Calling All Bicyclists: Spokes Up Bike Challenge Begins March 26

The Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition (GGRBC) invites community members to participate in the first-annual Spokes Up city-wide bike challenge. The challenge, which runs from March 26 to April 9, 2023, calls bicyclists to work together to ride a collective 15,000 miles. If they meet the goal, local businesses will reward them by offering incentives and discounts for anyone who bikes to their business for the next year. GGRBC aims for this challenge to bring awareness of the large biking community to city leaders.

“Bicycle-friendly businesses have really stepped up to celebrate bicyclists in the Greater Grand Rapids area,” said Nate DeHaan, GGRBC board chair.  “They seem to recognize that by providing incentives for bicyclists who commute to their business, they are encouraging healthy and sustainable transportation while showing the biking community that their values align.”

The Spokes Up Bike Challenge coincides with the city of Grand Rapids’ efforts to create a new Community Master Plan. The GGRBC board hopes that city leaders recognize the large number of city bicyclists that call Grand Rapids home while making development plans for the next 20 years.

“We hope this challenge will encourage more people to try riding a bike,” said Tom Bulten, GGRBC board member. “And we want city leaders to remember the large community of bikers when making infrastructure plans. We want to reinforce the importance of low-carbon transportation options like walking and biking in our city.”

To join the Spokes Up Challenge and to see the list of local businesses, head to https://www.bikegr.org/spokesup-challenge. 

Established in 2009, The Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition works to educate cyclists on bike safety, build a coalition of bike advocates, and help develop Greater Grand Rapids into a diverse and equitable bicycling community.  More info can be found at bikegr.org.