Join the newly formed Aiken Bicycle Advocacy group under the oaks for a Rock ‘n Ride #connectAiken mini-event #downonPark this Sunday afternoon!
Bring your whole family to enjoy live music, a food truck, fun cycling events, and networking from 2:00pm – 5:00pm. There is a Most Adorable Bicycle contest with prizes for children. There will be a safe family ride along Colleton Avenue and a slightly more agressive but short ride along a Rudy Mason Parkway route. Both the family ride and group ride for adults start at 2:30. Anybody’s Guess Trio will entertain us beginning at 3:00pm.
We encourage you to get in the spirit of the Rock ‘n Ride theme by wearing your favorite band t-shirt! Bring your own Chair and Beverage. See more event details here on the Aiken City Limits Music Festival facebook page event.
Of course, you don’t have to bring a bicycle! You can just come hang out with some awesome new friends and listen to music – hopefully with some cooler temperatures!
Pedego Electric Bikes Aiken is offering electric bike rentals for $25 an hour if you want to use that new service in Aiken. Please call them ahead at (803) 226-9007 if you would like to reserve an electric bike. They will also have test bikes for you to check out, FOR FREE, during the event!
There is a $10 Aiken City Limits Mini-Event Cover Charge to help share the band cost. Music isn’t free – someone pays! We are not a non-profit, just a group of locals interested in helping with economic development in Aiken and having enough knowledge to know when it matters to show up to advocate for our common goals. Tickets are available at Pedego, Bravefriend Apparel, Material Things, at the gate, and on-line via the Event link.
Aiken Bicycle Advocacy Group leaders will have some information to share about new initiatives in Aiken and about the Complete Streets initiatives at the State House. The Aiken Bicycle Advocacy group was formed so we have better communications and are equipped with informed information when pedestrian and bicycle route topics are on agendas. A letter to the editor from the group’s co-founder, Alan Clark, explains some of the recent initiatives and how this group will be beneficial for helping #connect all of our neighborhoods in the future.
City is looking to the futureThe Aiken City Council is looking forward and taking steps to make our city an even better place to live. At the Aug. 12 council meeting, the topic of establishing a comprehensive system of bike routes connecting our schools, parks, the downtown and many other points of interest was on the agenda. Five residents spoke in favor of the proposal. The council listened carefully, and after some discussion all attending Council members and the mayor voted to pass the item.This illustrates the commitment the council has to improving our city. Businesses benefit from cities that have a plan that enables people to get to their storefronts by bike. Those people spend money. Those citizens who need or want to ride a bike to get to work benefit from a bicycle-friendly city, as does the city itself through higher employment rates. Real estate values are higher where bike routes are convenient. The population is healthier and health care costs go down for healthy people.Study after study has proven that a city that is friendly to bicycles is friendly to its citizens. A bicycle-friendly community has a vibrant downtown. A city that welcomes bikes welcomes families.Thank you to the council and the mayor for supporting the proposal.ALAN CLARKCo-founder, Aiken Bicycle Advocacy.