The 10th Annual RVA Bike Month is here!
BIG Bike Energy. – Wow – ten years of bike month in Richmond! What started as a small collection of events scribbled out on a big sheet of paper has turned into one of the, if not THE, largest bike month programs in the nation. With 60 events over five weeks, most of them produced by the world’s best volunteer ride leaders, RVA Bike Month has grown into a rich and fun reflection of the deep roots of our bike-friendly community.
This year’s theme continues in the tradition of multiple meanings. Ten years ago, every public meeting about a bike lane or program was a test of biking’s legitimacy as a mode of transportation or recreation. Grassroots advocates and active transportation leaders had to justify the cost to install bike infrastructure over and over and over to skeptics at every turn. In the past ten years, with world championship races, the completion of the Virginia Capital Trail, the beginning of the Fall Line, more than quadrupling the number of bikeway miles in the region, and tens of thousands of people biking in our communities, we have proven the concept that bike riding is a bona fide part of how people live in our region. We are here to stay. Hundreds of events, thousands of advocates, and some very big wins have demonstrated just how much Big Bike Energy our region has!
But Big Bike Energy is also a love letter to the simple utilitarian beauty of cargo bikes. They are large, in charge, and ready to carry your groceries, your kids, or even a stack of pizzas! Cargo bikes are trip replacers, car replacers, and super fun ways to live. The world is a better place with them! Bring the Big Bike Energy!
1) Get ready! Get your bike tuned up and make sure to read the safety disclaimer at the bottom of the page. If you have any questions, email [email protected].
2) Check each event’s details and information at www.rvabikemonth.com. Updates and rescheduling will also be posted here.
3) Take fun pics and tag #rvabikemonth.
4) Bike to Work! Bike to Work Day is May 19th!
5) Explore, patronize, and @ local businesses! Show them some love and thank them for supporting your ride.
6) Try something new! Seek out a new bike lane. Find some new riding friends. Explore an unfamiliar part of the region.
7) Tag @bikewalkrva on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
April 23:
Urban Cycling Group’s “Ride With Us”, depart at 9am, Dorey Park
April 23:
Forest Hill Park Spring Classic: kids bike race, 1-4pm, Forest Hill Park
April 29:
Ashland Trolley Line Public History Project, 9am, L. Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource Center
April 30:
Rescheduled to 6/4: Black Girls Do Bike: Season Opener, 12-4pm, Shelters 1 and 2 at Dorey Park
May 1:
*postponed due to wet trail conditons* Hardtail Happy Hour and trail ride, new date and time TBA
Bike Monday Bros Casual Ride, 5:30pm, Starbucks on Robinson St
May 2:
How-to: Wheelie Clinic, 5:30pm, Forest Hill Park
May 3:
Urbanism Happy Hour: Fall Line Trail, 5-7pm, Basic City Beer
Bike to School Day, 7-8am, Local Schools
May 4:
Casually Encountering Mushroom MAYnia, 6-8:30pm, Monroe Park Gazebo
May 5:
Vintage Mountain Bike Ride, 6-7:30pm, Carytown Bicycles (Cary St. location) back parking lot
May 6:
Cargo Bike Meetup and Group Ride, 12:30-2:30pm, meet behind VMFA
Intro to bike-packing and gravel, 10am – Noon, Courthouse Road parking lot, Pocahontas State Park
Ol’ Dirty South Hill, 10am – 4pm, Tobacco Heritage Trail Trailhead, La Crosse, VA
RABA New Riders and Social Ride, 8am meet, 8:30 depart, Crump Memorial Park
May 7:
MTNKURT: 100 mile mountain bike ride, 7am-sunset, 4640-5 Monticello Ave back parking lot
BBQ Ride: neighborhood family fun ride, 12:30pm, Three Lakes Park
E-Bike Lovers Group Ride, Meetup and Music, 11:30 meet, Noon ride, Hardywood Richmond
May 8:
Bike Monday Bros Casual Ride, 5:30pm, Starbucks on Robinson St
May 9:
RVA Racing: Taco Tuesday Marg Ride, 6:00pm, Pedal Power RVA
May 10:
Roll Call Sunrise Gravel Ride, 5:45am, corner of Grove Avenue and Malvern Avenue
Pedal to Patios with I am RVA, 5:30-8:00pm, Pizza & Beer of Richmond
Better Housing Coalition Bike Tour, 6:00-8:00pm, The Goodwyn at Union Hill
May 11:
Park Tool New Rider Maintenance Class, 5:30-7:30, 2916 North Avenue
Broad Street Bullies ride out, 7pm, Carytown Kroger parking lot
May 12:
JRPS beginner Mountain Bike ride, 6:00pm, Stone Brewing
Virginia Capital Trail Foundation Cap2Cap, 8:00am – 4:30pm, Virginia Capital Trail
May 13:
Virginia Capital Trail Foundation Cap2Cap, 8:00am – 4:30pm, Virginia Capital Trail
May 14:
Railroad and Canal History Ride, 9 – 11:00am, Belle Isle parking lot
Crossings of the James History Ride, 3:00pm, Shiplock Park
Väsen Women’s Ride: Mother’s Day edition, 11:00am, Väsen Brewery
May 15:
Bike Monday Bros Casual Ride, 5:30pm, Starbucks on Robinson St
May 16:
Bryan Park Race Series: Opening Day, 5:45pm – 7:00pm, Bryan Park
Fall Line Trail Public Meeting, 5:00pm – 6:30pm, Lewis Ginter Park
May 17:
Ride of Silence, 5:30pm, Cobblestone Parking Lot, 3115 Wharf St, Richmond, VA 23223
May 18:
Breakaway RVA: Urban Mystery Ride, time and location TBA
Goldsprints, 6:00pm, Richmond Cycling Corps, 13 S 15th St, Richmond, VA 23219
May 19:
Bike to Work Day: Choose Your Own Commute Adventure (time and place of your choosing)
Riverrock, 5:00 – 9:30pm, Brown’s Island
May 20:
Coffee Grinder gravel ride to Tiny Vegan, 9:00am, Outpost Richmond
Cutty Cap Challenge, all day, location TBA
Bike Swap, 12:00pm – 4:00pm, Stone Brewing
Riverrock, 7:00am – 9:30pm, Brown’s Island
May 21:
Riverrock, 7:00am – 5:00pm, Brown’s Island
May 22:
Bike Monday Bros Casual Ride, 5:30pm, Starbucks on Robinson St
Bike Walk Academy – Champions Reunion Ride
Rescheduled to 6/1: RVA Air Quality Sampling Ride with Science Museum of Virginia
May 23:
Bryan Park Race Series: Party Corner, 5:45pm, Bryan Park
May 24:
Truetimber Arborists: Tree Tour of Richmond, 5:30pm, Dogwood Dell Barker Field
Capital Trail Scavenger Hunt, 5:30-7:30pm, Stone Brewing
Urban Cycling Group: “Changing Gears” movie premier, 6:00pm, Starr Hill Brewing 3406 West Leigh Street
May 25:
Sixth Annual Treasure Hunt Ride, 6:30pm, Fountain Lake
Valentine Museum Bike-in tour, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, Valentine Museum
May 26:
Critical Mass, 6:30pm, Monroe Park Gazebo
May 27:
Richmond Area Bicycle Association New Kent Winery Ride, 9:00am, New Kent Visitors Center
Tour de Taco: taco ride, time TBA, Monroe Park Gazebo
Bike Party, time TBA, Pedal Power
May 28:
Rescheduled to 6/4: Great Queer Bike Parade
Bike Party, time TBA, Pedal Power
May 29:
Bike Monday Bros Casual Ride, 5:30pm, Starbucks on Robinson St
Rescheduled to 6/10: Vegan Ice Cream Bike Crawl
May 30:
Rescheduled to 6/6: An Advocate’s Bike Lane Tour, 6:00 – 8:00pm, Northside location TBA
May 31:
Bike and Pizza Capital Trail Ride, meet at 5:30, roll at 6:00pm, Triple Crossing Brewery
June 1:
RVAir: Air Quality Science Sampling Ride, 6:00pm, Science Museum of Virginia
June 4
Black Girls Do Bike! Annual Summer Kickoff Ride, 12pm – Dorey Park
June 4
Great Queer Bike Parade, 2pm – Monroe Park
June 6
Advocates’ Bike Lane Tour, 6:30pm – Ginter Park Library
June 10:
Vegan Ice Cream Bike Crawl, 12:00 – 2:00pm, VMFA front courtyard
Disclaimer:
I know that running or walking in an event that is organized by grassroots volunteers or independent community partners, which will not have any support or security measures in place by the Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers, is a potentially hazardous activity. I will not enter and run or walk unless I am qualified, in good health, medically able, and properly trained. I assume all risks associated with this activity, but not limited to: falls, contact with other people, collisions, the effects of weather, including high heat and/or humidity, traffic, and the conditions of the road, all such risks being known and appreciated by me. I acknowledge that if I believe event conditions are unsafe, I will immediately discontinue participation in the event. I further agree to abide by the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s recommendations for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and will also follow any guidelines set forth by my local government officials when completing this event. I fully accept and assume all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages I incur as a result of my participation in this event. I agree to abide by any decision of a race official relative to my ability to safely complete these events. Having read this waiver, knowing these facts, and in consideration of accepting my entry, I for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, discharge, waive, and release the Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers, Bike Walk RVA, any other sponsors, along with their officers, directors, agents, volunteers and employees from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in this event.
Background on RVA Bike Month:
2021 RVABM archive: Changing Lanes
2020 RVABM archive: Bike the Change
2019 RVABM archive: Bikes Mean Business
2018 blog: Looking back on 5 years of RVA Bike Month