6th Annual RVA Bike Month launches April 27th!
RVA Bike Month presented by Bon Secours is back for the sixth year with a theme of ‘Bikes Mean Business’! We’ve got over 50 events coming up over the next five weeks, and all the event info is over on www.rvabikemonth.com!
Highlights of the calendar include the always-popular Pizza Crawl, Black Girls Do Bike’s kickoff ride, the Better Housing Coalition Tour, Sportable’s adaptive cycling rides, Massey Cancer Center’s Pedal Through Petals fundraising ride, and a variety of youth and family-focused focused rides like Parker’s Southside Kids Ride. Richmond Bike to Work Day, in celebration of National Bike to Work Day, will take place on May 17 and will feature a group ride to City Hall with Mayor Levar Stoney.
Bon Secours Partners with Bike Walk RVA in Third Year as Presenting Sponsor of RVA Bike Month
Bon Secours is partnering with Bike Walk RVA to serve as presenting sponsor of RVA Bike Month 2019, continuing their support for community health and active living initiatives throughout the region. The partnership highlights the shared belief of Bike Walk RVA and Bon Secours in the importance of safe, accessible, and connected bike and pedestrian infrastructure and its prominent role in advancing community health.
“During our 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment, residents across the Greater Metro Richmond Region clearly and emphatically told us that transportation is a crucial unmet social need. Our community also told us that lack of transportation is closely connected to their overall physical and financial health,” said Tyler Agee, Director of Community Development for Bon Secours Richmond Health System. “Given that resident voice is a driving factor in how we identify critical health needs and allocate resources to address these needs, we are continuing our valued partnership with Bike Walk RVA for a third year to advocate for tangible bike and pedestrian infrastructure enhancements that will advance the health and well-being of our community.”
RVA Bike Month Calendar Features Over 50 Events
2019’s calendar will also feature the second annual Bike Walk RVA Awards Ceremony, honoring individuals and groups for their year-round commitment to bike and pedestrian advocacy. The awards program is just one part of a calendar that features over 50 events for bike enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels. Running from April 27 through June 2, RVA Bike Month includes events taking place in the City of Richmond, Town of Ashland, and counties of Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover, reflecting the growth in support and popularity of increased bike and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the Richmond region.
Activities will include food and mural-themed rides, parent and kid rides, food tours, storytelling events, film screenings, fundraisers, history tours, and group bike commutes, as well as bigger festivals like Dominion Energy Riverrock, which takes place May 17-19 at Brown’s Island and Historic Tredegar.
2019 Theme: Bikes Mean Business
“Studies show that people who bike for transportation or recreation contribute significantly to the local economy, and this year’s RVA Bike Month theme, Bikes Mean Business, encourages riders to do just that!” said Brantley Tyndall, Director of Outreach for Bike Walk RVA. “This platform of 50+ regional events is a great opportunity for getting people to ride to restaurants, to local shops, and to work. Local businesses that have installed bike racks or are located on streets optimized for biking and walking are displaying their welcome signs for this group of customers and neighbors, something we will advocate for as we continue to promote safe places to bike and walk.”
RVA Bike Month hosted over 50 events and tracked over 4,000 participants in 2018, and it is expected to grow this year. For a full list of bike month events, and to see the Bike Month poster, check out the 2019 schedule at www.rvabikemonth.com.