Wild Winter Bike Fest ’15

[All photo credits: Yaoming Duan, Dingfang Zhou] 

Once a month, MIT PN2K hosts a bike repair event/social. Numbers range from 40-150 attendees (annual launch events). Wild Winter Bike Fest happened this past Sunday, with free minor bike repairs & bike safety checks  (thanks Cambridge Bicycles), power-washing bike self-service, clean your U-lock station, bicycle trivia, bicycle registration forms, helmets for $20, bike lights for $15, batteries both CR2032 and 2 x AA for $2, high-neon visibility shirts, PN2K memberships, free food, music, and this time, even a bike wheel with snowflakes! (goal: write down something you would like to see to improve bike safety) Among the responses were: 

• Make sure cars can see you!
• Safer intersections
• Left & Right indicators
• More street lights along bike lanes on campus
• Encourage cyclists to ride in main lanes (editor's note: one of my favorites)
• Everyone should have lights & helmets

We had Cambridge Bicycles come in to conduct free minor bike repairs for the community (thanks to UA funding from Finboard) and welcomed back Rudy, bike-savvy cyclist, who helped some of you with bike issues. It was also his first time witnessing his own brainchild idea of the pressure-washer unit at work, which we had set up outside the MIT Z-Center. I had to make a few runs to the Student Center and noticed the whirring/humming noise of the spray nozzle running in the background, so take note, fellow cyclists! On days/times of our bike events, follow the sound of the drill and you shall find our pressure-washer! Here's the step-by-step:

1. Stop by the pressure-washer station first; rid your bike of salt, grime, and other residue that shortens the lifespan of bike parts 
2. Come register with us at our event (most usually Dingfang) and speak with our bike safety officer (Will), while having your photo taken (Yaoming) 
3. Leave your bike in line and stop by the bike trivia table (led by Jay); answer five questions correctly and receive a free wristband reminding you to purchase Bertucci's at Kendall on Wednesday, Dec 16* plus a raffle ticket for our donations.
4. Grab some food and drinks & mingle with the community
5. Get your bikes registered (fill out the registration form) Ask one of the officers/organizers/volunteers wearing a PN2K shirt if you have questions. Please note, the serial number of your bicycles can be found underneath the area where the pedal connects to the main frame. 
6. Accessorize! Find a helmet that fits and purchase for $20 (or order online at PN2K.org/helmet to pick up at the MIT COOP in the Student Center during regular business hours); grab Planet Bike bike lights for $15; get some batteries; buy PN2K membership to connect with the cycling community and get discounts; get a high visibility shirt (half off with PN2K membership). 
7. Leave us feedback! We value everyone's opinion to (1) ensure future events run successfully (2) focus on important areas of bike safety that are not being addressed by others 

*Don't forget to mention PN2K! 15% of what you already will be spending will go towards PN2K (you spend nothing more!). For every $10 you spend, Bertucci's will give you a raffle ticket where you will be entered into a drawing for PN2K membership & goodies.