[Second in a series of articles about "Advocating for Bicyclists – At the Community Level" First article focused on the new MA Vision Zero program.]

Quiz:

Look at the following choices of words and consider which ones might be more effective when speaking as an advocate or ambassador for bicycling in your community:

1. 'crashes' vs. 'accidents'
2. Speaking as a 'cyclist' or 'somebody who bikes'
3. 'vulnerable road user' vs. 'active transportation user'

Answers:

Let's acknowledge upfront that there rarely is one correct answer for all situations; so treat these as examples which can be modified to fit a specific context and audience.

1. 'crashes' vs 'accidents' - This is the easiest one. The Boston Globe, local Police Departments, Drivers Ed, etc., years ago switched from "accidents" to "crashes"  when referring to car collisions. Using "accident" implies that the incident was unintentional and not preventable, while "crash" acknowledges that most collisions can be avoided through responsible driving or can be attributed to factors like driver error or unsafe conditions.  This encourages a focus on prevention and safety measures. If your local paper, fellow rider, or police officer slip up and says 'accident', remind them in a tactful way of the importance of word choice.
   
   
2. 'cyclist' or 'somebody who bikes' - Many of us can identify as either depending on the circumstances. Wieke Wicks has a great way of describing the distinctions, so I'll quote an excerpt from her article:

Do I consider myself as a “cyclist”? Well, I love to go out into the countryside on my road bike (yes, all kitted out, I’m one of those). After an hour on the road I’ve had every thought in my head, remembered (and forgot), every errand, mulled over every work problem, and had every silly idea that’ll never be followed up. After that, it’s just the road, the landscape, me, and my bike, and maybe the odd pothole. Those are the days when I’m a cyclist.

But day to day cycling is a different thing - it’s not a hobby, or a leisure choice: it’s simple logistics. I’m just a person on a bike. I fully appreciate that for many it’s pretty daunting, or practically unfeasible - often due to the (lack of) infrastructure, bad experiences or near misses.

Why is the distinction useful when speaking as an advocate for improved bicycling policies and safety in your community? There are many articles (one example) out there that delve into psychological reasons why 'cyclist' conjures up negativity among the general public. One simplified explanation is that:

• Cyclists are usually invisible to motorists
• But if the cyclist runs a red light or commits some other traffic violation, they become quite visible
• Or if the cyclist is properly taking the lane on a narrow road and thus holding up impatient motorists, the cyclist is unfairly viewed as a cause of traffic congestion
• Confirmation bias kicks in and we end up with the negative stereotype of (all) cyclists

If you speak as 'someone who bikes' in a public forum you will connect with a lot more people who occasionally bike but who don't identify as 'cyclists.' 

3) 'vulnerable road user' vs. “active transportation user” - No easy choice here.  Recently enacted in Massachusetts with the support of MassBike is the Vulnerable Road User Bill. Because the bill covers multiple road user types including pedestrians, roadside workers, horse riders, bicyclists, and wheelchair users, the label 'vulnerable road user' makes a lot of sense. 

For some trying to promote more bicycle use in their community, 'vulnerable road user' perpetuates the bias that cycling is dangerous. They prefer 'active transportation user' and then describe the proven health benefits associated with regular cycling.

For those of us who have challenging segments for some of our regular trips by bike, 'vulnerable' can be an appropriate term. When encouraging others to bike more often, I try to find the right balance - I will focus on the health and environmental benefits and then help them find routes with minimal vulnerability.

__________

CRW has invited Terry Gleason to contribute articles to WheelPeople from my perspective on cycling community advocacy. We hope that these articles will serve to educate CRW members on local, regional, and national issues that directly affect their safety and enjoyment of cycling.

Comments, suggestions, and alternate opinions are always welcomed. Click on “Add Comment” below to share your thoughts and get a public conversation going. Feel free to contact Terry directly via email (BedfordBike@gmail.com [include "CRW" in the Subject]) If you are an active bicyclist advocate and/or wish to do more in your community,

John riding his city bike, a modified Raleigh Twenty folder.

Where you are from?

My father made a career as a Community Chest/United Fund administrator. My family moved every four years as his career advanced. So I didn't really feel that I was from anywhere except where we went on vacation summer after summer in Canada and many relatives were there.

How long have you been cycling, and what initially got you interested in the sport?

I first rode a bicycle in 1953, at age 7. I took up cycling as an adult as a student at Middlebury College in Vermont to get around town, and for recreation. Cycling became my main mode of local transportation when I moved to Boston for further studies. My cycling horizons expanded bit by bit as I took up recreational riding.

When did you join CRW?

My first CRW ride was led by Ralph Galen from Cambridge Common in 1975. I joined the club in 1979 and have been a member almost continuously since.

What is your best advice for a new club member?

Get involved and make social connections in the club. Most people who join CRW already are fit and able to ride the distance. But I hope that we have more intro events and skills training to help get people up to that level.

In what capacities have you volunteered for the club, and for how long?

I served on the Safety Committee which was active in the early 20-teens, served on the Board for 6 years, and now serve as Safety Coordinator.

Are you a Ride Leader?

Yes. In the 1980s I organized weekend trips with stays at youth hostels on Cape Cod and the Islands. I more recently took over the East European Ride from its founders. I run a Waltham history ride with cycling historian Larry Finison.

What led to you becoming a Ride Leader?

Wanting to make the pleasures of cycling available to others and maintain the tradition of recreational road riding.

What types of rides are you planning on leading in the future?

Same as before but I also want to lead intro rides. As a CyclingSavvy Instructor, I am keen about helping to build riders' skills and confidence.

How many miles a year do you typically ride?

It was around 5,000 in my heyday and 2,500 in the pandemic year (empty roads, and what else to do!), but otherwise I am down to around 1,500 miles, largely local utility riding but some recreational riding and rides in my courses.

What is your greatest cycling accomplishment?

Building on my cycling experience and engineering background to become an instructor, author, editor, and cycling videographer.

What is your favorite route to ride?

A three-day weekend trip to Cape Cod that can include a stop on Martha's Vineyard and a stay at its youth hostel (cyclists stay young!), then to Hyannis by ferry, next night in Truro, and then take the ferry home -- a tour without the need to carry camping gear. Or you could carry it and stay at campgrounds.

What is your favorite post-ride food or drink?

Oh, I have a story. I took my first ride down to the Cape in 1975, got hungry somewhere around Scituate, stopped at a seafood shack and ordered fried clams. I learned the hard way that they were indigestible while riding and suffered my worst stomach aches ever for the next 50 miles. I quickly turned to fig newtons and, bananas. Drink? Water, with plenty of salt and bananas to avoid leg cramps on a hot day.

Anything else you want to share?

I value CRW's fostering joy, exploration, camaraderie and healthy exercise through cycling and that is why I continue to volunteer.

CRW and the Rippers cycling club members gathered at The Mighty Squirrel in Waltham on February 20 to warm up with bikes, brews, and banter. It was great fun to meet fellow cycling enthusiasts and to look forward to riding together in the upcoming season. 

Watch the calendar for more Happy Hour gatherings in 2025!

RIDES are the heart and soul of CRW, and RIDE LEADERS are its backbone. 

Have you ever thought about leading a ride with CRW? Do you have questions about what is involved? We are offering Ride Leader Training on March 27th from 7:00 - 8:30 PM for anyone who wishes to learn more about what it takes to lead a club ride. Our ride leaders are at the core of what makes CRW an outstanding bike club.

CRW leads a huge variety of rides, from our signature weekend road rides to gravel, devo, women’s, multi-day adventures, centuries, weekly recurring rides, and more. It takes volunteers to develop the routes, secure a ride start location, and consider the details that ensure an enjoyable experience for our riders.

There are a lot of reasons to consider leading rides.  For one, you’re the boss!  Leading rides means you get to do the kind of ride you like, including start location, pace, distance, destination, theme, social activities, etc. You can choose to lead a group at a specific pace or have people ride on their own, pick a great spot for lunch, arrange for ice cream or other treats at the finish, and find other creative ways to make your ride interesting. Leading rides is also a great way to give back to the club.  We’ve all benefited from others who are willing to organize, post to the calendar and lead rides for us, so if you’re looking for a way to give back, this is a great opportunity. Plus, leading rides is a fun way to meet and make friends in the club.

You can also be an assistant ride leader. Sometimes we get big groups at our rides, too many for one person to effectively manage. When that happens, having an assistant or two really pays off. It makes for a better organized, more enjoyable event for everyone. Plus, you don’t have all the work of organizing the ride and taking care of all the minute details!

Anyone who would like to lead any ride for CRW this season (including weekend road rides, gravel, adventure, recurring, devo, etc.) is required to attend this year’s ride leader training and complete subsequent ride leader training tasks. A recording of the Zoom session will be made available. 

Oh, and did we mention that leading rides comes with benefits? You get to join century rides for free, there are great parties for ride leaders and the seasonal thank you gifts are amazing!

By Eli Post

March offers intermediate warm days

And if you ride, you get praise 

It may be before the season 

But it's not for us to reason

The need to be out and play

Alongside a snowy sleigh 

A short ride on a warm day will be ok

You might even shout out "Hooray!"

As you conquer the open road 

And have a story that can be told 

We strive to come up with advice we can provide 

But we hope you enjoy your ride 

And credit us for this poem, so

The biking world will show 

That we are in the know 

When you reach a new plateau 

We will have more to say in April

When we plan to be more wakeful 

WheelPeople is republishing the above poem written a year ago by our dear friend and dedicated editor Eli Post who left us in January 2025. Eli wrote these hopeful words from his hospital bed and went on to exceed doctors' expectations by returning to cycling with us in 2024. As we cyclists look toward April and the promise of a new season, Eli’s determination and passion for the sport continue to inspire our club.

Prominent CRW member Eli Post passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Eli was a strong supporter and incredible contributor to CRW and the broader cycling community. 

Eli joined CRW in 1993, shortly after he started to bike, and he said on the first ride he couldn’t keep up. But he came to love not only the biking itself, but every associated activity such as ride planning, gear research, article writing, and he treasured the many friendships he made. 

CRW Volunteer Positions

Eli held many volunteer positions in his tenure with CRW. These include:

• Board Member – 2023 – 2024, 2019 – 2021, 2011 – 2014
• WheelPeople Editor – 2020 – 2024
• Secretary – 2023
• President - 2013 – 2014
• Century Committee – 2009 – 2017
• Executive Vice President – 2011 – 2012, 2015 – 2016
• Ride Program Coordinator – 2008 – 2012
• Introductory Rides Coordinator – 2006 – 2008
• Saturday Rides Coordinator – 2006 – 2008

CRW Awards

• 2016 – Ralph Galen Service Award
• 2014 – Volunteer Award for Promoting Bicycling as President of CRW
• 2006 – Good Shepard Award

Ride Planning

The ride planning and arrowing was a hobby of his unto itself. According to his son Alex, between his house and car he had enough spray paint cans to make a NYC graffiti artist jealous and if you looked at his car right now there will still be some spray paint. Once GPS became the standard for navigation, he joked that a future alien civilization would find some preserved arrows and spend years deciphering these ancient hieroglyphics. 

He very much enjoyed delivering the pre-ride speeches. He used his trademark constant hand gestures, and constantly moved his feet around, his own ride leader dance. 

For the century rides he enjoyed assessing which food would be snarfed down the quickest. Pizza and pie amongst the top contenders. He also felt he had perfected his recipe for lemonade/iced tea mix. 

WheelPeople 

Eli loved both writing articles and later serving as editor of WheelPeople. Even in the hospital just this month, he was working on a new article, to be included in an upcoming edition. 

Some of his favorite articles over the years were the April Fools editions. A few that come to mind.

• Biochip GPS implants that could control your bike with commands such as wiggling your nose.

• Club addressing riders showing up late, by moving to ‘Metric time’, with 100 minutes per hour and 20 hours per day. 

• MA authorizing complete closure of the Mass Pike for the Spring Century. 

His perfect day might be something like: Have a summer morning breakfast of Iggy’s bagels while polishing up a WheelPeople article, lead a club ride, and meet up with friends and family for post ride calzones and a craft beer. 

Eli’s Life before CRW

Eli was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1938. He went to the City College of New York where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Then earned a Masters in Public Administration from New York University.

His work career was in City Planning in New York City and later for City of Boston. Eli changed careers completely and founded a greeting card company called Rainboworld.

Check out pictures of Eli's life here.

Members share their thoughts about Eli….

When I first joined the CRW Board, I had the privilege of many conversations with Eli Post about his deep history with our club. His enthusiasm was contagious as he shared stories about CRW's evolution and the cycling community he helped build. Right up until his passing, we were collaborating on establishing a new club historian role - a perfect fit for someone who had helped shape so much of our history. His passion for CRW and cycling was truly inspiring. I will miss both his friendship and his dedication to our cycling community.
- Randolph Williams, CRW President 2024-2025

Eli was a gentleman. What a great life of giving.
- Mark Nardone, CRW Board Member

Eli was a member of the CRW Safety committee 10-15 years ago, and wrote a number of articles for the committee, published in WheelPeople. He served on the Board till term limited, then again when the term limit expired. He offered good advice and direction as editor when I took on the role of Safety Coordinator. I am also recalling the Intro to CRW rides he led -- Always a fine gentleman and dedicated to the club.
- John Allen, CRW Safety Coordinator

Eli did yeoman’s work for publishing the WheelPeople for so many years. He was also very humble when I urged him to run for the Board, despite his extensive prior experience. I enjoyed working with him on the Board and he had a really good sense of judgement and calm approach. The biking community lost a good soul.
- Edward Cheng, CRW President 2022 - 2023

For many years, I led rides followed by parties starting from my house in Carlisle, as well as after event volunteer parties for notable CRW events such as the spring and fall centuries and "Climb to the Clouds"...Eli was always most helpful with ordering food and helping to find assistance. He sure made hosting easier. Thanks Eli. I think these events added greatly to the "social fabric" of CRW.
- Mike Hanauer, CRW President 1986 -1987

Eli was a friend and a mentor.  He recruited me to work with him on CRW centuries about 10 years ago and taught me the ropes.  Eli had a lovely way of asking people to volunteer in a way that was hard to decline...When I was club president, I could always count on Eli for advice, support and elbow grease.  He did a superb job as editor of Wheel People for many years, and I remember numerous “reminders” from him when I was late in delivering a column...I will miss Eli.
- Larry Kernan, CRW President 2019 - 2020

I remember Eli as transformative of the CRW centuries, setting a new blueprint for what they are today (with additional improvements along the way by newer members). In the “old days”, pre-ride snacks were not offered because, as I recall being told, one of the old guard pushed back because “They’re grownups, they can feed themselves breakfast”. Sheesh. Eli had persistence and patience with these “we’ve always done it this way” types. I thanked him for that over the years – pushing through with a vision for what the club could be. He really did help make this club what it is today - better, stronger, more welcoming, and more diverse in rides/abilities...In later years, Eli moved one town away from me and occasionally my route would take me by his house, and if his car was there, I’d knock on the door to say hi. Other times, I rode down to the Upper Charles Bike Trail near his house and at least twice, we met on the trail biking by coincidence and stopped to chat briefly. What a nice thing to see his friendly face there while out for a solo ride...And Eric Ferioli and I still offer one of Eli’s classic rides in the winter the “Natick Surprise” in South Natick. Maybe I will change the name to “Eli Post’s Natick Surprise” permanently? Very sad for our club to lose Eli.
- Ellen Gugel, Winter Ride Program Lead

In 2008, I met Eli on a Wednesday Wheeler ride.  We became friends and he convinced me to get involved with the cycling community, especially CRW.  From then until COVID hit we collaborated on many endeavors including the helmet policy, all manner of CRW policy as we were both on the board together, and the original Cranberry Century.  We rode long distances in all kinds of weather until we both got too old for that.  But beyond that he was a wonderful friend whose company I always enjoyed.
- Bob Wolf, Executive Vice President 2015 - 2017

Eli was truly a gentleman and someone beloved by so many.  I know that he had been ill over the past several years.  He was a nice person and will be missed by me and many others.
- Judi Burten, CRW Ride Leader

I first met Eli when I worked with him in New York City in 1969 or 1970. I worked for the City of NY Housing Administration and Eli worked for the NYC Planning Commission.  He was a great guy and we had lunch together often. I left NYC in 1972 and moved to the Boston area, and lost touch with him. I never rode a bike around here until around 2009 and didn’t join CRW until around 2021. I never saw Eli the whole time in Boston, my loss.
- Bob Keller, CRW Member

He was such nice man and did a lot for CRW, especially the newsletter. I remember meeting him on an "Eli Post birthday ride" from Hopkinton - possibly one of my first Ashland Bike Club Rides; he treated everyone to pizza at Cornell's Irish Pub.
- Marlene Heroux, CRW Ride Leader

Eli was a CRW GIANT------- His leadership and diverse participation were Truly significant...
- Ilene Pincus, CRW Member

CRW and WheelPeople thank Barbara Jacobs and Alex Post for contributing to this article. Thanks also to Ted Nyder for creating the photo montage page.

Before sharing updates, we would like to acknowledge and thank our outgoing Board members for their dedicated service to CRW: Norma Loehr, Megan Scully, and Eli Post. We are deeply saddened to share the news of Eli's passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. Eli's contributions to CRW were significant and he will be greatly missed by our cycling community.

The CRW Board of Directors met in January to discuss several important club matters. The meeting began with approval of December's minutes.

Budget & Operations:

• The Board reviewed the preliminary 2025 budget, including discussions about membership dues and century ride pricing
• Directors approved Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance renewal
• The club is developing a streamlined "Contact Us" system to improve member communications and support
• Year-end 2024 financial reports expected by month's end

Rides & Safety:

• Several workshops are being planned for 2025:
  • Technology training for indoor riding platforms
    
  • Winter training
  • Ride leader training refresh
  • Group riding safety clinics
• The Winter Ride Challenge has 26 participants thus far
• Indoor Zwift rides on Saturdays are attracting about 10 riders per session

Club Communications:

• The WheelPeople newsletter and ChainLink continue regular publication
• A new volunteer coordinator has joined the team

The Board continues to work on enhancing club operations and member experiences for 2025. Members with questions or suggestions are encouraged to reach out through the club's contact system.

Join CRW online for an informative workshop covering trainer options, virtual platforms, and staying connected with fellow riders. Perfect timing to get your indoor setup ready for the colder months ahead!

Workshop Details

• When: 7:00 PM, Tuesday, February 18, 2025
• Format: Virtual event via Google Meet
• Duration: 1.5 hour
• Register HERE

What We'll Cover

• Zwift, Rouvy, and Peloton platforms
• Using Discord while virtual riding
• Comparing setups and options: dedicated vs. smart trainer
• Q&A session

How to Join

• Zoom link will be posted in the event listing and shared with registrants via email 24 hours before the event
• Join from your computer, tablet, or smartphone

Questions?

Email questions to rides-VP@crw.org

Presentation materials will be available afterward for those who can't attend live.

You are all an inspiration to us winter warriors, slogging through the cold days as we eagerly await the warmth of spring!

For those of you still considering joining the fun, there’s plenty of time to jump in! The challenge runs through March 31st, and every mile, hour, and elevation gain counts—whether indoors or outside.

Want to join the challenge or update your ride data? Find detailed instructions for signing up and entering your miles by visiting this guide. It’s easy to track your progress and be part of the action!

Let us know how your winter training is shaping up, and let’s make this winter one for the books!

So, keep riding! ‍♂️

By Terry Gleason, BedfordBike@gmail.com

Introduction

CRW has asked me to contribute articles to WheelPeople from my perspective on cycling community advocacy. I hope that these articles will serve to educate CRW members on local, regional, and national issues that directly affect their safety and enjoyment of cycling.

Although I know some of you from an occasional CRW ride or social event, I probably know more of you from our common interest in making bicycling more accessible for all types of riders. Below is a short summary of my related bicycling experiences.

After 50+ years of bike commuting to work (Minneapolis, then Bedford and Lexington), I am now mostly retired. I spend one day a week at the Lowell Bike Connector Shop helping to recycle donated bikes into the local communities and introducing bicycle skills at the elementary schools.

My past and present bicycling efforts and achievements at the local level include:

• "Gold Bicycle Friendly Business" League of American Bicyclists certification for MIT Lincoln Lab
• Community Preservation funding from the Town and State for bicycle shelters at our schools and a Fix-it Station at Bedford Depot Park
• Snowplowing the Minuteman Bikeway
• Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan for the Town of Bedford
• Multiple Complete Streets workshops
• Award-winning Safe Routes To School Program

The Importance of Bicycling Advocacy

Many CRW members are aware and supportive of the roles MassBike at the State level and the League of American Bicyclists (LoAB) at the National level play in advocating for programs and funding to make safe biking more accessible to all types of users.

An excellent example of change through advocacy is the Vulnerable Road User Bill recently enacted in Massachusetts which included the new 4 ft passing law. Massachusetts joined a handful of states that require at least 4 ft clearance when a motorist passes a bicyclist or other vulnerable road user.

Has your town installed the new signs? If not, why not?

Perhaps a phone call, letter, or email from someone like YOU (a resident who frequently rides a bike in your town) could help to make that happen.

How Can CRW Members Get Involved?

As a regular feature in WheelPeople, I will share my insights on how members, individually or working with others in their community, can advocate at the local level for changes that can have a major impact on the health of bicycling in their area. I will focus on efforts that will bring improvements for 'utilitarian' or 'transportation' bicyclists, as well as for cyclists who ride for recreation and fitness.

This month, I am sharing a concrete (and easy!) example of how concerned cyclists can advocate as individuals.

The Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) serves the 97 towns and cities in the Greater Boston Area. The MPO recently launched a Vision Zero Program. The Vision Zero goal (an international movement) is to significantly reduce serious injuries and death on our roads.

The MPO Vision Zero website provides two links to provide feedback on general issues or specific problem spots in MPO communities. The first link is a 10-minute survey where you can provide general comments on road safety in your community. The second link is to an interactive map. Here, you can view issues in the MPO region identified by others, and add your own concerns. Both the survey and the interactive map allow you to categorize your comments based on mode, e.g., motorist, pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist, public transit.

Checking out the MPO Vision Zero website and sharing your knowledge there about road safety issues in your area is a great first step to getting involved in bicycling advocacy.

Future Articles

In upcoming issues of WheelPeople, I will address several bicycling-related issues, including default lane width striping, funding opportunities, Bicycle Friendly Community and Business accreditations, driver education improvements, navigating the MassDOT 'Crash Data Portal', transportation funding inequities, plus issues members express interest in

Does your town have an upcoming election or important vote with relevance to bicycling? As a 501(c)3 organization, CRW cannot endorse candidates, but our members can publicize relevant upcoming town elections and forums and encourage us to show up.

Comments, suggestions, and alternate opinions are always welcomed. Click on “Add Comment” below to share your thoughts and get a public conversation going.

One of my goals is to have advocates in all the communities where we live or ride regularly. If you are already an active bicyclist advocate and/or wish to do more in your community, please contact me via email and describe your situation.

You can reach me at: BedfordBike@gmail.com [please include "CRW" in the Subject]