MISSOULA, Montana (September 20, 2021) — Join Adventure Cycling Association and thousands of others across the country on Sept. 25, 2021, to celebrate bicycling and public lands on Bike Your Park Day. Every year on the last Saturday in September, participants are encouraged to explore the nation’s parks and public lands by bicycle, riding for however long they like on roads, paved paths, or singletrack. Bike Your Park Day is being held in conjunction with National Public Lands Day, which is a “fee-free day” for national parks and public lands, providing an opportunity for everyone to enjoy and care for America’s parks, monuments, wildlife refuges, forests, and more.
“Adventure Cycling created Bike Your Park Day to inspire people across America to explore nearby parks and public lands by bike while promoting a healthy, sustainable way to travel,” said Carmen Aiken, Bike Overnights Event Coordinator for Adventure Cycling. “This year, rides are planned everywhere between Maine and California, Washington and Florida, and even in Hawaii. And those who aren’t comfortable joining a group event can still participate by creating a ride to do solo, with family, or with a few friends. However you ride, Bike Your Park Day will provide an opportunity to discover the treasured places all around you while connecting with others in your community.”
In the past five years, over 50,000 people have participated in more than 5,000 rides for Bike Your Park Day. Bike Your Park Day is for people of all experience levels, backgrounds, and ages.
What can rides look like? Examples include:
- A casual mile on a park path with younger family members.
- A ride using alternative transit like buses, trains, and ferries to expand mileage.
- A challenging gravel century through forestlands and mountains with friends.
- A ride with a stewardship focus like removing litter and invasive plants along the way.
- An educational ride with a park ranger to explain the history and geography of the area.
