November Newsletter
Hi Bike Folks !
We’ve got some exciting things happening:
Our Velo de los Muertos ride was a huge success! We had perfect weather and were able to enjoy a beautiful, social distance-compatible ride. We thank everyone who came out!
Infrastructure update: The city/parish will be installing a crossing at Perkins Road Park, at the intersection of Perkins Rd and One Perkins Place (by the Velodrome). This is a key piece of connectivity for this part of the city. This is in no small part to the letters and email of support from members like you who petitioned the city/parish to create a crossing here after our ride to celebrate the new bridge over Ward Creek by the Oschner facility. Just goes to show… public participation works!
We’re bringing back our Bike Selfie Scavenger Hunt! It will be 11/15 at 10:00. Event details are here. You do need a Facebook or Instagram account to participate. We will post the list of clues right before the event start time. The first to photograph his/her bike next to all the answers to the clues will win a prize! There will also be a prize for best pic.
Our Cranksgiving ride cannot be held as it usually is due to permits not being issued for large gatherings this year, due to covid19. However, we will be holding ours virtually! On the weekend prior to Thanksgiving (11/20 - 11/22), if you’d like, you can ride the Grocery Loop, starting from the City Park croquet court. Pick up canned goods from each local grocer - canned vegetables, mac n cheese, peanut better, soups and something especially for Thanksgiving like cranberry sauce or sweet potato pie filling. You can drop them off at the BetR or at Calandro’s. Post pics to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook by tagging @bikebatonrouge and with #Cranksgiving. You can use the Facebook event to coordinate small groups so you can enjoy the ride together while remaining socially distant.
PLEASE donate to our fundraiser if you’re able. While the Food Bank appreciates food donations, what they really need is money. (100% of this money is going to the Food Bank)
5. LIGHT THE NIGHT - we are thrilled to announce that we’ve received a generous grant from the Albemarle Corporation that will help us purchase and distribute hundreds of bike light sets to people around the community, helping them to be seen and to be safe. If you’d like to help distribute lights or just want to learn more about this program, email us.
6. RIDES!! - For those who may not know, here are some regular group rides. These are a great way to learn your way around the city and make new friends.
Capital Heights Social Ride - meets every Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the corner of Capital Heights and Glenmore Ave. This is an easy-paced ride that rolls all year, rain or shine. Bring lights and a lock, as sometimes people from the group will get a meal or an adult beverage after the ride.
Downtown East Social Ride - meets every Monday at 6:00 PM at Electric Depot. This one is usually historically themed and will feature the unique history of different buildings, streets, historical sites, etc of the Downtown East and surrounding neighborhoods. Also, bring lights and a lock.
Baker Buffalo Cruisers - our neighbors to the North have started a new ride in Baker on Sundays. The next rides are this Sunday, 11/8 and will be in honor of Veterans Day, one at 7:30 AM and the other at 5:30 PM, both meeting at Greenbriary Elementary School, 12203 Canterbury Drive.
Multiple Sclerosis Benefit Bike Ride (and plate sale) - This ride to benefit those fighting MS will be Saturday, November 14 at 3:00 PM at 23888 Plank Rd, Zachary, LA 70791-6428.
Geaux Ride - weekly “glow bike” tours from Downtown Baton Rouge. Rides every Thursday evening and other times as well. Check out their storefront at 521 N. 3rd Street.
We will be hosting an Ugly Holiday Sweater ride and a Levee Top Path ribbon cutting ride as well which we’ll let everyone know about once the details are confirmed. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for updates.
7. MEMBERSHIP - If you’re not a member and want to join or if you were a member in the past and want to re-join, you can do so here. The more members we have, the louder our voice and the more we can help influence public policy and infrastructure planning so that Baton Rouge becomes a better and safer place to ride a bike. Remember, any Bike BR merch purchase in 2020 also comes with a year’s membership, a Bike BR sticker and a free set of blinking front/rear lights! BTW, we have new shirts and new hoodies!
8. MOVEBR - Much of the new bike and pedestrian infrastructure we’ll see over the next two decades will be part of the MOVEBR program. We are proud to have helped create the typical, ideal street design guidelines which incorporate Complete Streets principles. But what will matter most is that our people show up to the public meetings the city/parish will host during the design/planning phase of each MOVEBR project to demand accommodations for those who walk and bike. Please click the button below and sign up to receive email updates about new projects and public meetings.
That’s all for now! Thanks for helping to support Bike Baton Rouge in our mission to make Baton Rouge a better place to ride.
#YeahBike!!
