Bike Santa Cruz County is a local organization based in Santa Cruz County that aims to promote cycling and provide infrastructure to support it. With the abundance of trails in the county, it’s no wonder that people of all ages are drawn to the activity. Recently, the organization has expanded its efforts into South County with community bike rides.

Benefits of Cycling

1. Bike Santa Cruz County emphasizes the benefits of cycling, which include:
2. Improvements to physical and mental health
3. Environmental benefits
4. Building community

According to Jon Silver, vice chair of the Bike Santa Cruz County Board of Directors, the community bike rides are part of the organization’s efforts to promote cycling and increase infrastructure and road safety.

“We have a number of projects going, and this is part of the work to expand into South County and be more representative in Watsonville,”

said Silver.

The First Community Bike Ride

The first community bike ride is scheduled for Sunday, where attendees will be able to experience the thrill of cycling while mingling with community members and local elected officials.

Jon Silver said the community bike rides will emphasize bike safety and promote the benefits of cycling. “There will be a brief talk about safe riding techniques,” said Silver. “We’ll talk a little bit about the benefits of cycling.”
In addition to bike safety tips, the event will also provide giveaways of crucial items like lights and helmets. “We’re pretty excited about being able to get a couple more bikes on the road,” said Silver. Community Bike Collective will be donating two bikes, one geared towards adults and another sized for youth, and each rider will receive a raffle ticket to win these bikes.

“We’re pretty excited about being able to get a couple more bikes on the road,”

said Silver. Cyclists will not have to worry about riding on empty stomachs, as free burritos from a local taqueria will be provided, along with free refreshments.

Environmental and Community Benefits

Silver highlighted the environmental and community benefits of cycling. “It helps us combat climate change by just getting people out on their bicycles more and their cars less, therefore contributing to reducing carbon emissions in the air,” said Silver. “When people go out in groups and ride together, they explore the local environment and community, and they also talk and interact with diverse people of different generations and ages and backgrounds,” said Silver. The benefits of cycling include improvements to physical and mental health, environmental benefits, and building community.

Key Details

The first community bike ride begins at 11 a.m. Sunday at the East Lake Village Shopping Center, 936 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville. People are encouraged to bring their own bikes, but a limited number of bikes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

What to Expect

People will be able to experience the thrill of cycling while mingling with community members and local elected officials. The event will feature bike safety tips, giveaways, and free refreshments. According to Silver, the event is an opportunity for people to explore the local environment and community while fostering community connections. The event is free and open to the public, and participants are encouraged to RSVP in advance. For more information, visit the Bike Santa Cruz County website or contact the organization directly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bike Santa Cruz County is promoting biking in Watsonville with community rides, emphasizing the benefits of cycling and increasing infrastructure and road safety. The first community bike ride is scheduled for Sunday, and it promises to be an exciting event with bike safety tips, giveaways, and free refreshments. By attending the event, participants will be able to experience the thrill of cycling while fostering community connections and promoting environmental sustainability.