Healthy Communities has declared May as “bike month” in Columbus and is offering a month-long selection of activities to celebrate bike riding, from encouraging students to bike to school to a Handlebar Happy Hour for adults.
The month will begin with a ColumBIKE demonstration at The Commons bike share station from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Those who stop by The Commons, 300 Washington St., may try the bike-sharing system for free, weather-permitting.
A Full Moon Bike Ride is planned Friday, with participants invited to meet at sunset (8:45 p.m.) at Fourth and Washington streets for a ride. Bike lights and helmets are required and registration is not needed.
Handlebar Happy Hour is 6 to 8 p.m. May 11 and will be at the Upland Columbus Pump House, 148 Lindsey St. Information about the Columbus Bike Co-op, 1531 13th St., will be available. Free appetizers, a cash bar and live music by Bigfoot Yancey is planned.
A Public Art Bike Ride is scheduled for May 13, organized by Landmark Columbus in partnership with Healthy Communities and as part of National Preservation Month. The casual, social ride, which begins at 1 p.m. at the Bartholomew County Public Library plaza, 536 Fifth St. in Columbus, will explore public art locations at a leisurely pace.
Residents can participate in the Bike to Work with the Mayor event May 19, joining Mayor Jim Lienhoop who will ride from North Christian Church to Columbus City Hall. Members of the Cummins Inc. leadership team will ride from the west side of town into downtown and other community leaders will lead bike riders from other locations, including Blackwell Park/Parkside area and the Haw Creek Trail. Riders should meet at the locations at 7:10 a.m. to ride together.
A light breakfast will be provided by the city of Columbus to bicyclists from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Cummins Irwin Conference Center Plaza on Fifth Street after the Bike to Work rides.
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Here is a list of events planned for Columbus Bike Month:
Tuesday: ColumBIKE demonstration ride, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Commons, 300 Washington St., Columbus. Try a free ColumBIKE bike-share bicycle ride, weather permitting
Friday: Full-Moon Bike Ride, meet at 8:45 p.m. at Fourth and Washington streets in downtown Columbus, bike lights and helmets required, free and no registration is required.
May 9: Latino Night at the Columbus Bike Co-op, 1531 13th St., 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
May 10: Bike to School Day, with the parents invited to ride along, and Discover Columbus Bike Co-op event, with Engage Columbus providing a tour of the Columbus Bike Co-op, 1531 13th St., and a demonstration on bicycle maintenance from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
May 11: Handlebar Happy Hour, 6 to 8 p.m. at Upland Columbus Pump House, 148 Lindsey St., live music, free appetizers and cash bar.
May 13: Public Art Bike Ride, 1 p.m., meet at the Bartholomew County Library Plaza, 536 Fifth St., Columbus, at 1 p.m.
May 15: People Trail Cleanup, 5:30 to 7 p.m., meet on the trail north of 25th Street near National Road to clean up the trail between 25th Street and Rocky Ford Road.
May 16: Bike to the Brewery, Columbus Women’s Ride to 450 North Brewing Co., 8111 E. County Road 450N, for age 21 and older, not just for women, departs from Hamilton Community Center & Ice Arena, 2501 Lincoln Park drive, at 6 p.m.
May 18: People Trail Cleanup, 6:15 to 8 p.m., meet at the Noblitt Park trailhead to clean the trail through Noblitt and Mill Race parks.
May 19: Bike to Work with the Mayor, join Mayor Jim Lienhoop and other community leaders who are riding from various areas around town to downtown, where a breakfast will be offered at the Cummins Irwin Conference Center Plaza on Fifth Street. Bikes leave at 7:15 a.m. from the Papa’s Grill parking lot, 3780 W. Jonathan Moore Pike; Blackwell Park; North Christian Church, 850 Tipton Lane; the Haw Creek trail (30th Street and Griffa Avenue) and the Roby and America Anderson Community Center, 421 McClure Road.
May 20: Tour de Trails, participate in the 20k, 50k or 80k bike rides that begin on Fifth Street, in support of the Columbus Park Foundation.
May 22: Bike Themed Wine and Canvas, ride over to Columbus Tri-State Artisans to create a mixed media bicycle canvas, bring your own beverage, 6:30 p.m., register at events.tsartisans.com/columbus.
May 23: Green Drinks, the Energy Matters Community Coalition has a bicycle-themed presentation and free appetizers, 6 to 8 p.m., downtown location to be determined, visit energymatterscolumbus.org.
May 26: Fixed Gear Friday, bicycle ride through Columbus’ parks, leaving the Bicycle Station, 1201 Washington St., at 6:15 p.m.
May 31: Wednesday Night Downtown Road Bikers Ride, 10 mile or 25 mile ride starting and ending at Upland Columbus Pump House, 148 Lindsey St., with marked routes, for information, including times, visit the group’s Facebook Page under Wednesday Night Downtown Road Bikers Ride.
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