WFU Campus/Community Bike Ride
Earlier this month, nearly sixty people turned out for the WFU Campus / Community Bike Ride. The event was designed to increase bicycle awareness on and off-campus, and to draw attention to the need for improved bicycle and pedestrian corridors between WFU and downtown Winston-Salem.
The event was the result of a collaborative effort among several campus and community organizations. The WFU Institute for Public Engagement was the primary financial supporter, and the WFU Office of Academic Advising and Sociology Department spearheaded organizational efforts at Wake Forest. Three community groups, Winston-Salem Community Bike Ride, WS Greenways, the Winston-Salem Bicycle Cooperative, donated their time and organizational resources to make the event a success.
And what a success it was! Undergrads, graduate students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members were all represented.
The event kicked off with words of welcome from Matthew Burczyk, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for Winston-Salem, and one of the organizers of the Winston-Salem Community Bike Ride. After a quick refresher on bicycle safety, the group headed down the trail to Reynolda Village, past the Reynolda House, through Graylyn, and then through beautiful Buena Vista. A quick free-ride down Runnymede, and then a slow climb up Glade and Fourth Streets led us to Caffe Prada, where everyone enjoyed free gelato from Caffe Prada (thank you, Institute for Public Engagement!).
The organizers hope that the WFU Campus / Community Bike Ride will be an annual event, but for those who cannot wait for more community biking, the best bet is to join up with the weekly Winston-Salem Community Bike Ride. The group meets every Sunday at 3:00 P.M. at Caffe Prada, and each week explores a different bike routes throughout Winston-Salem. The rides, typically 8 – 10 miles, are open to everyone regardless of age or skill level.
Contributed by Catherine E. Harnois, Associate Professor of Sociology
Photo courtesy of Bill Petrie Jr.