Celebrate the MBTA By Riding Your Bike

photo by meredith foley

Community event organizer Greg Hum said throwing an MBTA-themed bike ride together for this Friday, the same month that the transit agency celebrates its 50th birthday, wasn’t intentional.

“It’s a coincidence. But it’s a perfect coincidence; while they are celebrating, we will be out celebrating too,” he said.

Hum helps bring together hundreds of cyclists every month as part of the ongoing “Boston Bike Party” series, which got its start in the city just over a year ago.

On August 8, Hum expects the usual crowd—and possibly more—to show up for a free tour of some of the group’s favorite T stations, dressed head-to-toe in transit-specific attire. “We are going to encourage people to come and dress appropriately as their favorite T line,” Hum said of the event, called “The Boston ‘T’ Party.”

The group put together a “look book” of ideas on their event website to inspire attendees, giving them a sense of what sorts of costumes could go along with the theme.

He said the ride is meant to be enjoyable and is not a race, and will feature a “slow-paced” route that makes pit stops at different T locations, as a rider with a special sound system attached to their bike blares tracks that can be associated with transit in general.

“We have a new theme every month. That’s kind of our deal. Every month there’s a bike Friday, and every month is a different theme. So this month is ‘Boston T party,’ where we celebrate the T because we love the local transit and all its color,” said Hum.

The traveling party is one of many that Hum and organizers have put together during the past year.

Hum said during one meet-up, hundreds of people came dressed for a Red Sox theme by actually wearing red socks. Another time they came decked out in dresses and fancy clothing as though they were attending a high school prom. The group then rode through the city making frequent stops to have impromptu dance parties.

He predicts the T-party ride will be similar. “We are definitely going to try and have [a dance party] again this time. This one there will be great music during the trip. But I can’t say where exactly yet,” said Hum.

Hum also wouldn’t say what he would be wearing, but promised it would be an elaborate outfit. The rides typically last two hours, and end with an after party in a location revealed by the organizers the night of the social event.

Though it might be a bit of a squeeze, if you’re lacking a unique idea for the gathering the MBTA’s official gift shop has a small supply of official T gear. If that doesn’t work, you could always ask the MBTA to borrow their “Charlie” mascot costume.