News & Updates

Welcome (Back)!!

By Jay Diengott August 29th, 2024 in Bicycling, General

Hey There!

Hope you were all able to get outside this summer and enjoy how much drier this year was! Things were steady here at the BUCK all summer, with bike riding lessons, infrastructure improvements and more! See if you can spot the new or newly relocated racks on campus this summer.

We're ramping up for a busy September and can't wait to see you. If you've previously registered your bike or scooter with us, you can apply online for renewed access now, and get into the bike rooms right away. If you got a new bike or scooter over the summer or you're new here, you'll need to come on in to 1019 Comm Ave and get a registration sticker. Don't forget you can also pick up a helmet (optional), lights (required by law!) and bell (ding).

Where can you find us this fall? Well. We'll be tabling at Sustainability Fest. Harvard is having a bike celebration with a group ride leading back here, among other routes.

If you stored your bike with BUCK's SASS all the way back in May, pick up dates are September 6, 7, 13, and 14, from 1-5pm. You can also choose to donate bikes at this time.

We will run A "how to purchase a used bike" class in September, as well bringing back regular Tuesday Night Lights (5-7 p) distribution and continuing Thursday morning Commuter Coffee (8-10a). There are still a few spots remaining in PQ's Intro To Urban Cycling class run through Fit Rec if you're looking to improve your riding skills on and around campus, as well as a Denim Vest ride, part of our continued partnership with Commonwheels. Please check back here for updated dates and times.

Most importantly, you're invited to the BUCK's First Birthday! We'll be celebrating one year of cycling successes on Saturday Sept 28th from 1-5pm! There will be snacks, cake, a photo booth, and more!

Lights out at the BUCK

By Jay Diengott August 21st, 2024 in Bicycling, General

Hey Friends! Due to a last minute planned power outage, the BUCK will close at 4pm today. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause! Otherwise see you for coffee tomorrow morning!

Summer at the BUCK

By Jay Diengott May 30th, 2024 in Bicycling, General

Wow! Just like that, it's bike weather! With a little extra time and consistent warmer temps, where will you ride?

Never fear, the BUCK will be here to support you all summer. Our hours are a little different though- we're open for walk in's Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (and COFFEE) at the same times we've been here all year. Fridays will be appointment only to facilitate other programming, while the BUCK is closed on Saturdays until September.

All bike room access expires May 31st! Please renew your access HERE if you haven't. Bike rooms will be audited in early June, don't risk getting your lock cut. In case the worst happens though, contact us at the BUCK and we'll get your bike back to you.

As for summer events, got any requests? May was incredibly busy, so we don't have anything planned yet, but keep your eyes peeled. Want to learn to ride a bike? Email bikes@bu and schedule some time. Friday rides? Lets do it. Deep dives into your lesser maintained parts? Come on in.

MAYDAY MAYDAY

By Jay Diengott April 30th, 2024 in Bicycling, General

WOW where did the year go?!

We're going to cram a lot into this very abbreviated month, so here it goes! And don't worry, if you're here for the summer, we will be, too!

May 1- 6-8p Bike trivia with Commonwheels, Zone 3, Allston. PQ will lead participants over around 5:30 from the BUCK leaving at 5:30. Bone up on your answers in advance by visiting the website and prepare to win some sweet prizes.

May 2- 4-5p We have a new secure bike room! It's at Towers! We'll have a quick opening celebration with some round snacks, and will be raffling a set of security axles. Bean will ALSO be at Towers, and I hear there's ice cream, so roll on through! This bike room has abbreviated access, only for the month of May.

May 3- 6-8p Intro to Bikepacking with Queers on Wheels! Come learn the basics of getting out there on two wheels!

May 3, 4, 10, 11- Storage and Surrender Services. All the details are here. In advance of that, the bike room at Booth needs to be empty by May 3rd. Find somewhere else to park!

May 13th is the last day to park in the bike cage at 32 Harry Agganis Way. After that, the whole bike room will be on summer vacation, and if your bike is still here? You'll need to contact the BUCK to get it from impound. And you'll need a new lock.

May 17th- Boston Bike to Work Day. The city of Boston celebrates bike commuters and local bike orgs at City Hall Plaza with coffee and breakfast. Meet PQ at the plaza at 10am for a ride back to Charles River Campus

May 31st- All campus bike room access expires. Plan to renew and park for the summer? You'll need a sign on your device telling us you're registered, or your bike could end up in impound!

Check back for more details or contact us with questions!

SaSS Pilot Program

By Jay Diengott April 12th, 2024 in Bicycling, General

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 3rd, 4th, 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 6th, 7th, 13th or 14th 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 Goodwill, Not Landfill 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.

Click here for complete details!

Let’s Get Trivial!

By Jay Diengott April 12th, 2024 in Bicycling, General

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’

By Jay Diengott April 3rd, 2024 in Bicycling, General

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.

Details here!

Questions? Want to make sure your bike is ready? Come on in, we've done it a time or three....