News & Updates
SaSS Pilot Program
Summer is coming quickly, and with it, the end of the school year. If you're staying on campus through the summer, secure bike room access will expire May 31st, and you'll need to renew your access. That process will look slightly different depending on whether or not you've visited the BUCK. If you've been here to register your bike(s), you can renew access online. If your bike isn't registered with the university yet, unlike previous years, you will need to roll on down to 1019 Comm Ave and get a registration sticker affixed to your bike. It helps us know who is in the bike room and notify users of upcoming changes, such as removing any potentially abandoned bikes, or changing infrastructure.
Going home for the summer? Want to leave your bike or scooter in Boston? We got you! The BUCK is piloting a Storage and Surrender System this year. For a refundable deposit- you can drop your vehicle off at 808 Comm Ave on May 4th, 5th, 10th or 11th, from 1-5 pm. We'll hold on to it in one of our secure bike rooms, and make sure those chains don't rust, the wheels don't roll off, and your lock will still work when you return. Pick up your bike on September 7th, 8th, 14th or 15th from 1-5p when you get back in the fall, and you'll receive your deposit back, have your bike room access automatically renewed for the 24-25 school year, and get your tires pumped and chain lubricated to start the year off right! Make sure you pick your bike up before Oct 1, or it becomes property of the University.
If you're graduating, here on exchange, or otherwise done with your bike, you can also leave it with us. Bikes can be dropped off at 808 Comm Ave during the above times, or with Sustainability at their move out tents across campus on the 18th and 19th. Surrender your bike knowing that you'll be helping a future student to learn riding or mechanical skills. The BUCK offers loaner bicycles for its Intro to Urban Cycling class as well as next year's new Mechanics 1 and 2, and Learn to Ride programs.
Want to ship your bike home? Local bike shops usually have a surplus of boxes and packing material in April and May. Call around, locate some for yourself, and the BUCK will help you break down and pack your bike. Please give yourself 1-2 hours to get everything securely padded. You'll need to arrange shipping for yourself, either directly, or through a bike shipping service, such as Overnight Bikes or Bike Flights. It's recommended that you ship to your closest local bike shop, rather than your home address, but make sure you check in with the receiving shop, too.
Let’s Get Trivial!
Love BUCK? Wish that it existed back home/when you were in school/for your friends? Well. The BUCK is one of a growing number of community bike learning spaces, and they take resources to start and run. Help us support our friends at Commonwheels, an Allston based bike collective. Started by a BU alum (who also inspired the BUCK), they've been providing open air wrenching instruction, group rides, earn-a-bike classes, Rat Race, and other programming for over a decade.
So where do you come in? Commonwheels is hosting a Trivia Night fundraiser to kick off Bay State Bike Month
Wednesday May 1
6-8pm
Zone 3, Western Ave, Allston
$10 entrance fee
BUCK (and Commonwheels) Staff Mechanic PQ will lead anyone who wants to ride over to Zone 3 from 1019 Comm Ave at 5:30 that evening. Can we get a whole team together? Let us know if you want in!
Get ready to answer questions like "What inspired Rat Race?" "How many miles of bike path does Allston have?" and "Which Commonwheels volunteer has the most bikes?" For that last one, you might want to swing by a Thursday morning coffee hour.
Keep your eyes peeled for some other great May events, coming soon!
Spring Flingin’
April events are POPPING up here like spring flowers! Can you believe spring semester is more than halfway over? We're trying to cram as much into the last full month as we can here at the BUCK, there should be something for everyone! Haven't checked us out yet? Quick, come fill up your tires, lubricate your chain, replace your brake pads before it Boston's annual 5 minutes of GOLDILOCKS biking weather.
As usual, there is coffee every Thursday at 8am. Come through for community, caffeination, but if it gets nice enough, maybe you'll find us muggin' on the sidewalk instead? We're also open every Saturday this month from 1-5 for weekend service, and there are multiple group rides on offer! As things get sunnier (fingers crossed), keep your eyes peeled around campus for additional pop up events like lube & lights or bike lane clean ups!
In order of appearance this month!
Bike ABCs 12-1PM, Thursday, 4/11: This lunchtime class is the perfect bite sized chunk of bike basics. Learn how to keep your trusty steed running smoothly for daily commutes, errands, or other short rides, and what parts to check so you'll know when it's time for service.
Bringing in Spring Ride (with Boston Cyclists Union) The Grove, Lower Allston, 4PM Saturday, 4/13: Wanna go for a ride? The Boston Cyclists Union will be meeting at The Grove in Lower Allston (where CommonWheels Bike Collective holds their open shop!) and leading us in a very chill group ride that will end at the BUCK. More info will be linked here as we receive it! Rain date April 27th. This ride is forecast to be ~3-5 miles and last around 45 minutes-1 hour
Propel Wellness Challenge Ride 10AM- 1PM, Saturday 4/20: BU Wellness is hosting a movement challenge this month, and there are are lots of ways to get involved. To support the challenge, we're offering this party paced group ride that will leave from the BUCK and ride past some of the goal posts your team can achieve. Past rides offered through the BUCK average ~10 mph, and range from 10-15 mi to help participants explore some local bike infrastructure. Check back before the ride, the route will be posted here before we leave!
CRASH Cummington! Cummington Mall, 12-4PM Sunday, 4/21: XCC Challenge Class Bike2BU is hosting a party, and you're invited! We here at the BUCK have challenged them, just for a day, to make Cummington Mall a cool place to hang out.
Crash Cummington will be an event focused on bringing the BU Community together for a day of fun and games. The goal of this event will be to show students the importance of active pedestrian spaces, and will also seek to promote micro-mobility on BU campus. We will have lawn-games, street games, food, student-club organizations will be tabling, and we will have live music at the event.
And of course, BUCK will be there with a stand or two, and maybe a few surprises.
And finally......
April 16th 6pm or later.... While we're not hosting anything, if you're interested, the Midnight Marathon ride is also on for 2024. This storied traverse of the Boston Marathon route started here with two BU Alum 15 years ago. Enjoy the closed roads, and either talk a friend into dropping you and your bike off and ride your way back with hundreds to thousands of other riders (weather dependent!), ride to the halfway point in Wellsley and back, or, if you're feeling brave, go for the full 52.4 miles (plus round trip to and from the finish line downtown). No bikes will be allowed on the MBTA. Make sure you carry extra snacks, water and layers, as resupply options are unlikely to be available.
Questions? Want to make sure your bike is ready? Come on in, we've done it a time or three....
Faculty and staff parking restrictions during April Open House Fridays
During the month of April, the Admissions Office invites student applicants who have been notified of their acceptance to the University to attend Open House programs. These programs help students and their families make informed decisions about attending Boston University for the next four years. As a result, we must provide parking to these special guests by restricting permit parking in various lots and garages.
Friday, 4/5/24
- CAS Lot (J) – Offline to Permit Holders; Admissions Guests only
- Warren Towers Garage (K) – 100 spaces reserved for Admissions Guests
- Rafik B. Hariri Building Garage (M) – 100 spaces reserved for Admissions Guests
Friday, 4/12/24
- CAS Lot (J) – Offline to Permit Holders; Admissions Guests only
- Warren Towers Garage (K) – 125 spaces reserved for Admissions Guests
- Rafik B. Hariri Building Garage (M) – 125 spaces reserved for Admissions Guests
- Agganis Arena Outer Lot (A) – Offline to Permit Holders; Admissions Guests only
Friday, 4/19/24
- CAS Lot (J) – Offline to Permit Holders; Admissions Guests only
- Warren Towers Garage (K) – 125 spaces reserved for Admissions Guests
- Rafik B. Hariri Building Garage (M) – 125 spaces reserved for Admissions Guests
- Agganis Arena Outer Lot (A) – Offline to Permit Holders; Admissions Guests only
To minimize the effects of these parking restrictions, we ask faculty and staff to please consider using commute methods other than driving alone on the these three Open House Fridays.
If you must drive to campus and are unable to find a space in your lot of choice, we suggest the following alternative parking locations:
- Essex Street Garage & Lot (F), 148 Essex Street, Brookline
- Kenmore Lot (O), 549 Commonwealth Avenue
- 575 Commonwealth Avenue (L)
- 766 Commonwealth Avenue (R)
- Agganis Arena Garage (A), 925 Commonwealth Avenue
Please note that active permit holders with ADA plates or placards will continue to have access to ADA parking spaces in all lots and garages.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via email at transportation@bu.edu.
NEW: “Roll Safe” resource page
Like newborn fawns taking their first steps, new bike, scooter, and skateboard riders are wobbling their way into Boston's bike lanes. Whether you're one of those new fawns or a traffic-seasoned buck, it's probably a good idea to brush up on some basic street safety skills. Who knows: you might learn something!
Please visit our new Roll Safe page for the City of Boston's comprehensive list of tips for riding your micromobility device (bike, scooter, skateboard...) in town plus this fun video about Comm Ave's bike lanes:
Our new Roll Safe page includes information about:
- Inspecting your bike before riding
- Ways to tackle traffic at your own pace
- Tips for sharing the road
- Rules of the road
- Hand signals
- Using lights
- Common crashes
- Navigating bike lanes
- Riding in all weather
Check it out!
Spring Break BUS Schedule
1BU (CRC-BUMC)
Approximate 30 minute intervals between Saturday 3/9 and Saturday 3/16. Regular service resumes Monday 3/18.
- Monday-Friday (6:30am - midnight)
- Saturday (6:30am - 7:00pm)
Fenway
Approximate 30 minute intervals between Saturday 3/9 and Sunday 3/17. Regular service resumes on Monday 3/18.
- Saturday 3/9-Saturday 3/16 (9:30am - 8:30pm)
- Sunday 3/17 (9:30am - 4:30pm)
Comm Ave Loop
Last day of service is Friday 3/8. Service resumes on Monday 3/18.
Night
Last day of service is Saturday 3/9. Service resumes on Saturday 3/16.
Rites of Spring!
This week was the spring of deception, but very soon, warmer temps will be here to stay, and here at the BUCK, that means getting outside! March will be all about preparing you and your bike to keep moving through the end of the term. To that end, our schedule will change after spring break, and Saturday shop time will return, with hours TBD.
To start the month off, whether you're brand new or need a refresher, come check out our ABC's of bike maintenance March 6th, at 5:30 p. This short course will go over the basics of keeping your bike happy to increase its lifespan, and your time between services, whether you tune your bike yourself, at the BUCK, or have it done professionally at your friendly local bike shop.
March 13th from 6-9 p features the return of grrreasetime, in partnership with Femmechanics. This worknight is put on by and for the femme, trans, women, and gender expansive community to create a safe wrenching space. It's co-sponsored by the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty and Staff, and will have BUCK staff and volunteers present to help with any and all of your needs! Come clean or fix your bike, or just enjoy the community. There will almost certainly be snaxxxx.
Springing ahead to March 19, from 5-7p, the BUCK will be combining our love of classical music with classic bike safety questions. Do you have questions about your legal rights as a bicyclist on the road? Have you been meaning to listen to Igor Stravinsky's 1913 ballet, The Rite of Spring? On the first day of Spring, we'll be rocking out to Stravinsky while Boston bike law expert Josh Zisson of Bike Safe Boston answers all your questions about legal rules and rights on the road.
Closing out the month, our friends over at CIMS' Spring Film Series will feature The Way He Looks on March 27th at 5p. Unlike other BUCK movies, the screening takes place in Com B05. It's supposed to be a very sweet romance with some lovely bicycle scenes.
Due to Spring Break, and manager PQ attending a conference, there is currently no group ride planned for the month, but check back for a collaboration with Tufts for April, an Earth day bike lane clean up, and other fun pop ups.If there's something else you want to see, drop us a line.
Hot Cocoa Ride- Route
Tomorrow, meet up at the BUCK at 10am for a Hot Cocoa Ride in collaboration with Commonwheels Bike Collective and the Allston-Brighton Health Collaborative. Doors will open around 9:45 for your pre-ride air and lubrication needs.
This no-drop ride will stop briefly at Jaho and LA Burdick and will end at Clear Flour in Brookline, just around the corner from the Cycle Kitchen. It's recommended that riders stop for drinks and snacks at Jaho or Clear Flour, and purchase dry mixes or other chocolate snacks at LA Burdick to avoid the long lines for tourists
We will be moving at about 10 mph, please feel free to drop in and out as time makes sense for you. Dress warmly to accommodate the pace, and don't forget to bring your friends!
Snow Day- BUCK Closed
The BUCK will be closed 2/13 for a snow emergency. We look forward to seeing you on Velotine's Day. Come through and clean your bike from the salt after the storm and enter our raffle to win cool accessories for your love.
Happy Snow Day!
Treat your Velotine! February at the BUCK
The grey days of winter are upon us. Beat them back at the BUCK! We're back this month with a variety of events to keep you warm and build connections to the cycling community. One of the most frequent comments we hear at the BUCK is about the lack of riding buddies. Instead of trying to convert your friends, come meet some new folks who already know life is better on two wheels. Want to talk about transit? We're here for that, too!
We're starting the month off by celebrating Faculty and Staff who commute by bike! You’re not alone! More and more employees are getting to BU by bike and some even ride in the winter. No matter when you ride, you are invited to join us on 2/1 from 4-6p for fellowship, snacks, drinks, and prizes. We’ll be showing off our new “Cycle Kitchen,” soliciting input on bike facilities, and swapping commuting tips. This year’s prize drawing will include Bar Mitts, fenders, and a tune-up from Landry’s. Bring your bike if you want to put it in the stand and tune it up a bit yourself.
For anyone riding right now, come celebrate Winter Bike to Work day Friday 2/9, from 4-7p. Warm up before your commute home, trade tips and tricks, and meet other folks who are braving the elements right now. Feeling especially soggy about it? Consider dropping in to figure out what kind of fenders are right for your bike, so we can help keep you dry. Snacks and warm beverages provided.
Whether you're riding all year round, or you put your wheels away before it got cold, your bike could probably use a little love. Prepare for the next snow storm OR sunny day by treating your Velotine to a thorough cleaning. Bring a bike, bring a buddy, and through the power of teamwork, get it done together. We'll set up some extra stands if needed! Wed Feb 14, 5-7p
Speaking of building community, we're teaming up with local bike collective Commonwheels to bring you a Hot Cocoa Ride, Saturday 2/17. The BUCK will open at 9:45 for air and lubrication and ride will start at 10a. Expect a party pace of about 10mph, three stops for cocoa, coffee, or pastries, or bring your own. Let this guided ride expand your cafe horizons. Be prepared to ride with gloves and ear coverings- the cold won't stop us, but inclement weather might, so check our instagram Friday night, and get ready to make new friends.
Rounding out the month, we're having another movie night. Catch Ovarian Psycos 5-7p on Friday, Feb 23. This powerful 2016 film centers on a group of Latina women who use regular bike rides as a tool for social change in East LA.
Ongoing events:
Want to keep your the Comm Ave cycle track LIT? Volunteer with a buddy Tuesday nights, 5-7, to hand out lights to commuters. State Law says a white front and red rear light are both required 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. Keep our fellow riders seen and safe, and get the word out about the BUCK. Hot beverages provided to volunteers. Please sign up in advance so we know to expect you!
End of the week getting you down? Commuter Coffee, Thursday mornings from 8am until the coffee runs out. Grab a mug and join other cyclists to vent about your commute while giving your bike a quick ABC check. If coffee isn't your thing, we've also got tea and cocoa for guests.
Is there an event you'd like to see or host at the BUCK? Email us or drop in during open shop hours to chat!