Features
Bike Activists Speak Out
by Nat Frothingham There is nothing new about the biking enthusiasm that is now sweeping through Montpelier. Biking for pleasure and biking for transportation have been with us for a long time. But starting last November with a Bike Summit convened by Mayor John Hollar, the city’s commitment to bikes and bike travel has kicked [...]
Renovators Share Tips for Home Owners
The Bridge sat down with three home renovators, Mark Billian, Brian Abbott, and Stephen Gilmore, to ask them about their work, and their views on construction, home repair and renovation. Mark Billian has been in the business for nine years, after leaving the field of information technology. His hankering to work in construction began when [...]
Biking Resources in Central Vermont
Cross Vermont Trails, crossvermont.org A project to build a multi-use, four season path across the width of Vermont following the Winooski River and Wells River valleys. Green Mountain Bicycle Club, thegmbc.com Vermont’s oldest and largest cycling club. Local Motion, localmotion.org A member supported, non-profit organization promoting people-powered transportation and recreation for healthy and sustainable [...]
An interview with Montpelier’s Mountain Bike Officer Michael Philbrick
I sat down with Montpelier police officer Michael Philbrick, the only bike officer in the city, to learn more about how he works his beat by bike. As a mountain bike and regular police officer, he enforces all the state and city car, pedestrian and bike laws. Officer Philbrick also serves on the city’s bike [...]
ZoomBikes Encourages Riders to Head for the Hills
by Bob Nuner The last time I seriously rode a bicycle was 1967. I toured Europe for 10 weeks, packing my drip-dry nylon suit, shirt and tie in the saddle bags en route to a July performance of Lohengrin at Bayreuth, Germany. The English bike was one of those new fangled five-speed affairs, with a [...]
Safe Routes to School: Teaching Our Kids Safety on the Streets
By Bill Merylees I have some good news and some bad news. First the bad: Montpelier cannot handle any more cars. We know this. Now the good: Our small city is ideal for bicycling and foot travel. Many of us know this too, but few of us actually use our bikes regularly for transportation. Nor do [...]
Vermont and the Capital City Loom Large in the National Bike Challenge
by Gregory Gerdel Vermont cyclists have quickly pedaled into a substantial lead among the U.S. states in the 2013 National Bike Challenge. Montpelier has at least 43 riders participating in early May, and more will be welcomed. The Challenge is designed to encourage both non-polluting transportation and recreation, along with personal health through exercise. Vermont [...]
Crossing Vermont
by Bob Nuner Greg Western, the new executive director of Cross Vermont Trail Association, emphasizes that the east-west four-season trail for non-motorized activities that goes from Chittenden County to Wells River is primarily a local community effort. It’s a collection of local trails their website calls “a patchwork,” which his organization works to assist and [...]
Before Starting Your Home Renovations, Get a Home Energy Audit
by Stephen M. Frey Spring brings optimism with new growth, longer days and warmer temperatures. This time of year, homeowners often make plans to renovate or add to their houses and want to know where and how to begin the process. This article is about taking basic steps before renovating, such as finding out how [...]
Buying That First House
Debt Load and Risk Management by Bob Nuner Peter Goodell is senior retail lending manager at Northfield Savings Bank (NSB) and also the vice chair of the Central Vermont Community Land Trust (CVCLT). As such, he’s in a position to have a good overview of what first-time home buyers need to do to borrow money [...]