UM Observes Bike Month Throughout May

May is National Bike Month. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

The University of Mississippi has joined communities across the nation to celebrate National Bike Month and encourage people to get out and pedal throughout the month of May.

The month’s activities include group bike rides for all-level cyclists as well as educational workshops focused on bicycle maintenance and safety. As part of Bike Month, the university will also be competing in the National Bike Challenge, which encourages individuals to set cycling goals, log their miles biked and compete for new bicycles and other prizes.

“An event like Bike Month is so important for communities like ours where the biking community is growing,” said Grace Sullivan, a junior social work major from Madison, and a member of the Active Transportation Advisory Committee. “It will not only be educational for nonbikers who are interested in getting into it, but it will help bring together cyclists in the community who might need a network to share tips, go on rides and the like.”

National Bike Month began in 1956, when the League of American Bicyclists created the event to promote cycling as a healthy and sustainable alternative for travel. The events planned for this month’s celebration will focus on bicycle education and promotion. The events are for individuals of all skill levels, from newbies to experts.

“May is the perfect time to try out riding around town by bike because the weather is nice and the car traffic eases,” said Anne McCauley, assistant director in the UM Office of Sustainability. “One purpose of Bike Month is to encourage community members to try it out.

“If you have ever had a complaint about driving, parking or traffic, then you must give riding a bike a chance. It’s fun, it’s inexpensive and good for you.”

The Ole Miss Bike Shop will host Maintenance Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m. each Monday in May at the bike shop. During the sessions, a professional bicycle mechanic will teach bike repair and maintenance. Participants may bring their bicycles to the workshops.

The university sponsored two Pedal and Picnic group rides May 10 and 17, when groups met at the Lyceum and rode to a free picnic at Lamar Park.

Similarly, May 24 and 31 will be Bike to Lunch days. Groups will meet at noon in front of the Lyceum to travel to a lunch destination. Discounts at select restaurants may be offered to cyclists.

Students, faculty and staff are also encouraged to register for the National Bike Challenge to log their rides throughout May. Participants can sign up online to record biked miles, contribute to the university’s total miles and compete for individual prizes.

Participants must add “University of Mississippi” to their “groups” tab on the website after registering to ensure that rides will be counted.

The Bike Month celebration is part of an ongoing effort to foster a bicycle-friendly environment on campus and in Oxford. Last November, UM received a nod from the League of American Bicyclists for its efforts, when campus was designated as a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly University.

The month’s activities are supported by several groups across campus, including the Office of Sustainability, the Ole Miss Bike Shop, Active Transportation Advisory Committee and the Ole Miss Cycling Club.

To keep up with the Bike Month schedule and event updates, follow the Ole Miss Green Initiative and the Ole Miss Cycling Club on Facebook. To learn more, visit http://green.olemiss.edu/.

By Joseph Scott