What’s better than biking to your favorite local restaurant? Getting a discount for it.
Bicycle Benefits is a program that gets you discounts and perks at participating retailers. All you need to do is adorn your helmet with a Bike Benefits sticker and bring your helmet with you when you shop.
There’s a wide range of participating stores. A lot are bakeries, cafes and restaurants, and some are grocery stores, gyms and other retailers. Almost 60 locations in Cambridge and Somerville participate.
The Bicycle Benefits website has an interactive map with all participating locations.
One popular deal is with Flour Bakery, where you can get a free small coffee with any purchase. Some favorites of mine are Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Davis, Cafe Zing! in Porter, Yego Coffee in Teele and Area Four near Kendall.
Founder Ian Klepetar started the program to get more people biking and to get businesses more people shopping. Boston was one of the first cities the program expanded to, and it’s now grown to almost 2,000 retailers nationwide.
Klepetar was back in town this week at Portico Brewing to launch his new book, “Book of Rad,” about rad people starting community organizations across the country. In it are organizations such as Honk! Fest (this weekend in Somerville) and Food Not Bombs (founded in Cambridge).
To get started with Bicycle Benefits, first buy the sticker for $5 from a participating retailer. Show that sticker to any participating store to claim a discount or perk. Stickers never expire, and the same sticker works anywhere nationwide.
Bike activities calendar
E-Bike Adventure Rides with Casa Bikes (recurring). Every other Thursday and Saturday, bring your own e-bike or borrow one of Casa’s. The next ride is at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Free, but register.
Halloween Family Bike Ride. The 6th Annual Halloween Family Bike Ride is 9:30 a.m. Oct. 18 At 0.7 miles long, the ride may be especially suitable for self-propelled children. Free, donations appreciated.
Boston Cafe Bikers (recurring). Boston Cafe Bikers rides at 11 a.m. Sunday from Forest Hills station to Flat Black Coffee (Dorchester). Free.
Tour de Streets. Livable Streets Alliance hosts a fundraiser and leisurely ride for people of all abilities at 10:30 a.m. Oct 24. Join a team online and fundraise.
For more Boston bike events, see bostonbikeevents.net. (No affiliation with The Independent.)
