Staff Reports
Healthy Communities has designated May as Bike Month in Columbus, and has planned a month’s worth of activities to enjoy on a bicycle.
Activities begin Tuesday with Handlebar Happy Hour at Upland Columbus Pumphouse from 6 to 8 p.m. Energy Matters and Healthy Communities is inviting bicyclists to socialize and learn more about the city’s bicycle and pedestrian projects. Free appetizers and a cash bar will be offered.
The Smile More Bike Ride will be May 10. This event celebrates Bike Month and Mental Health Month. The 6 p.m. ride is casual and social with riders invited to take to the People Trails for an excursion. Mental health screenings will be offered before or after the ride. The event starts at The Commons, 300 Washington St.
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Bike to Work with the Mayor has joined with Cummins Bike to Work Day and is set for May 16. Mayor Jim Lienhoop will ride from North Christian Church to downtown while Cummins, Inc. leaders will ride from the west side of Columbus to downtown. Other community leaders are planning groups to ride from other parts of the city.
Groups should meet at 7:10 a.m. and will leave the following locations at 7:15 a.m.:
Westside — Papa’s Grill parking lot
Blackwell Park/Parkside area — meet west of the soccer field
North Christian Church — meet at Tipton Lane entrance drive
The Haw Creek Trail — meet at 30th Street and Griffa
America and Roby Anderson Community Center, 421 McClure Road
A light breakfast and coffee or tea will be provided by the city to bicyclists from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Cummins Irwin Conference Center Plaza on Fifth Street.
Columbus Bike Co-op is offering free safety checks on bikes all month. The co-op, at 1531 13th St., is open 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays and 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Visit bikeco-op.org.
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The following is a full list of Bike Month events in Columbus.
- Tuesday: Handlebar Happy Hour, 6:30 p.m. Upland Columbus Pump House
- Saturday: Columbus BMX First Race, all ages and skill levels welcome, registration 5:30 to 7 p.m., visit columbusbmx.com/schedule for location and more information.
- Sunday: Safe Kids Day, visit kidcommons downtown free from 1 to 5 p.m., sponsored by Dorel Juvenile Group and Safe Kids Bartholomew County.
- May 9: Walk and Bike to School Day: Contact your school to determine participation.
- May 10: Smile More Bike Ride: 6 p.m., meet at The Commons, 300 Washington St., bike riding and mental health screenings.
- May 12: Tour De Trails Bicycle Challenge: Participate in 20k, 50k or 80k rides starting at the Donner Park shelterhouse, registration at 8 a.m., event at 9 a.m., visit columbusparkfoundation.org.
- May 14: Latino Night at the Bike Coop: Volunteers who speak Spanish are available to help from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
- May 15-19: Bike to Work Week.
- May 16: Bike to Work with the Mayor beginning at 7:15 a.m., breakfast offered downtown from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
- May 22: Bike to the Brewery: Columbus Women’s Ride to 450 North for a tour and tasting, age 21 and older, departs from Hamilton Center at 6 p.m.
- May 23: Wednesday Night Downtown Road Bikers Ride: Join the Bicycle Station and Wednesday Night Downtown Road Bikers for a 10-mile or 25-mile bike ride starting at Donner Park Shelter at 6 p.m. Routes are marked and all skill levels welcomed. Pitch-in dinner afterwards with main dish provided by Bicycle Station.
- May 25: Full Moon Ride: Meet at Fourth and Washington streets for a moonlight ride on the People Trail. Bring a helmet and lights. Ride starts at 9:01 p.m.
- May 25: ‘I’m Safe on My Bike’ Storytime: Kids ages 4 to 7 are invited to the Bartholomew County Library for a storytime and craft about bike safety. Safe Kids Bartholomew County will give away bicycle safety activity books. Visit mybcpl.org.
- May 29: Bike Smart Storytime: Kids ages 8 to 12 are invited to the Bartholomew County Library for a storytime and craft about bike safety. Safe Kids Bartholomew County will give away bicycle safety activity books. Visit mybcpl.org.
- May 30: Haw Creek Bridge Ride: Ride over this new section of the People Trail with the engineers who helped design and install the new bridge. Engineers from Strand Associates Inc. will lead the ride at 6 p.m. starting from the south parking lot of city hall.
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