Amid a symphony of ringing bells and loud cheers, over 300 bicyclists of all ages took off from Lincoln Park on Saturday morning, September 30, to launch the “2023 Family Fun Ride Around Alameda [1].”
[2]The 5-mile Ride—organized by the Alameda Friends of the Parks Foundation [3] and sponsored by Alameda Bicycle [4] and the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) [5]—took cyclists along Fernside Boulevard, Shore Line Drive, Grand Street, and Clement Avenue to Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
[6]“We designed the route so that riders would see water on both sides, and also ride through Alameda’s beautiful neighborhoods,” said Friends of the Parks board member Ken Miller.
This year’s event was a scaled-down version of “Bike for the Parks,” an annual fundraising ride that was organized by Friends of the Parks prior to the pandemic. That ride featured a 22-mile loop around both Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island.
“We made the event free this year to set the stage to bring back the bigger event next year,” explained Friends of the Parks President Joe Restagno. “This one is more fit for families and younger kids.”
Alameda Bicycle owner Gene Oh highlighted the importance of building community through a shared experience, especially one that hinges on physical fitness. “We need healthy ways to bond with each other,” Oh said. “This is an opportunity to have fun together.”
Families consisting of frequent cyclists, young and old, formed a key faction of the riders. Shahram Nassi said he, his wife, and their three children ages 8, 6, and 4 ride to school and make many Alameda trips without using their car.
“We bike all the time,” Nassi said. “We have a lot of dedicated bike lanes, and most adjacent streets have at least some sort of bike facility. We feel safe.”
[7]Lincoln Park to Jean Sweeney Park
The Ride kicked off a few minutes after 10:00 AM, with Restagno and Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft leading the horde of cyclists across Alameda. Ahead of the race, Ashcraft, a self-described “huge bike fan,” gave a short speech in which she thanked attendees for supporting city parks and for showing up in such strong numbers.
[8]
[9]Along the route, cyclists encountered checkpoints that offered first aid, refreshments, and collectible stamps that the youngest riders could redeem for raffle tickets at the end of the Ride. Smiling volunteers in high-visibility vests guided groups through key turns and major intersections while making sure everyone followed the rules of the road.
[10]Although the riders began to spread out after the Wood Middle School checkpoint—after all, who can resist Otter Pops?—they steadily crossed the finish line at Jean Sweeney Park, where they were met with music, snacks, and booths with information on ARPD programs and ongoing City transportation projects [11].
“It was fun! Challenging and a little long, but I’ve had longer,” said Francis, one the Ride’s younger participants.
A group of riders crossed the finish line, cheered on by Alameda Bicycle owner Gene Oh. Video by Ken Der.
Steve and his son Thomas, 13, and daughter Annie, 11, all enjoyed being a part of the fun family ride and afterparty.
“We woke up really early, though,” Annie pointed out. “Yeah, that was the worst part,” added Thomas.
[12]In a follow-up email, Restagno thanked Ride participants and volunteers for their support and included a link to donate to Friends of the Parks [13]. He concluded with the following request: “I hope to see you all next year at Bike for the Parks!”
Ken Der is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post [14]. Contact him via [email protected] [15]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der [16].