With the warmer weather, more and more cyclists will be riding in our communities – it’s a great thing that May is National Bike Month! Ohio schools, communities and organizations are offering a wealth of cycling safety training, education and events to help us cycle safely this summer!

Communities and schools coast to cycling safety

School and community programs are hitting high gear to prepare students to walk and bike safely this summer – many are registered on the International Walk Bike to School Day website. National Bike to School Day is May 8, and folks are reaching their community in creative ways, including:

• May 4: Chagrin Falls is hosting a free bike rodeo for families of students grades K-6, including bike repair, registration, cookout and family road ride.
• May 10: Roseville Elementary School in Roseville is hosting a Summer Safety Program for 4-6 grade classes. Students rotate through stations to learn about cycling safety as well as camping, swimming and boating safety.
• May 17: Columbus Public Health is hosting free bike safety education clinics to be offered at all 29 Columbus recreation centers.
• June 1: Upper Arlington is hosting a Family Bike Fest to promote youth cycling safety, including bike caravans to the event, bike license registration, bike and helmet decorating, youth skills course and a bike/helmet check station.

Hang out with bikers (I mean cyclists!)

The 2013 National Bike Challenge starts May 1 and runs through September. Now is the time to put a team together, or join one by searching the website, and start logging miles to win bragging rights for your team! This free and friendly competition encourages you to ride outside, whether as a daily commuter or on the weekends for fun and good health! Bike Cleveland is inviting all of Northeast Ohio to join their team and  pedal to beat Pittsburgh, last year’s “Rust Belt“ crown winner – join their team and help them ride to win!

The Ohio Bicycle Federation has a 2013 calendar of events highlighting tours and races held all over Ohio throughout the year. Whether you want to compete in a race or tour parts of Ohio with cyclists of various ages and abilities, there is something for you! 

Kate Moening is the Ohio Advocacy Organizer for the Ohio Safe Routes Network, supported by the Safe Routes Partnership. You can reach her at kate@saferoutespartnership.org, or the Ohio Safe Routes Network website .