With spring finally upon us and May flowers soon to come, BikeWalk Williamsburg is preparing to commemorate May is Bike Month with a variety of cycling events.
“It’s a great way to kick off the biking season. It’s a great way to socialize while you’re also getting some exercise,” said Ryan Bedell, a board member for BikeWalk Williamsburg. “We’re just hoping to get a bunch of people out on their bikes having fun.”
Pedal the Parkway on May 5 serves as the premiere event of Bike Month, offering the only opportunity of the year to experience the Colonial Parkway without any cars on the road. The event attracts around 1,000 people annually.
“There’s a lot of great people out there,” Bedell said. “It’s just a really lovely day out on the road.”
The Proclamation Ride kicks things off May 4, when a shuttle will transport riders to Richmond to see Gov. Ralph Northam declare May as Bike Month and then bike back to Williamsburg along the Virginia Capital Trail. Mayor Paul Freiling also leads a family-friendly ride around Williamsburg May 6.
Other events include Bike and a Movie, a ride culminating with a Williamsburg Library Theatre screening of “The Triplets of Belleville” May 14, and Bike to Work Day May 18. Also May 18 will be the Amber Ox Bike Celebration, featuring the debut of a brand new beer to celebrate the month, makes it Bike Month debut.
The events emphasize the fun and healthy nature of cycling, something Bedell hopes others can come to appreciate as much as he does.
“I love getting out in nature and experiencing the world really directly. You can really hear all the sounds going on; you can see all the things going on,” he said. “It’s a really multi-sensory way of moving through the world.”
Want to go?
All May is Bike Month events are free. Pedal the Parkway rides 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 5 on the Colonial Parkway, from Williamsburg’s Newport Avenue to Jamestown. For a complete schedule, visit bikewalkwilliamsburg.org.
Birkenmeyer can be reached by phone at 757-790-3029.
