East Lansing has become one of just 18 flagship cities nationwide promoting the benefits of cycling through the Life is a Cycle special bike event in mid-May.
My City Bikes included East Lansing in the group fitness event that will take place in metro-areas like Sacramento, California, Kansas City, Kansas, and Missoula, Montana. The beginner-friendly bike event will run throughout the month of May, which is National Bike Month.
The Life is a Cycle event will show community members where to bike commute as well as the need-to-know essentials for biking transportation. The East Lansing event is open to the public and starts at Patriarch Park at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 12. Registration is $1.50 before the ride and $5 on the ride day. Proceeds for the ride benefit the American Heart Association.
"We're hoping the Life is a Cycle event will educate people who don't feel comfortable riding their bike for commuting and to show we are a bike friendly community," says Heather Surface, City of East Lansing special events coordinator.
Life is a Cycle gives local residents the chance to bike on area streets, paths and trails in the safety of a group. Organizers say the hands-on experience and confidence gained from pedaling around town will make a lasting impact on the physical activities of participants.
The East Lansing ride distance will be seven miles. Organizers anticipate the event will attract up to 200 riders to take a guided ride up Abbot Road toward campus, down Kalamazoo and Farm Lane, and along the Lansing River Trail. Riders will also take a portion of the Northern Tier Trail in East Lansing. Led by trained, local ride leaders, the Life is a Cycle event acquaints beginner bike commuters with bike lanes, paths and shared-use road.
"With the university being so close to us, and a main mode of transportation on campus being biking and walking, it's really important for the city to support that," says Surface. "That support isn't simply having bike racks on the street corner, but is through giving people a safe space to ride to school."
The League of American Bicyclists recognized East Lansing as a bike friendly community in the fall 2016. The city was one of 26 new communities receiving recognition, and earned a bronze ranking.
The Life is a Cycle event is brought to the community by My City Bikes, KIND snacks, and the City of East Lasing. To register or for more information, click here.
Source: Heather Surface, Community Events Specialist, City of East Lansing
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor
Got a story idea for Capital Gains? Email Ann Kammerer here.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.