It's Bike Month

"Active transportation" is transportation planner talk for biking, walking, rollerblading, or any form of locomotion that is self-powered. In May, we are celebrating the active and fun transportation available on a bicycle.

Northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan are flat which makes for easy cycling. There are more and more connected bike paths that are separated from roads, and more roads that include bike lanes. Bicycles can be an efficient commuting vehicle in our region. Try it this month. There are several opportunities to fix up your bike, to ride in a group, and to practice your road skills.

Every Sunday in May, the staff at Toledo Bikes! will host a seminar at their shop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The first three are basic operations and maintenance. The last Sunday, May 28, is a road practice to help cyclists learn to ride in traffic safely and confidently. It will cover signaling, laws, and best practices. Toledo Bikes! Is a bike co-op at 1114 Washington St., Toledo, 419.386.6090.

Sunday, May 7                 Workshop: Air & Tires

Sunday, May 14               Workshop: Brakes

Sunday, May 21               Workshop: Cables and Shifting

Sunday, May 28               Commute by Bike- Road Practice. Ride starts at the shop at 1114 Washington and will go to the Middlegrounds Metropark. Bring a helmet.

OTHER EVENTS

 Wednesday, May 10       Bike to School Day. Dozens of elementary schools are participating. 

Wednesday, May 17        Ride of Silence, 6:30 p.m., hundreds of riders on city streets with police escort. Police will block intersections to protect riders.

·         Toledo – start at the University of Toledo. See the map: https://wearetraffic.org/ride-of-silence-toledo

·         Bowling Green – start at City Park

Friday, May 19                Bike to Work Day. This is a national event. Locally, employees of the City of Oregon will be riding in to work that morning, arriving at the Municipal Building at about 8 a.m.

Saturday, May 20            Bike Day at the Toledo Farmers Market. Toledo Bikes! will be on hand to help with repairs. See Art Bikes from Detroit’s slow roll. Bike riders can collect a 2017 Bike Month t-shirt, while supplies last.

                                         Outdoor Expo, Side Cut Metropark, presented by Metroparks of the Toledo Area and including area bike clubs.

Sunday, May 21               Toledo Roll Community Bike Ride, start at Walbridge Park, 4 p.m.

Sunday, May 28               Sylvania Slow Ryders  4^th Sunday at 4 Ride. Starts at Sylvania Branch Library at 4 p.m.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

TARTA has a reduced bus fare (25 cents) for anyone using the bike rack Monday, May 15 through Sunday, May 21.

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org