Warm weather is here- let’s hope it’s here to stay for the season. There’s no better time to get your bike tuned up and your helmet ready to get outdoors. Bicycling has numerous health and environmental benefits in addition to being fun! No matter young or old, there’s something for everyone.
Stride & Ride- A Bike Rodeo
Let’s start with our youngest riders. The Hudson TMA will be hosting the 12th Annual Stride & Ride- A Bike Rodeo on Saturday, June 15th, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Gregg Park in Bayonne. Stride & Ride is the TMA’s Annual celebration of all things bicycles and is open to everyone from 9 to 90!
This annual event provides a fun and interactive outdoor bicycle training program for adults and kids as well as bicycle inspections. Hudson TMA will even teach younger riders how to ride without training wheels. In addition, attendees will receive tips on pedestrian and cyclist safety! On the fun side, there will be obstacle courses, entertainment, walking races, face painting, games, free giveaways and t-shirts! Stride & Ride is a free event- just be sure to bring your own bike! In addition to the rodeo, there will also be health and safety-related information booths.
Traffic Safety 101
For adults, Hudson TMA offers a free class for individuals looking to improve their cycling skills while also gaining more confidence riding through Hudson County. Traffic Safety 101 will be offered on Saturday, June 29th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm in Jersey City.
This free class will provide urban cyclists with a day of classroom and on-street instruction covering helpful topics such as cycling safety, accident avoidance, skill drills, as well as your rights and responsibilities as a cyclist.
Register now for this fun and beneficial class which can help cyclists as they navigate the streets of Hudson County!
Discover The Hudson Loop (Day or Night)
Here in Hudson County, we are home to one of the most scenic bike paths in the country (in our humble opinion). Now you can explore the Hudson River Waterfront on both sides of the river through the convenience of NY Waterway!
The Hudson Loop is a 10-mile, car-free path with magnificent skyline views and is connected by the NY Waterway ferry. Cyclists can enter anywhere on the New Jersey or New York side and ride along the waterfront. You can stop along the way for summer activities local attractions as well as restaurants and bars. On the weekends, bikes ride the ferry for free!
On Friday, June 21st, NY Waterway and the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development is hosting the 2nd Light Up The Loop event. Grab your helmet and suit up your bike with some wireless lights to illuminate up The Hudson Loop! The fun begins at 7 pm at either the Grove Street PATH Plaza in Jersey City or the Sinatra Park Ampitheater in Hoboken and includes a 2-hour night ride on both sides of the Hudson River with an NY Waterway trip across the water!
Bicycling- It’s Also a Great Commuting Option!
Bicycling is always a fun way to get from one point to another. Rather than sitting in a vehicle or sitting on a crowded bus, you can be enjoying the outdoors while breathing in the fresh air on your commute to work.
Commuting to work by bicycle leads to strong financial savings as well. In 2015, the average American household spent nearly $2,000 on vehicle fuel alone. When considering the cost of insurance, parking and maintenance, the average increases to $9,000. A new commuter bicycle costs between $250 and $1,500 depending on the brand and added bells and whistles (industry term), with annual maintenance costs of around $50!
Here in Hudson County, the Hudson TMA is a resource for Bicycle Commuters! Registered cyclists enjoy free membership in the Emergency Ride Home Program, receive regular updates on bicycle education classes as well as the opportunity to collaborate on many of the TMAs bike related projects. Registered cyclists are also eligible to receive free safety equipment as a “Thank You” from the TMA! The Hudson TMA also offers a Bike Rehab Program which rehabilitates donated bicycles for us to commuters who would like to commute via bicycle but cannot afford one.
Take advantage of the warmer weather and head outdoors in Hudson County on two wheels and with the help of the Hudson TMA- you can do it safely!
