City of Battle Creek Highlights Bike Month Activities

May is National Bike Month and the city’s Bicycle Advisory Committee wants to share a calendar full of events to promote and encourage biking in May and beyond.

The city has Bicycle Friendly Community silver status from the League of American Bicyclists. Battle Creek first earned bronze status in 2014. The committee and city team continue work to improve our bike amenities. There are just 12 Bicycle Friendly Communities in Michigan – four silver, and eight bronze.

The following Bike Month activities welcome everyone — all bicycle types, all skill levels, and all ages – and the committee highly encourages all riders to wear properly-fitting helmets. All activities will take place in rain, shine or snow.

• Sunday, May 5 is the Fort Custer Stampede Race, an event from the Southwest Michigan Mountain Biking Association. Categories are Elite, Expert, Sport, Beginner, and Kids. Races begin starting at 10 a.m. in the Fort Custer Recreation Area in Augusta. See swmmba.com for more information.

• Wednesday, May 8 is Walk/Bike to School Day, organized by the National Center for Safe Routes to School. While the committee is not organizing activities on this day, members ask all area schools to encourage their students to walk and, especially, ride to their schools on May 8 and throughout the school year.
  For details on joining in on May 8 or participating at other times, contact your child’s school.
• Monday through Friday, May 13-17 is Bike to Work Week, and all neighbors in Battle Creek are encouraged to ride to work this week, and anytime!
  Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 17, with two organized rides starting at 7:30 a.m. The South Route starts at Culver’s on Beckley Road, and the North Route starts at the entrance to Bailey Park. Both routes end downtown at Mike’s Team Active Bikes.  If you ride to work this week, post a selfie – created safely – and your mileage to social media! Tag the city on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and use the hashtag #BiketoWork2019

• Thursday, May 16 is a Slow Roll. Join this leisurely, approximately 90-minute ride on the Linear Park path. The ride starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Kool Family Community Center, 200 W. Michigan Ave.
• Wednesday, May 15 is the Ride of Silence, a worldwide event that honors those who have been injured or killed while riding bicycles. The city’s local ride will begin and end at Willard Beach Park, off George B Place. Please arrive at 6:30 p.m. The ride starts promptly at 7 p.m. The approximately 9-mile route travels through the Lakeview area.
• Saturday, May 18 is a Specialized Demo Day, hosted by Mike’s Team Active Bikes. Come to the Eagle Lake pavilion at the Fort Custer Recreation Area to try rides on a variety of bikes. Join the fun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone can test a bike, and there is no charge. Children under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present. Please have photo ID and a credit card to check in.

Along with these great events, neighbors and visitors will see the BCycles return to the racks at Kellogg Community College, Riverwalk Centre downtown, the Kool Family Community Center near downtown, and in Old Lakeview on Capital Avenue SW. Use a BCycle bike this month to attend Spring into the Arts, set for 3-9 p.m. Friday, May 24, along the Linear Park path downtown.