A Block party with Bicycling friends!
There are many cyclists here in the Chilliwack area. Some of us know each other, and we are seeing the cycling community mature with a couple active cycling groups. A few cyclists began a tradition of hosting coffee outside events for cyclists in the past year, and we wanted to build on this momentum to host an event that could bring together all kinds of cyclists for a fun and community facing celebration of cycling in the area.
The generous grant provided was the push we needed to roll this event forward. Once we knew we had some funds available we contacted some local cycling groups including the Groupo Cycling Club, Have A Good Ride Adventures and Steelhead Rides. These groups spread the word and soon news of the event was buzzing. Local businesses also came on board including Bomber Brewing, Banter Ice Cream and Mercado Fresh Farms to help pitch in with food and treats to enjoy!
We hosted our event on the from yard of my house in Yarrow. Our street is a common bike route to access the popular Rotary Trail in Chilliwack, so it was easy to invite cyclists to stop in for a treat as they carried on their ride. We started the day with a 9:30 am road ride for people who wanted to get in some km’s prior to the BBQ. At 1:30 people began to roll up to the yard. We brought out the food and the fun began!
When good people come together to celebrate a shared passion time seems to fly by! We were so encouraged to see a wide diversity of people share a meal, and stories about cycling. We also saw how this event brought the community together. People were sharing numbers and social media handles, and making new friends. It’s been wonderful to see posts of people riding together since the event!
Big thank you’s go out to our local supporting businesses, community groups, and to the Association of Neighbourhood Houses BC!
