National Bike Month returns to Merced

May is National Bike Month, and Merced’s bike advocates are starting the celebration of cycling early.

The Director’s Ride will return for its second version from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday on bike lanes and paths throughout the city. Registration begins at 9 a.m. outside of Merced Theatre, 301 W. Main St.

David Gonzalves, the city’s director of development services, and Principal Planner Bill King head up the more than 7-mile ride that snakes its way to Rahilly Park, where riders make a pit stop before heading back to the start.

King said he’s been a cyclist most of his life. “It’s fun, it’s healthy,” he said. “It’s a great way to get around town.”

The ride is free and open to anyone with a bike and helmet, but training wheels are discouraged. Other city employees and bike planners take part, and have encouraged the public to give input on what they’d like to see for cyclists in Merced.

Bike planners also are beginning an outreach effort to gather public input for the Active Transportation and Safe Routes to School Plan, which incorporates the city’s past planning while putting an emphasis on designing safer routes to school, King said.

The city received a $127,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation to pay for the efforts related to the plan, which covers pathways for cyclists and pedestrians.

Merced has about 67 miles of bike paths and lanes, and the 2013 Bicycle Transportation Plan is expected to double that.

Lisa Kayser-Grant, a member of the Merced Bicycle Coalition, said planning around bike paths and lanes is important to many people in town.

“Because there are so many people for whom a bicycle is the only source of transportation, it is a matter of fairness and equity to provide safe, comfortable and efficient ways to travel by bike, as well as secure parking at destinations,” she said.

To draw people to the Director’s Ride, organizers also offer a free raffle of locks, reflectors, lights and other bike-related prizes at the end of the event.

Here are some cycling events in May:

All-Merced Road Ride

The seventh annual All-Merced Road Ride for more experienced riders features three distance options on routes that are local favorites, according to cycling aficionados.

Helmets are required and anyone under 18 must ride with an adult or have adult-signed permission. There are two free pit stops and routes are marked for the 13-mile, 28-mile and 47-mile rides.

Registration is at 8 a.m. and pedals start spinning at 9 a.m. May 1 at Kevin’s Bikes, 60 W. Olive Ave. Cyclists also can register at www.mercedbicyclecoalition.org.

Bike to Work and School Day

People are asked to try to go without a car and join the two-wheel crowd for at least one day during Bike to Work and School Day on May 5.

Five so-called “energizer stations” are planned around town at different times to offer free food, drinks, T-shirts and goodies to bicycling commuters.

For times and locations for the stations, go to www.mercedbicyclecoalition.org.

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 5:34 PM with the headline "National Bike Month returns to Merced."