Feeling the breeze while moving down the street on a twowheeled, pedal-powered vehicle creates a sense of exhilaration that children treasure for a lifetime. To help ensure safe bicycle riding while making memories, the Macomb Park District is kicking off summer with a free event for kids and their families.
Bike Pop-Up is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at Patton Park. Participants should enter the west side of the park near the pavilion. Registration is not required, and a limited number of bikes will be available for those who don’t have them. An ID is required for borrowing a bike.
The experience was created by Michelle Narvaez, who became superintendent of events last May after serving as marketing coordinator for one year. Using one of the three multipurpose paths at the park, the pop-up event will include learning traffic signs, practicing hand signals and maneuvering through an obstacle course to practice bike handling.
“The multipurpose path system at Patton Park is one of the only places in Macomb where cyclists and walkers can move alongside each other without traffic,” Narvaez said. It was completed last year as part of 35-acre park’s renovation. “I wanted to support bike safety and create a recreational opportunity while highlighting one of the best parts of Patton Park.”
Monthly Bike Pop-Ups will be scheduled through September. Now, the park district has four children’s bicycles, one adult tandem bike and three adult bikes, including two bikes owned by Narvaez that are being loaned for the pop-up. She has a plan for loaning and renting a fleet of bikes for use by people of all ages.
Building a bike fleet “Bicycling can be expensive, from the purchase of the bike to safety equipment like helmets,” Narvaez said. “The park district has the capability to be a community resource, and I decided to find a way to front those costs so people can try cycling and see if it's for them and gain some confidence on two wheels that maybe they didn't have before. This has been my passion project, being new in this position and wanting to do more for the community.”
Her work aligns with Bike Macomb, the city’s initiative for making biking safer, easier and accessible for everyone. She developed her plan last winter during the park district’s off season.
After requesting funds from businesses and clubs, the first five bikes were purchased at less-than-retail prices from Nick’s Cycling & Fitness in Burlington, Iowa, which provides, assembly, delivery and service. The tandem bike was donated. The goal is 20 bikes.
“We really want to prioritize quality and make sure that these bikes are going to last,” Narvaez said. “I wanted to be able to serve the community for a longer period of time.”
Using a portal on macombparkdistrict.com, businesses and individuals may sponsor the purchase of an adult bike for $300 or a child’s bike for $200. Other donation amounts are accepted too. Besides purchasing bikes, donations will be used for safety equipment, bike maintenance, and event and marketing costs.
Bicycling for all
Bike use will always be free at pop-up events. As the fleet grows, more adult bikes will be available for new riders.
“Some people didn't have the chance to learn how to ride a bike earlier in life,” Narvaez said. “It really is just an invitation for anybody to come and learn to get more comfortable.”
When the fleet is complete, bike rentals will be available from spring through fall at the park district office in Every Park. Rented bikes may be taken off park property.
Although the price hasn’t been determined, Narvaez said the daily fee will be low.
“We want to help remove barriers to buying a bike,” she said.
In the future, Narvaez plans on offering themed bike rides and bike workshops, adding, “Having people to lead guided bike rides would be a really, really great addition to our events.”
