While Grand Rapids is the subject of a growing number of lists that will either be celebrated or cynically discarded depending on the topic (and list for that matter), one area that is truly worth celebrating with each passing year is the growing culture of folks exploring alternative ways to navigate the city.
Sure, not all of us will take to the long boards seen zipping from Eastown to downtown, but there are others who are getting just as creative and vocal about parking the car in favor of alternative transit -- from bikes, to inline skates, to even our very own The Rapid, which is under construction for the 2014 arrival of our very first BRT fast-transit bus line.
To commemorate this week's activities, everyone is invited to gather at Rosa Parks Circle for a huge community party where between the awards, door prizes, and words of encouragement from Mayor Heartwell and the Downtown Development Authority’s Kris Larson will be a music showcase with Silent Bark, The Mines, the Jim Shaneberger Band, and event host Ralston Bowles. There will also be a special outdoor screening of the film
Bicycle Dreams, by special arrangement with the Grand Rapids Film Festival.
And for those who are looking to arrive to work by bike, this year, there are more than 12 stops around town boasting some of the best pit snacks for people reducing their carbon footprint. For a complete list of the stops along the way, as well as all the awards and prizes, click
here.
If you cannot be a part of Friday’s celebrations, next week provides a chance to get in on the fun at the 5th Annual Mayor's Bike Ride on Tuesday, May 21 at the Kroc Center. This year, he has partnered with Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation, Alger Bikes, the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition, and The Spoke Folks to present a two-, six- or 24-mile ride this year. See the Mayor's
event page for more information.
Admission: Free