Northampton celebrates Bike Month with events including commuter breakfast and repair clinic

The Northampton City Council meeting held on April 17, 2025, featured a vibrant discussion centered around the upcoming Bike Month, which is set to take place in May. The meeting began with a presentation from a representative of the Friends of Northampton Trails, who highlighted the significance of biking as a sustainable transportation option.

The speaker emphasized that Northampton has hosted a bike-to-work commuter breakfast for over 25 years and extended an invitation to the community to participate in various events planned for Bike Month. Notably, the speaker pointed out that transportation is the leading source of pollution in Massachusetts, making biking an essential alternative for reducing carbon emissions.

Key events during Bike Week, scheduled from May 12 to May 18, include a bike repair clinic at Forbes Library on May 12, a community bike breakfast at Pulaski Park on May 14, and a bike party on May 15 to celebrate biking in the city. Additionally, a bike commuter happy hour will be held at Barb and Olive on May 16, welcoming all who support biking, whether they bike commute or not. The month will culminate with the Great Tree Ride on May 31, organized by All Body on Bikes, All Out Adventures, and Friends of Northampton Trails.

Following this presentation, Lynn Lepore, a resident near Ellbrook Fields, expressed her gratitude to the parks and recreation department as well as the public works department for their services to the community.

The meeting underscored the city's commitment to promoting biking as a viable and environmentally friendly mode of transportation, encouraging community engagement through a series of planned events. The council looks forward to the participation of residents in these activities throughout Bike Month.