Celebrate Bike Month With A Community Ride

Summer’s coming in the Pacific Northwest, meaning it’s time to bring out the bicycle! And what better way to kick off the season than a community bike ride through beautiful downtown Beaverton with activities for the whole family? Hosted in partnership with the Beaverton Downtown Association, Beaverton Police Department and Trek Bicycle Beaverton, the annual Best Day Family Bike Ride takes place this year on Saturday, May 11, noon to 3 p.m. and it’s the perfect chance to celebrate Bike Month and enjoy an outdoor adventure with your friends and neighbors.

The BDA and its partners have been working hard to make biking in Beaverton easier and more accessible, installing two free bike repair stations and the newest addition, nine bike racks positioned throughout downtown. “It’s our goal to show people it’s safe to bike downtown,” says BDA Chair Kirsten Agard. “There’s infrastructure in place.”

The schedule for the day promises a full lineup of fun, starting with license plate decorating at noon before the 1.5-mile bike ride begins at Trek Bikes. The ride will travel along a pre-planned route through downtown Beaverton with stops along the way for participants to check out the new bike racks and stop at the bike repair stations for a safety and repair demo put on by Trek Bicycle, including demonstrations on how to fix a flat tire/pump up a flat. Joining the ride for security will be safety leaders and bicycle officers from the Beaverton Police Department; they’ll provide education on riding safely and show how to lock a bike to the racks properly to prevent theft.

This year, the family bike ride concludes at the Beaverton Farmers Market for an all-ages post-ride party featuring activities for kids, lawn games, free cookies from Carina’s Bakery for the first 100 guests, and a chance to win some fantastic raffle prizes donated by market vendors. A bike corral with event volunteers will be available to valet bicycles while people enjoy the celebration.

The BDA has been actively creating fun opportunities and convenient ways for people to explore downtown. “In any downtown area, parking can be a challenge, but with the new bike racks people can likely find a place to park their bike near the business they’re visiting,” Kirsten says. “Alternative transportation is something we all need to be thinking about. This is a great way to show people it’s possible.”

So round up the kids and bring the whole crowd to this fabulous family-friendly event! All participants are required to wear helmets and are encouraged to bring a water bottle and weather-appropriate items.

The link for registration is available at downtownbeaverton.org/event/annual-best-day-family-bike-bike-ride. The Beaverton Downtown Association is asking for $1 donation per person for the bike ride and a $5 donation to use the hosted bike corral at the after party.