On Saturday, May 19, 2018, beginning at 9 a.m., the Mayors of the City of Portage and the City of Kalamazoo will lead an 8-mile bike ride to commemorate Kalamazoo Bike Week. Kalamazoo Bike Week runs from May 12 – 19, 2018. Visit www.kalamazoobikeweek.com to view the route map and many other events scheduled during the week to celebrate cycling.
Kalamazoo Bike Week was initiated in 2012 as a way to raise cycling awareness, promote the use of cycling as a means of transportation and explore the possibilities cycling has to offer. Organizers aim to celebrate bicycling and the many benefits bicycling brings to the Kalamazoo / Portage community and to promote cycling advocacy, awareness and education.
Portage Mayor Patricia M. Randall and Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell will celebrate the area’s commitment to the joys of bicycling by participating in this fun event. “I am excited to showcase some of the 56-mile Portage Bikeway during this ride,” said Mayor Randall. “We are so pleased to partner with the City of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo Bike Week to promote cycling in our communities and across the region.”
Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby J. Hopewell encourages everyone to join the Mayors’ City-to-City Ride. “Bike week is an excellent opportunity for our two communities to celebrate and experience the benefits of bicycling,” said Hopewell. “It contributes to an active, healthy lifestyle, it’s a low cost way to commute, it helps reduce our impact on the environment and it reduces traffic congestion and the need for parking. We are excited to continue working with our neighbors in Portage to increase the non-motorized connections between our communities and the surrounding regions.”
This ride on the final day of Kalamazoo Bike Week will start at the Bicentennial Park in Portage and will highlight portions of the planned inter-jurisdictional Southwest Michigan Bikeway, the Portage trail and bike lane system, bike lanes and routes in Kalamazoo and a scenic overlook of the proposed Kalamazoo-Portage trail connection along Portage Creek. View the Mayor’s City-to-City Ride route map. "The ride is a great way to experience many types of bicycling amenities in our community and interact with the Mayors on a casual, easy-paced ride." said Paul Selden, ride organizer.
Participants will be asked to sign a release form and be required to wear a helmet. While a good portion of the route is made up of off-road trails or pathways, some of the route uses paved shoulder bicycle lanes adjacent to city streets and may not be suitable for young children. In the event of inclement weather, please refer to the Kalamazoo Bike Week inclement weather policy.