Adventure Cycling Association new Cycle Though Our National Parks Program on September 24

Adventure Cycling Announces First-Ever Bike Your Park Day

Registration is now open for a national event on September 24, 2016, for people of all ages and abilities to discover their parks and public lands by bicycle.

MISSOULA, MONT., January 12, 2016 — Adventure Cycling Association today announced the inaugural Bike Your Park Day, which will inspire and empower thousands of people to bike in or to a national park, state park, wildlife refuge, or other public lands on the same day — September 24, 2016. Anyone interested in participating can now register and start planning their ride. Participants can register their own ride or join an existing ride posted on the Bike Your Park Day interactive map, which pinpoints all of the rides happening throughout the United States.

“Your park is only a pedal away on September 24th,” said Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling Association. “You can ride one mile or 100 miles, you can go solo, ride with friends or bring the kids — it’s all about getting people to explore and discover the parks and public lands out their back door by bicycle.”

The event celebrates Adventure Cycling Association’s 40th anniversary and the National Park Service’s (NPS) Centennial, and is also on National Public Lands Day. Many parks will offer activities and volunteer opportunities, and many parks will waive entry fees.

“Bike Your Park Day is a great opportunity to promote healthy, active recreation in our parks while at the same time encouraging family-friendly activities during the NPS Centennial year,” said Bob Ratcliffe, NPS Program Chief of Conservation and Outdoor Recreation. “Plus, it’s a much better experience seeing our parks from the seat of a bicycle than sitting in a car!”

For those who are new to bicycling or unfamiliar with local routes, more than 100 Bike Your Park Day ambassadors are available in 47 states to answer questions about bicycling, safety, bike-friendly routes, and nearby parks and public lands. These ambassadors are volunteers who are eager to share their local and regional knowledge and offer ride recommendations.

“Bike Your Park Day is a national event that is building connections at the local level through the joy of bicycling,” Jim Sayer said. “In our 40 years as the top resource for bicycle travel, Adventure Cycling has seen time and again that there is no better way to connect with your neighbors and meet new people than on a bike. Bike Your Park Day will help spark those connections.”

Participants can share their rides on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media using promotional materials on the Adventure Cycling website, including the Bike Your Park Day logo, sample social media posts and images, a downloadable poster, and sample press release and newsletter article.

Everyone who registers for Bike Your Park Day at adventurecycling.org/bikeyourpark before September 5th will be entered into a drawing to win a custom-painted Salsa Marrakesh touring bicycle and will receive a Bike Your Park Day sticker. The first 250 people to register will receive a Bike Your Park Day embroidered patch.

In addition to Bike Your Park Day, Adventure Cycling will celebrate its 40th anniversary with two other major events. National Bike Travel Weekend, June 3–5, encourages adventurers throughout North America to gather up their family and friends and bike to their favorite campground, B&B or hostel with thousands of others on the same weekend. Registration and DIY resources are available at adventurecycling.org/BikeTravelWeekend. The Montana Bicycle Celebration, July 15–17, will include parties, nationally acclaimed speakers, bike rides, music, art, film, and reunions in Missoula, Montana, Adventure Cycling’s headquarters. Tickets to the Friday reception and Saturday dinner are available at adventurecycling.org/MTBikeCelebration.

Major sponsors of the 40th Anniversary events include Raleigh Bicycles, Montana Department of Commerce, Salsa Cycles, Primal Wear, Advocate Cycles, Visit Mississippi, Travel Oregon, Osprey Packs, Experience Plus!, and Destination Missoula.

“Raleigh is honored to support Adventure Cycling’s 40th anniversary,” said Larry Pizzi, Raleigh’s senior vice president. “When we learned of the opportunity, we realized a perfect alignment with the association’s mission of inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle. At Raleigh, we believe that bicycling changes and improves people’s lives and we are pleased to be able to support an organization that helps create wonderful bicycling experiences and embraces the simple pleasures that riding a bicycle can bring.”

For more information about Adventure Cycling’s 40th anniversary visit http://www.adventurecycling.org/40th

Adventure Cycling Association inspires and empowers people to travel by bicycle. It is the largest cycling membership organization in North America with more than 48,000 members. Adventure Cycling produces cycling routes and maps for North America, organizes more than 100 tours and leadership courses annually, and publishes the Adventure Cyclist magazine. With 44,662 meticulously mapped miles in the Adventure Cycling Route Network, Adventure Cycling gives cyclists the tools and confidence to create their own bike travel adventures. Phone: 800-755-BIKE (2453). Web: www.adventurecycling.org.