Bike Month
Celebrate
National Bike Month with Bikeville and the City of Greenville. Commuting by bike
is a great way to save money, protect the environment and have fun at the same
time. These events offer a great opportunity to meet fellow bicyclist, talk with
fellow enthusiasts, and show your support for bicycle issues in the community.
View the Bike Month Event Guide
Event Information
- May 2 - Saturday Market - "Booth with a Cause," FREE Bike Parking with
Bike Valet, FREE bicycle education materials. Bike to the opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market, stop by the Bikeville Booth and visit with our volunteers.
The FREE Bike Valet Parking will be near the intersection of Main and McBee streets.
- May 9 & 10 - Artisphere, the International Arts Festival of Greenville,
FREE Bike Valet available next to the Michelin Store at Main Street and Camperdown Way. Bikeville will be
on-site parking bikes, handing out bicycle educational materials, and talking bikes.
Come by and say hello!
- May 14 - FREE Commuter Safety Course -
TTR Bikes, 6:30 PM to 8 PM.
Instructors will cover Basic Bicycle Maintenance, Equipment Essentials, Rules of
the Road, South Carolina Bicycle Laws, and How to Commute by Bike. To register,
contact bikeville@greenvillesc.gov
- May 15 - Greenways Bike Tour. Join
Brian Graham, the City of Greenville’s Greenway Planner, for a ride along the northern portion of the City’s
Swamp Rabbit Trail. This is a great opportunity to get out of the office and enjoy some fresh air on a Friday afternoon. All level of bicyclists are encouraged to attend—the pace will be easy and no one will be left behind. We’ll meet at 12 noon at
Linky Stone Park and ride for about
30 minutes. A longer ride may be available for those who don’t need to make it back to
the office in such a timely manner. All participants are encouraged to wear a helmet.
- May 16 – Mountain Bike Skills Clinic & Cleveland Park Trails Tour, sponsored by
Upstate SORBA, 10AM-2PM.
Instructors will set-up a Skills Course
in a grassy area in Cleveland Park and guide participants through a series of simple yet
challenging obstacles to improve your knowledge and bike handling. Learn important Trail
Etiquette, Basic Bike Maintenance, and Equipment Options. All ages and skill levels
are welcome. Guided Tours of the Cleveland Park Off-Road Trails will be offered to
participants throughout the day. Helmets should be worn.
Learn More about Skills Clinics.
- May 20 - Ride of Silence, to honor cyclists who have been killed
or injured while cycling on public roadways.
- May 23 -
Downtown Greenville Art Tour Ride on a
Conference Bike and learn about Main Street's public art! 12 PM to 4 PM, starts at TTR Bicycles.
Registration is Required, contact bikeville@greenvillesc.gov.
- May 27 - "Breaking Away" at the
Moonlight Movies in the Peace Center Amphitheater, 7:30 PM.
Join us for this classic cycling flick under the moonlight
along the Reedy River. Pedal to the Peace Center Amphitheater, park your ride for
FREE at Bike Valet, and get lucky at the Raffle for Bike Gear!
- May 28 – Jeanne Menard Bicycle Lane Dedication.
Honor local cyclist and advocate Jeanne Menard who was killed in 2005 while
commuting home from work.
- May 29 – Bike to Work Day and "Ride with the Mayor," starts at
Caine Halter YMCA at 7:30 AM and finishes at the top of Falls Park.
Route will feature bicycle friendly greenways and streets. FREE coffee and
refreshments to participants.
Bike Valet
Bikeville is offering FREE Bike Valet parking at several downtown events during Bike Month.
And
just what is Bike Valet? It is a FREE, convenient and secure way to park your bike while enjoying
downtown Greenville events! Ride your bike instead of driving to downtown… we'll watch your
bikes!
Best of all... every time you Bike Valet during a Bike Month Event, you will be entered into
a Raffle for some great bicycle commuting gear. The Raffle will take place around 7:30 PM
before the Moonlight Movie on May 27th. You must be present at the Moonlight Movie to
claim your prize.
View a video of Bike Valet
If you would like to volunteer or need additional information about Bike Valet, send an email to
bikeville@greenvillesc.gov
Bike Month Sponsors
Special thanks to Carolina Triathlon,
the Great Escape,
TTR Bikes, the
Greenville Spinners, the
Palmetto Cycling Coalition, the
YMCA of
Greenville, Upstate SORBA, and
Spill the Beans for
their support and contributions to Bike Month.
FAST FACTS:
- Cycling is more efficient than walking, which takes three times as many calories per mile.
- At zero pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, versus a car's one pound per mile, a bike does not alter the global climate.
- Nearly half of all trips in the United States are three miles or less; more than a quarter are less than a mile.
- Car engines running cold produce four times the carbon monoxide and twice the volatile organic compounds of engines running hot.
- A bicyclist can cover a mile in 4 minutes, while a pedestrian requires 20.
FIVE REASONS TO BIKE TO WORK:
- Good for the Environment:
For every mile ridden on your bicycle, you keep 3.6 pounds of automobile
pollutants from entering the atmosphere.
- Good for your Health:
A bicyclist burns an average of 25 calories per mile.
- Good for your Wallet:
AAA reports it costs over $5,000 per year to own and maintain a car compared
to $120 per year to own and maintain a bicycle.
- Good for your Schedule:
Combine your commute with your workout. Biking gets you there nearly as
fast as driving for many localtrips.
- Good for the Community:
See Greenville from a new perspective. Learn about new and interesting
areas of your neighborhood and City.
View a summary of the
2008 Greenville Bike Month events.