UNCG students and employees are invited to the first annual UNCG Slow Roll Bicycle Ride.
“UNCG has a huge biking community,” says Sean MacInnes, UNCG sustainability specialist. “Hundreds of students and employees ride on campus every day. A group slow roll ride is a great way to bring all of those cyclists together, see more of our city, promote the benefits of biking, and advocate for a multi-modal transportation system that is safe for all users, pedestrians and cyclists included. We hope this will be the first of many rides to come.”
In 2011, UNCG became the first university in the state of North Carolina to earn the designation of Bicycle Friendly University from the League of American Bicyclists, which “recognizes institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bikeable campus for students, staff and visitors.”
The ride will take place on Thursday, November 4, and will leave the Kaplan Center at 4 p.m. The ride will travel through the nearby Glenwood neighborhood and onto the new Downtown Greenway, a collaborative infrastructure project of the City of Greensboro and Action Greensboro. The four-mile multi-use trail encircles downtown and serves as the hub of the greenways and trails system throughout Greensboro and Guilford County. The loop, which should be completed in 2022, provides a unique way to see Greensboro, promotes connectedness and well-being, and engages users with unique public art installations that tell our community stories.
Starting at 2 p.m., students can take advantage maintenance and rider education opportunities graciously provided by local advocacy groups Action Greensboro, Bikesboro, Bikewalla, and Bicycling in Greensboro, along with UNCG neighbors Recycles Bike Shop and Revolution Cycles.
The advocacy groups work in partnership with individuals and other local organizations to promote sustainable transportation and recreation in an effort to support and build an active citizenry and transform the greater Greensboro area into a more bicycling and pedestrian friendly community. Be sure to visit their info tables outside of the Kaplan Center to learn more about their work.
Get ready for the ride!
Free basic bike maintenance and gear giveaways will be provided to students before the ride. Available repairs include: tire inflation, seat adjustments, brake alignment, chain checks, and advice on general upkeep. Maintenance checks begin at 2 p.m. Reservation required!
Coming along for the ride?
Be at the Leonard J. Kaplan Center on Gate City Blvd. no later than 3:45 p.m. The group will leave at 4 p.m. for a ride through the Glenwood neighborhood and along the new Downtown Greenway. The 5-mile round trip ride should take approximately 45 mins. Helmets required! All skill levels welcome! Significant others of UNCG employees and students are welcome, but this event is not open to the general public.
This event is sponsored by the UNCG Office of Sustainability and the Department of Recreation & Wellness, in partnership with UNCG Parking Operations and Campus Access Management, and the UNCG Police Department in support of the “Watch for Me NC” program, which aims to reduce pedestrian and bicycle injuries and deaths through a comprehensive, targeted approach of public education, community engagement, and high visibility.
For more information, contact the Office of Sustainability: uncgsus@uncg.edu
