Five Rivers MetroParks invites the community to celebrate National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20, during its annual Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast at RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave.
From 7 to 9 a.m., hundreds of cycling enthusiasts will gather to enjoy a free, flying pancake breakfast, coffee, live music, cycling-related exhibitors, a photo booth and more during this celebration of human-powered transportation.
New for 2022, business organizations, community groups and individuals are encouraged to enter the Bike to Work Day Challenge prior to the event for a chance to win prizes.
Prizes will be awarded to the team with the most riders and the team that covers the most collective miles ridden the morning of the event. Individuals can pre-register for a chance to win prizes for most miles ridden the morning of the event. Two random drawings for prizes will be awarded to one team and one individual rider as well.
Prizes include Mike’s Bike Park passes, a Pedal Wagon gift certificate, MetroParks Mountain Biking Area (MoMBA) bike rentals , an Osprey backpack and Klean Kanteen water bottles.
The first 500 cyclists to pre-register their ride and check in at the Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast will receive a free gift from Five Rivers MetroParks.
For those who don’t want to ride a considerable distance, participants are welcome to park their cars at a trail access area and ride to RiverScape from a closer starting point.
“We’re so excited for the return of the Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast at RiverScape MetroPark,” said MetroParks special events coordinator Angela York. “It’s a special day to celebrate cycling as a form of transportation that cultivates a healthy, more sustainable lifestyle. It’s also a great occasion to highlight the region’s more than 350 miles of paved recreation trails — the nation’s largest paved trail network.”
In 2019 — the last time the event was held in-person due to the pandemic — cyclists biked 6,324 miles, saving 257 gallons of gas. Of the 432 registered riders who attended, 25% biked to work for the first time.
The past two years, the National Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast was replaced with a Virtual Bike Month celebration that provided the public with suggested cycling routes, tips, points-of-interest along the region’s trails and more. Leading up to Bike to Work Day, the public can access MetroParks’ virtual resources on MetroParks’ Get Out & Live Outdoor Recreation Facebook page, Bike Month Facebook group , YouTube channel and at www.metroparks.org/bike-month.
Bike to Work Day is presented by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission with additional sponsorship from the City of Dayton Water Division, Winans Coffee and Chocolates, Woolpert, Mike’s Bike Park, Dayton Cycling Club, LJB and Pedal Wagon Dayton.
ABOUT FIVE RIVERS METROPARKS
Celebrating nearly 60 years of preserving green space and natural areas, Five Rivers MetroParks is a nationally renowned park system composed of natural area parks, gardens, high-quality river corridors, urban parks and a network of recreation trails. Five Rivers MetroParks protects the region’s natural heritage and provides outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature. Educational programs and recreational and volunteer opportunities are offered year-round for all ages. Five Rivers MetroParks is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. To learn more about Five Rivers MetroParks and its philanthropic Foundation, log onto www.metroparks.org or call 937-275-PARK (7275).