Celebrate National Bike Month with Bike Carmel Activities
The City of Carmel and Bike Carmel will be celebrating National Bike Month throughout the month of May with a riding challenge, free coffee along the Monon, the kick-off to the IU Health North Hospital Bike Carmel ride series and National Bike to Work Day.
Throughout May:
The citywide 100- and 500-mile challenge is open to all residents and employees in the city. Riders can easily participate in the challenge by joining the Bike Carmel Strava Club at www.strava.com/clubs/bikecarmel. Bicyclists who ride 100 miles during the month of May will receive a special 100 Mile Challenge t-shirt and those who ride 500 miles will receive a t-shirt along with prizes from local bike shops. T-shirts are on a first come, first serve basis.
Wednesday, May 8: National Bike to School Day
National Bike to School Day is planned for the morning of Wednesday, May 8. This year,
five Carmel Clay elementary schools have activities planned for Bike to School Day. At this time, Carmel Elementary, College Wood Elementary, Mohawk Trails Elementary, Prairie Trace Elementary and West Clay Elementary are encouraging students to bike or walk to school. If your morning commute is near any of these elementary schools, please use extra caution on May 8 when driving.
Friday, May 10: Coffee on the Monon
Bike Carmel has partnered with the Carmel Caffeine Trail to bring commuters Coffee on the Monon. Bike Carmel will be set up a table at the 96th Street Trailhead on select Fridays throughout the summer from 6:30 – 8:30 a.m. to provide free coffee and light snacks. May’s coffee is provided by Soho Café located on Range Line Road.
Saturday, May 11: IU Health North Hospital Bike Carmel Family Fun Ride
The Family Fun Ride returns on Saturday, May 11 at Smoky Row Elementary School. The event will feature a bike rodeo for kids including obstacles and safety checks along with a bicycling route on multi-use paths and trails near Smoky Row. There is no fee to participate and all participants will receive a tech t-shirt and a drawstring backpack. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the ride rolls out at 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 14: IU Health North Hospital Bike Carmel Slow Roll Ride
The Slow Roll ride returns with a new format in 2019. These one-hour social rides are designed to celebrate the bicycling community, no matter how you ride. Participants will be escorted by a Carmel Police motorcade through an eight to 10 mile route in different parts of town at a slow roll pace. The City’s Carmel Access Bikeways (CAB) routes will be highlighted along the route. Once completed, riders will be invited to join together for dinner at a local restaurant in the neighborhood. May 14th’s event will take place at Some Guys Pizza near East 126th Street and Gray Road. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the ride rolls out at 6:30 p.m. It is $10 to participate and $1 from each registration benefits Bicycle Indiana.
Friday, May 17: National Bike to Work Day
Carmel residents and those who work in Carmel are encourage to bicycle to work or to park their vehicles at one of our free parking garages and ride to work from there. Bike to Work Day will take place from 6 – 9 a.m. at the Monon & Main Plaza at the corner of West Main Street and Monon Boulevard near Anthony’s Chophouse. Food will be provided by Bub’s Café in partnership with Commuter Connect.
The City of Carmel, Bike Carmel and IU Health North Hospital are looking forward to another exciting year of bicycling in the community. More information can be found on the Bike Carmel Facebook page or by emailing bikecarmel@carmel.in.gov.
