City of Ottawa to Launch Park&Pedal in 2019

January 17, 2019Announcement, NewsPark&Pedal

Canada’s capital city is working to implement their own official Park&Pedal program in 2019. The citizens of Ottawa have been finding ways to Park & Pedal on their own, and with the numbers growing, commuters have requested protected parking in the city’s underutilized parks.

The initiative for an official program was first introduced by City Councillor Marianne Wilkinson and councillors on Ottawa’s transportation committee say they’re in favor of launching a pilot project in the city.

“Having parking lots that we paid for sitting empty when there are people who could use them doesn’t make any sense to me,” said Wilkinson

Currently, city staff is undertaking a review of the Park&Pedal concept, and a full report is expected by the end of March. Hopefully, we’ll see a new program ready for this spring!

You can read more at Globalnews.ca.

Temporary Closure to Herter/Artesani Park 11/15/18 – 11/18/18

November 15, 2018AnnouncementPark&Pedal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 14, 2018
CONTACT
Olivia Dorrance
Olivia.K.Dorrance@state.ma.us
617-626-4967

DCR Parking Advisory: Artesani Park in Boston

WHAT: Starting Thursday, November 15, 2018, and continuing through
Sunday, November 18, 2018, the Department of Conservation and
Recreation (DCR) will close the parking lot at Artesani Park in the City
of Boston to accommodate the construction of a temporary salt storage
structure that will assist the agency with winter operations. If the
construction is completed early, the parking lot will be reopened this
weekend.

WHERE: Artesani Park in the City of Boston
1255 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02135

WHEN: Thursday, November 15, 2018, and continuing through Sunday,
November 18, 2018

View official DCR Advisory at Mass.gov

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Park&Pedal Expands to Central and Western Massachusetts

September 19, 2018Announcement, Newscentral mass, dcr, expansion, holyoke, press release, western mass, worcesterPark&Pedal

Press Release Contacts: Ryan Walas, Park&Pedal, 800-736-5348 or rwalas@parkandpedal.org / Olivia Dorrance, DCR Press Secretary, 617-626-4967 or olivia.k.dorrance@state.ma.us

DCR, Montague Bikes Expand Park&Pedal Multimodal Commuting Network

Boston, MA – Monday, September 17, 2018 – In an effort to promote outdoor recreational opportunities, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), along with Montague Bikes, today announced the addition of eight new Park&Pedal locations. The program, which was launched in 2015, encourages bike commuting by providing a network of parking hubs conveniently located within cycling distance from centers of employment. Commuters can park their cars for free and ride their bikes the remaining distance to work, thereby avoiding traffic on the most congested portion of their commute – the so called “last mile”. The 2018 expansion includes a number of new locations in the Boston area, and for the first time, central and western Massachusetts.

“The Baker-Polito Administration continues to foster strong partnerships with a variety of entities and stakeholders to meet shared environmental and recreational goals that truly benefit the public,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Leo Roy. “The Park&Pedal Program serves as an example of an excellent partnership that not only alleviates traffic congestion from area roadways, but also enables the public with another great opportunity to get outside and incorporate a healthy, active lifestyle.”

“Other people have been taking note of our success with this initiative born right here in Massachusetts,” said David Montague, President of Montague Corporation. “We look forward to continuing our expansion across the country and around the world with a program that reduces emissions and increases commuter health.”

The Park&Pedal Program was originally conceived by David Montague, who formulated the program after personally parking and pedaling into work for years. The program designates spaces within parking hubs for commuters to utilize, which provide several benefits the Commonwealth, including:

The reduction of traffic congestion the during rush hour commutes;
The increase in available parking spots within urban areas;
The decrease of environmentally harmful vehicle emissions; and
The contribution to a healthier citizenship.

Park&Pedal launched in summer 2015 with 7 locations and has since grown to service thousands of Massachusetts commuters with 28 parking hubs. The new locations in the 2018 expansion include Martini Playground in Boston; Jim Roche Ice Arena in West Roxbury; Alewife Reservation in Arlington; Ryan Skating Rink in Watertown; Regatta Point Park, the Charles J. Buffone Rink, and the Daniel S. Horgan Rink in Worcester, and the Henry J. Fitzpatrick Rink in Holyoke.

For more information, please visit www.parkandpedal.org or call 800-736-5348 to learn more.

About Montague Corporation
Montague Corporation is based in Cambridge, MA and is dedicated to advancing cycling through the development of inventive technologies. Montague has been manufacturing bikes and bike components for over 25 years. Visit www.montaguebikes.com or call (800) 736-5348 for more info.

About the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees 450,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, bike trails, watersheds, dams, and parkways. Led by Commissioner Carol Sanchez, the agency’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr. Contact us at mass.parks@state.ma.us.

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Temporary Closure to Herter/Artesani Park 11/1/17 – 11/10/17

November 1, 2017Announcementannouncement, closure, herter parkPark&Pedal

Announcement

The Park&Pedal lot at DCR’s Christian Herter Park, 1175 Soldiers Field Road in Brighton will be closed from November 1st until Friday November 10th.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Park&Pedal Takes Off – 200+ People Pedal from Herter Each Day

July 28, 2017Newsherter park, milestones, Park&PedalPark&Pedal

Look at all those cars that are not driving into Boston!

So it has finally happened. I guess it was inevitable that the word would get out. The Park&Pedal hub at Herter Park where I park each day is now, and has been for the last 4 weeks, totally full with more than 200 people parking and pedaling from there to their jobs. It is wonderful to see so many people that have changed their commuting habits due to this program. We have always said it is all about changing habits, and the evidence that that is happening is there to greet me every morning.

Even today, despite it being 66 degrees and rainy, more than 200 people chose not to pollute the air, not to add to traffic gridlock in Boston, not to pay exorbitant prices for parking near their jobs, and not to forego the opportunity to get some exercise on the way to work. It’s all very exciting, and it shows how a simple program can go a long way toward reducing our carbon footprint. Thank you to everyone who is doing their part!

A Ride for Better Bike Lanes in Boston

May 1, 2017Eventsbcu, bike lanes, Boston, boston cyclists union, protest, public gardenPark&Pedal

Last weekend, over 250 bicycles took to the streets of Boston surrounding the Public Garden. Their goal was to to highlight the need for protected bike lanes in the area. The city has seen a great deal of improvement to bike infrastructure in recent years, with the driving force being area cyclists and advocacy groups.

The city of Boston recently released a planning document that proposed protected bicycle lanes around the Public Garden. It’s been discussed before and never came to fruition, so the Boston Cyclist Union took the opportunity to organize a ride to show support for latest plan. Riders circled the area for several hours where multi-lane roads in some areas encourage high speed traffic without a place for cyclists on the road.

With so many programs encouraging biking in the city, proper infrastructure is more important than ever. Park&Pedal allows car commuters to leave their vehicles outside the city and cycle the remaining distance to work. This leads to more bikes and less cars in the most congested areas of the city, further highlighting the need for bike lanes and safe riding routes.

With Park&Pedal, Hubway, rising parking costs, employers offering cycling incentives, and limited space downtown, we can expect to see more and more bikes on Boston’s roads. It’s time to give all road users a place.

Park&Pedal Marches Into Spring (Early)

March 9, 2017NewsPark&Pedal

Today is March 9, and this is New England. When I went out the door this morning, it was in the mid 30’s, but sunny. Mid March is not a time when most people are thinking about riding their bikes to work. Yet today at the Herter Park&Pedal hub, I was very pleased to see well over 60 park and pedal commuters defying the calendar and riding to work. If there are that many this time of year, how many will there be when it starts to get warm and sunny out? Exciting times!

All the 60+ Park&Pedal users parked here are not driving their car into Boston!

Today’s Forecast: Cold and Dark – Yet Many Still Park&Pedal

December 2, 2016Newsco2 savings, herter park, off season, Park&Pedal, winterPark&Pedal

It is December in Boston Massachusetts. Temperatures are dipping below freezing making commuting by bicycle a cold proposition. Tonight the sun will set at 4:12pm and it will be dark before many people get out of work. So riding a bike home from work requires riding in the dark, not something many people are willing to do. And as of yesterday (December 1^st of each year) the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Park&Pedal locations are no longer “in season”. DCR has found it may need its parking areas to deposit snow from local roads and can’t guarantee their availability.

Yet, despite all these reasons not to ride, today there were 62 people parking and pedaling to work from DCR’s Herter Park&Pedal hub, one of 20 Park&Pedal hubs in the greater Boston area. These 62 people are extending the season past what was once considered a date when no one would be willing to ride and use the program.

By parking and pedaling today, those 62 people saved 887 pounds of emissions of carbon dioxide that they would have burned driving all the way to work. That is a whopping 7,750 cubic feet of greenhouse gases! In one day! At one location!

Great job park and pedalers! As time goes on, I am sure that more and more commuters will join you in realizing the health, financial, environmental, and time savings benefits that Park&Pedal offers.

Thanks you!

David Montague
Founder

Notice: Temporary Closure of Herter / Artesani

October 19, 2016Newsadvisory, artesani, herterPark&Pedal

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Traffic Advisory: Artesani Parking Lot on Soldiers Field Road in Boston

WHAT: Beginning on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 10:00 pm and continuing through Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 8:00pm, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will be closing the parking lot between Artesani and Herter Parks on Soldiers Field Road in Boston to accommodate the Head of the Charles Regatta. The parking lot will be off-limits to the public for parking during this time.

WHERE: The parking lot located at Artesani Park on Soldiers Field Road in Boston

WHEN: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 10:00pm – Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 8:00pm

We apologize for any inconvenience, and encourage you to find another location for your Park&Pedal commute. See all the locations at http://www.parkandpedalmap.org/

Recap – Park&Pedal Newton Launch!

October 18, 2016Events, Newsevent, massachusetts, newton, newTVPark&Pedal

Park&Pedal has expanded once again! The City of Newton joined the network with 6 Park&Pedal locations added this year. On the morning of October 18th, we gathered at the newest site at Albemarle Park to celebrate with a kickoff event, commuter breakfast, and ribbon cutting with Mayor Setti Warren.

From left to right: Newton Director of Transportation Nicole Freedman; David Montague, Founder of the Park&Pedal program; Newton Mayor Setti Warren; Newton City Councilor Alison Leary; Councilor-at-Large Ruthanne Fuller; Newton DPW Commissioner James McGonagle; and Richard Fries, Executive Director of MassBike.

We would like to thank everyone who came to celebrate with us and to everyone who helped to make this event and Park&Pedal in Newton possible. Every additional Park&Pedal space makes a difference in reducing traffic congestion, decreasing vehicle emissions, and making healthy active transportation a possibility for everyone.