May is National Bike Month, a month dedicated to encouraging more people to get out and ride their bikes for fun and fitness while promoting safe streets.
Participation can be as simple as riding your bike around your neighborhood, commuting to work or school, and joining organized events. Many communities, like Canarsie, host group rides, bike expos and advocacy events. About 25 neighborhood kids and their parents participated in a Community Bike Ride on Sunday, May 31st, an absolutely picture-perfect, sunny and warm day for a bike ride.
Community Board 18’s (CB18) Park Committee organized the event, with the assistance of Millennium Development. The group met in the schoolyard of P.S. 276, located at 1070 East 83rd Street, at 8:30 a.m. for a 9:30 a.m. departure time.
Dwayne from Kings Cycling graciously provided free bike checks for all the riders, and representatives from the DOT provided resources and free bike helmets.
After a group shot, and a briefing about biker safety by Paul Curiale, chairperson of the CB18 Parks Committee and executive director of Millennium, bikers of all ages, on every sort of bicycle, made their way along Avenue K – via a police escort by the 69th Precinct – to the bike path along Paerdegat Avenue North. Riders continued to Canarsie Park, where they rode along the greenway, under the Belt Parkway, to the Canarsie Pier, where the bikers were treated to snacks and refreshments.
After a few group photos at the pier, the bikers rode back to P.S. 276, where some of the kids got their faces painted.
Everyone who participated in the event said they had a great time and are looking forward to future community bike rides!
The event was supported by State Senator Roxanne Persaud, Assemblywoman Jaime Williams and Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse.
