The events taking place during Kalamazoo Bike Week provide a great opportunity to celebrate Bike Month
If you are in the Kalamazoo area, this week is Kalamazoo Bike Week! This is just one of a number of events taking place across Michigan in honor of Bike Month.
The goal of Kalamazoo Bike Week is to raise awareness and promote bicycling as a viable means of transportation, to explore the myriad of benefits cycling has to offer. It began as an initiative 
between the Parks Foundation, Discover Kalamazoo, Downtown Kalamazoo, Inc., local area bike shops, and cycling enthusiasts, and has grown to include an impressive number of sponsors and supporters.
Kalamazoo Bike Week events commenced this past Saturday, May 9 with the free Mayors’ City to City Ride. Starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Portage Creek Bicentennial Park Trail, the mayors of both Portage and Kalamazoo rode from Portage to Kalamazoo.
Some of the other events taking place during the 2015 Kalamazoo Bike Week include:
- Kalamazoo Bicycle Film Festival: May 12, 2015, 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm at Bell’s Eccentric Café; The 6th annual Kalamazoo Bicycle Film Festival features a collection of short films celebrating cycling and cycling culture.
- City of Kalamazoo Update to Pedestrian Master Plan & 1998 Non-Motorized Plan: Kalamazoo is updating both its Pedestrian Master Plan and its 1998 Non-Motorized Plan from May 13- 16, and the public has the opportunity to provide their input.
- Bike Friendly Kalamazoo Public Meeting: May 13, 2015 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm at KRESA; This is a public meeting where those gathered will have the opportunity to learn about how local institutions plan to integrate cycling into economic development and place-making efforts. The goal of the meeting is to “help local leaders and stakeholders, as well as the general public, gain a better understanding of how bike-friendly facilities relate to local efforts to elevate the region’s stature as a great place to live, work and play.”
- Ride of Silence Tribute: May 13, 2015 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm; This is a tribute ride held the week before the National Ride of Silence on May 20, 2015. The purpose of this bike ride is to pay tribute to cyclists who have been injured or killed while riding on public highways. Participants are asked to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, obey the rules of the road, and remain silent.
- Ride to Work Critical Mass Ride: May 15, 2015, from 5:01 – 6:01 pm; This is a Critical Mass Ride with Bronson Healthcare’s Bike to Work group. The goal of these rides, typically held on the last Friday of each month, is to raise awareness of the fact that bicyclists and motorists can share the road.
- Third Annual Family Bike Fest: May 16, 2015 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm; The “Spring into Summer Family Bike Fest” brings everyone in the community together to wrap up Kalamazoo Bike Week. Attendees are not required to bring their bikes, but are strongly encouraged to do so. This is a free event, with a group ride, games, activities, and prizes for both children and adults. Registration begins at 9:45 a.m.
There are a number of worthwhile events happening during Kalamazoo Bike Week this year. If you are in the area, consider participating – there is something for everyone!
