GObike Buffalo
- Jimmy Ellegate
- Sep 22, 2019
- 4 min read
The local organization that I have decided to research for this blog post is called GObike Buffalo. I chose it for 2 reasons - first, I am an avid biker and environmentalist (both of which are addressed by this organization), and second, the organizer of Buffalo's Slow Roll (an event that I will talk more about later) is a graduate of my high school who I have had the pleasure of meeting.
GObike Buffalo is an organization that is, not surprisingly, all about biking. Their mission statement says it all:
"GObike Buffalo is working to build a thriving, dynamic and connected Buffalo by promoting biking, alternative transportation options, and improved streetscapes to create positive impacts on health, our environment, our streets and the overall quality of life for all residents."
Essentially, their goal is to make Buffalo a more biker-friendly city and to encourage more people to use biking as their primary mode of transportation. Their team of passionate bike riders believe that this will not only make the city's residents happier and healthier, but also that, if enough people take to the streets on bikes, it will have an impact on reducing pollution and carbon emissions. GObike attempts to accomplish these goals through programs, events, education and governmental action. In the following, I'll list just one example of each of the different ways they try to reach their goals (keep in mind that they have plenty more beyond what I list).
Programs
One program that I find particularly interesting and effective is called Recycle-a-Bicycle. During this educational program, an instructor from GObike goes to a local school and teaches the students the mechanics of a bike by taking it apart and putting it back together. Following the program, the instructor teaches the class about road safety, hand signals, and other topics that are essential for a safe bike ride. The students are also invited to ride in a group back home so they can experience the freedom and independence that comes with biking. The reason this program stands out to me is because it encourages the next generation of commuters to consider biking as a legitimate mode of transportation rather than just a fun pastime.
Events
The event that interested me the most is called Slow Roll. This event is actually run by the alumnus from my school, Seamus Gallivan, and happens in many cities throughout the world. For Slow Roll in Buffalo, the event takes place every Monday night and includes a unique ride through the city each week. Slow Roll gives participants the ability to slow down and appreciate different aspects of the city as they bike through it. It also builds connections through the thousands of people who attend!
Another interesting event that serves as a major fundraiser for GObike is called SkyRide. This event is local to Buffalo and includes a bike ride over the Skyway and down some of Buffalo's popular highways. I encourage you to check it out on their website!
Education
GObike has many informative pages on their website that people can access through their computer or phone. They also offer classes on how to fix/maintain bikes, biking skills, or even just learning how to ride a bike. These usually cost $10. Education is probably the most important method of getting people involved in GObike. By informing people of how easy it is becoming to use a bicycle instead of a car for transportation, as well as talking about the health benefits of biking, their ideas look more and more appealing.
Governmental Action
Perhaps the most impressive accomplishments of this organization have been made by convincing people in places of power to take action. GObike created and introduced the Buffalo Bicycle Facility Master Plan and works with the City of Buffalo to implement it. They also helped Buffalo reach a Bronze Level bicycle-friendly city by advocating Complete Streets, a national effort to make streets more biker-friendly. One way they accomplished this was by making city streets include bike lanes. GObike continues to work with the city to make streets more accommodating for all types of transportation.
Social Media
GObike has accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The organization uses these platforms to remind people of events, share links and articles related to biking, and to keep people updated on accomplishments and current projects. Out of the three accounts, I find their Facebook particularly interesting because it includes the most information about the organization and includes a promotional video as their profile background, which I encourage you to check out (Facebook link is at the bottom of this article).
Overall, I think GObike Buffalo is a very impressive organization that is having an effect on the Buffalo community. Their effect can physically be seen in the city through the addition of bike lanes in city streets and by the increase of bikers on the road. Through their promotional events and programs, they are changing the stigma around biking - switching it from being just a pastime to being a legitimate form of transportation. I believe in their mission to increase the number of bikers on the road, and I am hopeful that this would effectively reduce pollution and carbon emission. I look forward to seeing what GObike is able to do in my lifetime, and am interested in participating in some of their events. Biking is the transportation of the future!
Hi Jimmy
I really liked how you chose a topic that means something to you. I enjoyed reading your post and learned a lot about this organization. I also think you did a really good job organizing your post and made it easy to read. Good job!
Hi Jimmy!
I really liked this article. I've heard of Go Bike Buffalo before and I've been thinking about joining it. I like the fact that they are promoting bike use to try and save the environment. I also liked the Recycle-a-bicycle. I've also seen some of the sky bikes by my house and always been tempted to try it! Great job!!