The Boston Bicycle Planning Initiative has launched a website! Contents: Bicycling and other alternative transportation news items, campaigns, and resource links. Please visit us at www.bikethehub.org (a project of the LivableStreets Alliance, www.livablestreets.info).

We coordinated formal testimony at the November 22, 2004 Boston City Council hearing on bicycling. In collaboration with WalkBoston and MassBike, we called for Boston to establish a "Commission on Bicycling and Walking" with a full-time executive director to carry out its mission. Over 100 citizens attended and provided valuable testimony on the need for an improved bicycling environment in Boston.

Effective immediately, times bicycles are allowed on the T have been extended. Additionally, two bikes will now be allowed per subway car (previously only two bikes on the entire train.)

This weekend, Dec. 11 and 12, 460 bikes will be prepared and loaded for shipment to the Village Bicycle Project in Ghana. Volunteer to help!

The future of public transit in Boston is at risk! This Dept. of Env. Protection hearing to consider whether Mass. should abandon its transit obligations as part of the Big Dig. The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) is leading a citizens effort to ensure that transit projects, such as the Green-line extension into Somerville, stay on track. Please attend this hearing: Boston State House, Tuesday Dec. 14, 1pm - 4pm.

Transportation Alternatives and thousands of Central Park users rejoiced last week when the Mayor took a historic step towards returning Central Park's Loop Drive to a safe and healthy place to play, exercise and escape. New policies: More car-free hours, several newly closed entrances, reduced speed limit, HOV restriction during morning rush hour.

Tell us the good and bad of commuting to your workplace by bicycle. How far is your commute? What do you like most about the commute? What's the most frustrating? Have any good stories to tell? How's the bike parking? Showers available? If your workplace is large, do you know if there a transportation/ commuter coordinator?

Email jeff@livablestreets.info. Results will be included in the next e-bulletin.