Longwood Bike Fair. Image: Julie Nickerson
Members of Harvard Cycling attended the Longwood Bike Fair. Image: Julie Nickerson

Vendors at the fair included the American Automobile Association, the Harvard cycling team, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, the American Cancer Society, Hubway and MASCO. Landry’s bicycle, a local bike shop located on Commonwealth Ave. even had a support team available for free basic tune-ups and mini classes on maintenance.

HSDM took advantage of the fair to offer free toothbrushes, dental floss and toothpaste, even raffling off a custom mouth guard to promote oral health to cyclists. Hubway offered free rides to new riders.

“It’s so awesome that there’s commuter appreciation and support of cyclists on campus,” said Brian Chow, a fourth-year HMS graduate student. “My friends and I saw the event on the Quad and we just had to check it out.”