24th Annual Bike Month Announced

12:07PM / Friday, May 01, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — This May, the Berkshire Bike Path Council will be holding their 24th annual Bike Month series of

events, in conjunction with Massachusetts Bike Month.

Bike activities are offered for every level and every age of cyclists.

Bike Rodeos are a great opportunity for young riders to learn safety tips and check their equipment while decorating their bikes and taking on the rodeo challenge. A Rodeo will be open to the public during First Fridays at Five in Pittsfield, at the parking lot on Renee Ave across from the Lichtenstein Center.

On May 9, the Downtown Pittsfield Mural Ride will be a casual- pace ride with the opportunity to learn about the public art that decorates downtown Pittsfield.

Go by Bike Week, from May 10-16, is designed to encourage everyone to ride whatever distance and at whatever speed they are comfortable. Pledge your ride online here to be entered in a prize drawing at the end of the week.

On Wednesday May 13, ride your bike to downtown Pittsfield between 7 - 9am for the Bike Breakfast. Free food is available to anyone arriving by bike.

The City of Pittsfield and Department of Conservation and Recreation are offering a community ride for all ages on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail on May 23. Safety tips and equipment will be available.

These events are made possible by the cooperation and support of several partners - Safe Routes to School, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., the City of Pittsfield, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire Bike and Board, Berkshire Health Systems, MassBike and BBPC volunteers. Events are all free. For more information, email nrusso@berkshireplanning.org or call (413) 212-7998.

If You Go:

Friday, May 1 in Pittsfield – Bike Rodeo with AAA, Safe Routes to School at First Fridays at Five. Rodeo will be held in the Palace Park parking lot; enter from Renee Ave, across from the Lichtenstein Center. Parking is recommended in the First Street lot.

Friday, May 8 in Pittsfield – Conte Elementary Bike Bus, 8am (Volunteer chaperones needed) Contact Nick Russo at nrusso@berkshireplanning.org if you would like to volunteer.

Saturday, May 9 in Pittsfield – Downtown Mural Bike Tour, 3 - 5pm Starts & Ends at Hot Plate Brewing Co., 1 School Street, Pittsfield

All week long, May 10-16 – Go by Bike Week! Share your ride here to be entered into a prize drawing.

Wednesday, May 13: Downtown Bike Breakfast, 7-9 am Dunham Mall, between City Hall and North Street. RSVP requested here to help order enough food.

Thursday, May 14: Conte Elementary Bike Rodeo (for students and families), 5:30 - 7pm (Rain Date: Thursday, May 21) Email Renee MacKay at renee.mackay@aecom.com if you would like to volunteer.

Saturday, May 23: Ashuwillticook Community Ride, 10am(Rain Date: Saturday, May 24) Starts at Crane Ave trailhead in Pittsfield.

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Pittsfield Remembers Lives Lost to Overdose, Underscores Harm Reduction

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Mayor Peter Marchetti reads a proclamation at City Hall encouraging residents to raise awareness and lift each other up.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of people gathered downtown on Monday to remember those lost to overdose and work toward a future of zero deaths from substance use disorder.

The Berkshire Overdose and Addiction Prevention Collaborative and its partners held a proclamation reading and flag-raising at City Hall, followed by a standout in Park Square with signs promoting the use of naloxone, harm reduction, and reducing associated stigma.

There were 23 fatal overdoses in Berkshire County in 2025, 11 in Pittsfield. This is down 44 percent from the 41 countywide fatalities in 2024.

While it is a significant decrease, advocates want to see that number at zero.

"On the one hand, we're very pleased to see this significant of a decrease. This is actually the lowest number that we've had since [Department of Public Health] started collecting these numbers in 2013, but the goal is still zero," said Andy Ottoson, public health planner with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

August is International Overdose Awareness Month, the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those lost without stigma, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind. September is National Recovery Month, a national observance to educate the public on the importance of substance use treatment and mental health services.

Samantha Kendall of Berkshire Harm Reduction explained that it is truly meeting people where they are, as they are, and when they are, "and I think we all do a really great job at that."

"We also want to remember that we're building a community for everybody, and systems and policies for everybody. That's really important in harm reduction work, so that's also the reason we're here today," she said.

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