Month: July 2019

Bike Parking Returns To Homecoming

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For the second year cyclists will have a safe and secure place to park their bikes at 38532468_2074272046224351_7538949574908444672_nthe 2019 Dearborn Homecoming festival. Last year 200 bikes were parked and secured by Bike Dearborn volunteers during the 3 day event. Bike Dearborn has partnered with the City of Dearborn once again to offer the Free Bike Parking service located at the tennis courts on Monroe St. next to the carnival area of the festival. Volunteers from Bike Dearborn will issue claim tickets for parked bikes which will be stored and supervised within the tennis courts fence. The service is free, but donations will be accepted which will go towards Bike Dearborn’s bike advocacy efforts. Additionally, all patrons of the Bike Parking will be able to enter a raffle for free giveaway items.

The 4th Annual Homecoming Family Bike Ride is on Aug. 3 rolling 9 a.m.  The 36840333_2044194125898810_934586090495410176_napproximately eight-mile bike ride will wend its way through Dearborn and includes mid-point rest stop. This is a family-friendly, police-supported ride for cyclists of all ages. Helmets are required, and kids need to be with an adult. Registration begins at 8 a.m. for this free event. The ride departs and end at the tennis courts; riders are encouraged to take advantage of the free Bike Parking after the ride so they can enjoy the festival.

The City of Dearborn and Bike Dearborn are also working with Zagster, Dearborn’s bike share provider, to host a virtual bike share station near the Bike Parking location as well.  During the dates of the Homecoming festival a virtual station still be shown within the Zagster phone app which will allow for users of the bike share program start and/or end their rides at the festival grounds.  Those interested in the bike share program can have their questions answered by Bike Dearborn volunteers at the Bike Parking location.

Bike Parking hours of operation are: Friday Aug 2nd 2:00 pm – 10:30 pm, Saturday Aug 38501209_2075515056100050_1370103299092512768_n3rd 12:00 pm – 11:30 pm, and Sunday 12:00 pm – 11:30 pm. All bikes must be reclaimed by the end of the night each day. No overnight bike parking will be allowed.

Bike Dearborn is a grassroots organization that is dominating the bike advocacy efforts in Dearborn by focusing on creating a safe bicycling community and culture. Bike Dearborn not only promotes the recreational use of biking but the sustainable and equitable sides of bicycling as a form of transportation as well. The healthy benefits of biking for Dearborn residents and environmental sustainability are integral elements of the organization. Find out more about Bike Dearborn at www.bikedearborn.com

A Special Soul

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I was greeted with excitement as I pulled up to Haley’s house, as she ran up to me waving with a retro faded red wonder woman t-shirt on and R2-D2 socks, asking me to come play with her. Haley is one of our youngest Bike Dearborn participants; 4 years old. This one warms my heart every time I hear her sweet “thank you” shout-outs, as she pedals by me with her mom, Jessica, and her grandpa, Fred.  Her first ride with Bike Dearborn was last season at our Beaumont ride, where we first meet.  Jessica asked me to take a picture of the two of them and that’s when our friendship began.

Haley sports her Raphael Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle helmet, knee, and elbow pads when she joins us almost every week!  Raphael wears a red scarf around his eyes, which happens to be Haley’s favorite color. Raphael happens to be know as “The Dynamo”.  I would say that Haley fits most of his characteristics (I had to do some research): bold, original, sociable, and naturally are just a few to name!  I asked Haley why she likes Raphael the best, and she said, “he saves people and fights the bad guys”.

I spent at least an hour and a half with Haley.  We rescued her Pet Shop figures from being immersed in pink and green slim, played outside, and I got the opportunity to meet “Bosley”, the family’s German Shepard.  Haley was full of energy, as she gave me the grand tour of her house!  She was a gracious hostess offering me a tangerine and a bottle of water, as I sat on her couch to start the interview.  Haley shared with me that her favorite part of our rides is all the playgrounds we roll by.

Not only does Haley love to ride her bike, but she loves to dance!  I ended our visit with Haley and her mom sitting on her front porch, as she flipped through her favorite new book laughing and bringing life to, The Little Fur Family!  Haley will be on her way to Sacred Heart come fall; wish her luck!  I had many laughs with Haley and her mom!  This one has a special soul:)

Jen (#corkergirl)

 

               

         

 

 

 

 

Bicycle Friendly Business – LaBo Family Chiropractic

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Through our Bike Dearborn and Healthy Dearborn Walk n Roll hosted events, businesses in Dearborn are realizing the importance of becoming a bicycle friendly business. This can mean a number of things for the individual business. Most importantly, it’s recognizing a demographic of clientele that become very loyal to the business.

Our first featured business is LaBo Family Chiropractic. Dr. Heidi LaBo contacted us about hosting a Walk n Roll after seeing the success of our event across the street from her office at Joe and Reno’s Pizzeria. Dr. Heidi saw the value that could be added to her office and her patients by not only hosting a Walk n Roll event to introduce her business to our participants, but to add a permanent bike rack for parking near the rear entrance of her office.

I asked Dr. Heidi 3 questions.
1. In a few short sentences, tell us about your business.
2. What was the influencing factor in becoming a bicycle friendly business?
3. What steps did you take to become a bicycle friendly business and what do you hope to achieve?
4. Do you have any plans to do anything else to attract bicyclists to your business?

Dr. Heidi’s answers.
I am Dr Heidi LaBo and I’ve been a chiropractor in Dearborn for 20 years. We adjust patients from newborns just hours old to 98 years young and everyone in between. Becoming a bike friendly business made so much sense for us as we are a wellness facility! We educate our patients on proper body mechanics so they can prevent injury while they exercise and we love to promote healthy living. What better way than to ride your bike to an appointment! We asked to participate with Bike Dearborn to help educate our community on health and wellness. In preparation for the event I got a bike rack and bike parking sign. What a huge hit it has been with our patients. We have patients riding their bikes to their appointments everyday now. Seeing the large interest in patients using our bike rack has motivated us to hold a future workshop about proper bike riding posture and some stretching exercises prior to riding. Thank you Bike Dearborn for giving us this opportunity and for motivating us to reach out to the fellow bikers in our community!

Thank you Dr. Heidi and Staff at LaBo Family Chiropractic for making Bicycling Better in Dearborn!

The Tandem Bike in Itself is Unique

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Pat and Mary Margaret are an integral part of our Bike Dearborn Community.  The sweetness of affection these two display for one another is something to see!   Mary Margaret was born and raised in Dearborn. They currently live in the house Mary Margaret’s dad had built. They were married in 1970, 49 years and counting.  I did ask Pat, why they choose to join us every week, and he stated, ¨riding with my sweetheart, of course¨.

These two are not easy to miss on our bike rides every Wednesday.  Pat and Mary Margaret ride a red tandem bike, which is unique in itself!  Pat had the tandem custom made in California.  Mary Margaret had some health issues that lead them to start riding a tandem bike.  Riding a tandem bikes requires a lot of teamwork and trust!

The love of their daughter shined through when I was asking them questions.  Pat shared that she teaches at Ohio State and Mary Margaret bleeds green and white, not red, as they both smiled at each other, wearing their Spartan lanyards and we all laughed!

If you have not had the opportunity to introduce yourself to them, please do!  They have some great stories to share for their love for each other, biking , and their family.

Jen (#corkergirl)

2019 Dearborn Homecoming Bike Parking Attendants Needed

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Last year in 2018, we introduced an idea of Bike Valet Parking at Dearborn’s Homecoming festival celebration. It was a great success!!

Free and Secure Bike Parking for Dearborn Homecoming

The members and volunteers of Bike Dearborn set up a secured parking area for residents and visitors of Homecoming to ride in and drop off their bicycles to be watched by our volunteer attendants. Over the course of the 3 day festival, we parked and monitored over 300 bicycles! This service is absolutely FREE!!

This year, 2019, we’ll be stationed in the same location, using the tennis courts at Ford Field to safely park and secure bicycles. once again, this service will be free!
Friday August 2, 2019: 2p-10p
Saturday August 3, 2019: 12p-11p
Sunday August 4, 2019: 12p-11p

Free and Secure Bike Parking for Dearborn Homecoming

We do need help though. If you have time to spare for a 2 hour shift, we need volunteers to take in and release bicycles to their owners as they come and go from Homecoming. We’ll be conveniently located at the tennis courts near restrooms, the Polish tent, and the beer tent. We need a minimum of 2 volunteers per shift….3 would be ideal as we expect to park more bike this year than last. The closing shift would ideally need 4 volunteers as this is the busiest time after the fireworks!!

If you are interested please sign up using the following Signup Genius link. Please only volunteer if you will be 100% committed to help! We will gladly sign for any community service hours for your volunteer help.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b044cafa922a7f49-2019

Contact us with any questions.