May is Bike Month! Let’s get rolling!
May is National Bike Month! Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try. Why bike? So many reasons!
Biking is:
Fun: Biking brings people together, encourages discovery, and fosters community engagement.
Healthy: Bicycling can integrate physical activity into our daily routines.
Green: Biking curbs your carbon footprint, reduces air pollution and reliance on fossil fuels.
Saves Money: Biking cuts parking, gas and other driving costs while reducing traffic congestion.
It’s time to get rolling. Check out the events we have planned below and mark your calendars to get out and ride!
Perform your civic duty with Ride to the Polls
May 4, 2024 from 11 am to 2 pm
Lugar Plaza, 200 E. Washington St., Indianapolis
Ride your bike to the polls during early voting at City-County Building with staffed bicycle parking while you vote.
Ride to the Polls is presented by the Indy Cycle Commuter Task Force (Bike Indianapolis, Bicycle Garage Indy, Central Indiana Bicycling Association and Commuter Connect).
Be a bike escort for Bike to School Day
Wed. May 8 at 7:30 am
Anna Brochhausen School 88, 5801 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46218
Help spread the joy of cycling with School 88! Be a bike escort for students on a bike ride to school on Bike to School Day.
Try commuting by bike during National Bike to Work Day
May 17, 2024 from 7 to 9 am
Lugar Plaza, 200 E. Washington St. Indianapolis
National Bike to Work day is an event which promotes the bicycle as an option for commuting to work.
Bike Indianapolis, in collaboration with Commuter Connect and Indianapolis Department of Public Works is hosting this event to highlight our multi-use trails that are available for commuting, the benefits of alternative transportation and the overall benefits and joy of cycling. Multiple group rides will be offered from various outlying areas to a central meeting point in downtown Indianapolis where a light breakfast will be provided, relevant vendors will be tabling and speakers will present on the importance of bike commuting in our city.
SIGN UP HERE: BIKE TO WORK DAY REGISTRATION
A short program starting at 7:45 will include a blessing of the bikes and comments from local leaders regarding the importance of utilizing alternative forms of transportation and the efforts the city is making to improve city infrastructure focusing on safety for riders and pedestrians.
Organizations participating in Bike to Work Day include:
Bike Indianapolis
IMPD Bike Unit
Marion County Treasurer's Office
Don’t want to ride alone? Check out our bike trains, led by seasoned riders. If you are interested in joining one, please select the “add-on” ticket in the event registration.
Indy NorthEast/Fall Creek Flyers: Riders depart from Boy Scout headquarters, 7125 Fall Creek Rd N, Indianapolis at 6:15 am. One "station" stop for rider pickup at Starbucks on Fall Creek Parkway and 56th St. (5105 E. 56th Street) at 6:30 am.
Plainfield: Riders depart from Gear Up Cyclery 124 W. Main Street (Plainfield) at 6:15 am with one "station" stop for rider pickup at the LeGore Boys and Girls Club, 5228 W Minnesota St, Indianapolis at 7:00 am.
Broad Ripple: Departs from the intersection of the Monon Trail and Broad Ripple Avenue at 7:00 am
BGI Indy Northside: Departs from Bicycle Garage Indy , 4340 E. 82nd St. Indianapolis, at 7:15 am.
Don’t work downtown? You can still participate! Ride to work, grab a picture and post it with the hashtag: #BTWDIndy24.
Other ideas: Challenge yourself to replace one car trip with a bike ride! You will be amazed about how much fun it is. Get creative. Ride your bike to your local coffee shop, hair appointment, the nail salon, the gym! So many opportunities! Imagine if we all did this one a week - heck - even just once a month! Less traffic, less carbon emissions. . . so many benefits!
Skip the race traffic and Bike to the 500
May 26, 6 am - 5 pm
The Amp at 16 Tech
Don't sit in traffic when you can pedal past the crowds on an escorted route and park at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Join us at the AMP at 16 Tech on Sunday, May 26th and Bike to the 500!
New this year: We will be offering two seperate police escorted rides:
Early ride departing at 7:30 am
Late ride departing at 9:30 am
A fundraiser for Bike Indianapolis, proceeds from this event allow us to work toward our mission to get more people riding!
New to biking? Participate in the Bike Buddy Program!
Do you want to ride your bike but are hesitant because it’s been a while? Maybe you aren’t sure of the rules of the road or if your bike is even in working order? Join the Bike Buddy Program to be paired with an expert cyclist who can answer all your questions and help you feel more comfortable on your bike.
This program allows cyclists of all backgrounds and levels to work one-on-one with a Bike Buddy Mentor who will help you plan safe and efficient bike routes all over Central Indiana, share bicycling rules and regulations, and more! Mentors can also help you plan your route to work, where to park your bike and how to transport work items.
We just had a Bike Buddy Mentor training so we have a great group of expert cyclists ready to meet you and take you on a ride.
Sign up here
Want to get more involved? Volunteer!
We can’t provide our programming or events without the help of Bike Indianapolis volunteers. There’s lots of fun ways to help and meet other like-minded cyclists:
Want to support cycling in Central Indiana?
Become a Member!
You’ll be joining a group that cares deeply about the issues facing bike riders in our community. Bike Indianapolis will leverage your membership dollars to build a stronger bicycling community and engage in initiatives focused on improved infrastructure, education, and riding opportunities that showcase just how wonderful riding a bike in Indianapolis can be. The bigger our membership, the more apparent our message and our needs as bike riders become, and the more likely those needs are to be met by our city governments. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Bike month encourages our community to get excited about biking. We want more people to experience the joys of riding: A crisp morning with the smell of lilac in the air, a wave to a neighbor, a quick ride to your local coffee shop . . . biking takes you out of the confines of your car and immerses you in the shared environment. It connects us to our larger world. We hope you take advantage of all the great events happening during the month of May and all year long.
