A ride uniting cyclists at the Believe in Bendigo Family Picnic this Friday will be the first in a month-long series of events as a local group pushes for the city to become Australia’s regional bike capital.
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Bike Bendigo president Jac Torres-Gomez encouraged riders to wear yellow on Friday and support the Believe in Bendigo message.
The Believe in Bendigo campaign began in 2015 as a way to celebrate diversity and declare there was no place for hatred in the city.
This Friday’s family picnic would see music, food vans and children’s activities at the Town Hall gardens.
Ms Torres-Gomez said cyclists would start riding anywhere in Bendigo before coming together as one at the picnic’s Bike Bendigo parking tent.
Article continues under Bike Bendigo’s video on Bike Palooza
More than 120 cycling related events and activities were on the calendar for October, including a Ride2Work Day and Sunday community rides.
“We’re celebrating cycling of all kinds from everyday riding to the shops, university, school or work to mountain biking, road riding and BMX,” Ms Torres-Gomez said.
Among planned events was a community forum to bring different types of road users together.
“We are bringing together a wide group of people, including cyclists, truck drivers, car drivers and pedestrians to have a conversation about how we can all feel safer as we use transport to move around the community,” Ms Torres-Gomez said.
October would also see the return of the Filmed by Bike international film festival, with short films from around the world shown.
Parts of Williamson Street would be closed to traffic so people could walk, ride, skate, hula hoop, create and play on 20 October in conjunction with Fun Loong Fun Day.
“We’ve created an online calendar to showcase the diversity of cycling activity in Bendigo in October,” Ms Torres-Gomez said.
“It’s truly amazing see just how much cycling activity there is going on in this city. There’s something for everyone.”
Community organisations, clubs and businesses could add their own cycling related events to the Bike Palooza Bendigo Calendar.
“There will be unique badges for participants to collect at selected events,” Ms Torres-Gomez said.
“Retailers across the city are being encouraged to put a Bike Palooza Bendigo flag and a bike themed display in their shop window and offer deals or discounts to customers who ride across the month.”
To view events taking place throughout Bike Palooza Bendigo website visit the website at www.bikepalooza.com
The Believe in Bendigo family picnic day would take place from noon to 4pm on Friday.