Learn how to ride scenic, low-traffic dirt and gravel roads! Short introduction to the equipment and techniques, then a ride on Kalamazoo County roads. Ride length options of 11 to 20 miles. We will pace the ride so everyone stays together. Bring a bike with at least 28 mm tires.

Sponsor: C12 Kalamazoo

Cost/Fees: Free

Organizer: John Knowlton

Contact: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/contact/

Our community is home to a variety of bike clubs, teams, and special interest groups such as bicycle-oriented educational and charitable organizations.  A number of local bicycle shops also host regular rides and fun events.  We encourage everyone to explore what they have to offer.

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo publishes the names of local bike clubs at https://bikefriendlykalamazoo.org/clubs-organizations-groups/

Cost/Fees: varies by club; family and multi-year memberships are sometimes offered

Comments: Strong clubs make for strong communities. Consider making a donation to these wonderful organizations and clubs even if you aren’t joining as a member, to support the great work they do!

LGBTQIA & Allies weekly ride will run April through September. Participants should arrive 15-20 minutes early for introductions, preparations, and safety reminders.
Rollout is promptly at 10:00am, and it will be a no-drop ride. All abilities are welcome! Helmets are required, head lights and tail lights are encouraged.
This Saturday we will group at Oshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N 3rd St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Event Website: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/

Cost/Fees: None

For More Information, Contact: Jenna Kovach; communications@kalamazoobicycleclub.org

Local, state and national educational and advocacy non-profits work to make riding a bike safer and more comfortable, building stronger communities at the same time.

Learn more about those in our area by going to https://bikefriendlykalamazoo.org/resources/organizations/

Many rely on donations and volunteers to support their great work.  If you have been meaning to help our greater community become even more bicycle friendly, Bike Week offers a great time to learn more and get involved.

Learning how to fix a flat tire is one of the best and most practical bike maintenance skills you can learn. Sure, you can take a bike with a flat tire to your local bike shop if you discover it in time. But if you are on the road, knowing how to fix a flat tire will get you home. Believe it or not, with the right tools and parts - all easy enough to carry with you on a ride - most people can fix a flat tire within minutes.

Bike Week is a great time to learn or practice how to do it!

This is a self-directed event! Check out these handy web sites for more information, including a video:

https://www.bicycling.com/repair/a20013517/bike-repair-how-to-fix-a-flat-tire/

https://bikeleague.org/content/bike-maintenance

SMART CYCLING Workshop (Unofficial but Important Event During Bike Week)

Ride smarter, learn from the pros, and gear up for a great summer full of safe cycling. Learn the basics of safe, smart cycling from League Certified Instructors, with a curriculum certified by the League of American Bicyclists. This course, taught by riders with extensive experience, will provide instruction on the following topics: basic bike fit, inspection, maintenance, safe and legal riding in traffic, skill building, bike safety, and crash prevention. Program participants must be 18 years or older and bring their own bike and helmet. This program includes bicycling on roads with instructors, and through parking lots, and will utilize bike lanes. An online portion of this course must be completed before the in-person session. This course is also a prerequisite to become a League Certified Instructor.

Sponsor: City of Portage

Event website:

https://portagemi.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=3887&month=5&year=2024&day=6&calType=0

Fees/Registration Requirements: $50 per participant; check website for details and registration link.

Comments: Program participants must be 18 years or older and bring their own bike and helmet. This program includes bicycling on roads with instructors, and through parking lots, and will utilize bike lanes. An online portion of this course must be completed before the in-person session. This course is also a prerequisite to become a League Certified Instructor.

For more information, please contact: City of Portage Parks & Recreation, (269) 329-4522

The Fix is a bike repair workshop for adults to access low-cost replacement bike parts and guidance on making repairs. We can also teach you how to do a tune-up and maintain your bike!

Sponsor: Open Roads Bike Program

Cost/Fees: Cost of parts plus a suggested $5 fee.

Website: https://www.openroadsbike.org/adult-programs--open-shop.html

Contact: https://www.openroadsbike.org/contact.html

There are two friendly no-drop group rides, one at 25-30 miles at 15-16 mph, the other 25-30 miles at 13-14 mph.

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Event website: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/rides/club-rides/

Cost/Fees: No charge. Anyone can join in. KBC membership includes newsletter, Ride with GPS, KBC club insurance and many other benefits.

Comments: Prospective members and new riders are welcome! Please visit to our website to familiarize yourself with rider expectations. Please let your ride leader know if this is your first time riding in a group, and plan to arrive early.

For more information, please contact: Paul Wells; https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/contact/

Enjoy WKZO’s Morning Radio Show with host Ken Lanphear, at 590 AM or 106.9 FM Kalamazoo, MI. Ken and his guest will highlight what’s happening during Kalamazoo Bike Week with a conversation that should interest everyone. The 4-5 interviews move fast, so be sure to tune in early.

Today’s guest: Paul Sotherland, Awards & Grants Chair, Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Sponsor: WKZO Radio, 590 AM - 106.9 FM

Event website: https://wkzo.com/shows/

National Bike to Work Day takes place on the third Friday in May, right in the middle of National Bike Month. The observance encourages us to bike to work AND raises awareness of cyclists as they commute to and from work each day.

As more and more people take to bicycles for transportation to and from work, it’s important for both cyclists and drivers to share the road safely. Both must be aware of the traffic laws and follow them. More and more communities are adding bike lanes to improve safety. In the United States, from the year 2000 to 2011, the number of bicycle commuters grew by more than 47 percent.

Some of the benefits of commuting to work by bicycle include:

• Physical fitness – Cyclists get an aerobic workout before and after work. It’s also low impact exercise which is easy on the joints, unlike jogging.

• Fuel savings – They save fuel costs which in turn puts more money back in their pockets.

• Smaller carbon footprint – By cycling, they reduce carbon emissions resulting in cleaner air.

• Automobile longevity – Get more life out of their motor vehicle by using it for more necessary trips.

So join others throughout the country, your co-workers and friends - try riding to work.

Ride to your workplace.  Check out commuter and other routes at: https://bikefriendlykalamazoo.org/trails-routes/

A growing number of various bicycle-related events will be held in communities nationwide. Join them in the celebration by biking to work. If you have a bit of distance to cover, consider these bike to work tips to break into the bike to work crowd. Use #BikeToWorkDay to post on social media.

Sign up on Love to Ride to make a record of your Bike to Work Day Ride, at: https://www.lovetoride.net/usa

Additional Information:
Love to Ride USA is a nationwide service sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists that unites thousands of new and existing bicyclists across the country in friendly competition designed to celebrate and encourage biking. This is a great way to get connected to other bike-friendly — and bike-curious — folks in your community and across the country. Join at any time as an individual or form a team. Sign up today and make every mile count!

The Fix is a bike repair workshop for youth 18 & under to access free replacement bike parts and guidance on making repairs. We can also teach you how to do a tune-up and maintain your bike!

Sponsor: Open Roads Bike Program

Cost/Fees: Free for youth

Website: https://www.openroadsbike.org/the-fix.html

Contact: info@openroadsbike.org

Enjoy WKZO’s Morning Radio Show with host Ken Lanphear, at 590 AM or 106.9 FM Kalamazoo, MI. Ken and his guest will highlight what’s happening during Kalamazoo Bike Week with a conversation that should interest everyone. The 4-5 interviews move fast, so be sure to tune in early.

Today’s guest: Isaac Green, Executive Director, Open Roads Bike Program

Sponsor: WKZO Radio, 590 AM - 106.9 FM

Event website: https://wkzo.com/shows/

There are several ride groups at paces from 16-18 mph to 22+ mph. These are faster rides on hilly roads northwest of Kalamazoo. The end time is approximate. More experience on the part of the riders is recommended/assumed. Knowing you can ride at these paces is a personally rewarding and exhilarating athletic experience.

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Event website: kalamazoobicycleclub.org/rides/

Cost/Fees: No charge to join KBC rides. KBC membership includes newsletter, Ride with GPS, KBC club insurance and many other benefits.

Comments: Prospective members and new riders are welcome! Please visit to our website to familiarize yourself with rider expectations. Please let your ride leader know if this is your first time riding in a group, and plan to arrive early. Due to the pace and hills, this ride is more challenging than KBC’s Monday Night Ride. If you are not experienced riding in a group in these conditions, we suggest work your way up to it on our Monday Night Rides and/or try riding for this pace and distance on hills before deciding which night is best for you.

For more information, please contact: Paul Wells at educationchair@kalamazoobicycleclub.org

The City of Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation department is hosting a Bike Rodeo Wednesday, May 17th from 5-7pm at Mayor’s Riverfront Parking lot. This event will teach bike safety and skills. There will also be a bike and helmet fitting. Youth will receive a passport for each station completed. At the end of the course each child will receive a certificate of completion. There will also be giveaways and refreshments during the event.

Sponsor: Kzoo Parks

Event Website: https://www.kzooparks.org/Home

Cost/Fees: No cost

Primary Contact: Kya Mitchell; mitchellk@kalamazoocity.org

Photo courtesy Kalamazoo Gazette

You won’t want to miss this fast-paced series of presentations by planners, builders, and users of bicycling infrastructure in great Kalamazoo. Click HERE for a video recording of the session (should work as long as WebEx keeps it active). This year’s presenters (in alphabetical order) and their presentations include:

• Rachel Bennett - Director, Oakland Drive Winchell Neighborhood Ass’n - Pedaling Parenthood: Navigating Bike Commutes with Your Tiny Co-Pilots

• Nolan Bergstrom - Community Planner & NFP Board Liaison, City of Kalamazoo - Where Kalamazoo stands in its current plan

• Nathan Browning - ModeShift Kalamazoo - Strong Towns Advocates of Kalamazoo

• Marcy Hamilton - Senior Planner/Deputy Executive Director, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission - What is the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, and, what are some of its recent non-motorized projects?

• Kathleen Hoyle - Director, Parks & Recreation, City of Portage - Still going for the gold (Bike Friendly Community Award)!

• Dave Rachowicz - Director, Kalamazoo County Parks - KRVT / Kalamazoo River Valley Trail Routes Update

• plus Special Guests!

Meeting Link: Click HERE to register for the meeting (RSVP due noon May 14); a Webex link will be emailed the morning of the meeting.

The theme this year’s web meeting is “Suddenly Visible.” For year’s we’ve been talking about bicycling and active transportation. Now it seems like everything is happening before our very eyes - it’s suddenly become very visible! People are reacting like they’ve never seen a bike lane before - and some of the newer infrastructure is indeed very new to greater Kalamazoo! Hear from those who are making it happen, using the results and planning the future.

Sponsor: Bike Friendly Kalamazoo (BFK) and Southwest Michigan Planning Commission (SWMPC)

Meeting Moderator: Paul Rehkopf, MD, Vice President, Bike Friendly Kalamazoo

Cost/Fees: Free

Pre-registration Link: Click HERE to pre-register for the meeting (RSVP due noon May 14); a Webex link will be emailed the morning of the meeting to those who pre-registered.

Public is welcome! Respect for the presenters and participants is expected.

Enjoy WKZO’s Morning Radio Show with host Ken Lanphear, at 590 AM or 106.9 FM Kalamazoo, MI. Ken and his guest will highlight what’s happening during Kalamazoo Bike Week with a conversation that should interest everyone. The 4-5 interviews move fast, so be sure to tune in early.

Today’s guest: Paul Rehkopf, Vice President, Bike Friendly Kalamazoo

Sponsor: WKZO Radio, 590 AM - 106.9 FM

Event website: https://wkzo.com/shows/

It’s a social ride to One Well from PEDAL, either PEDAL. We’ll have introductions at seven and set out immediately thereafter. The ride will be chill and around 4 miles each way. Front and rear lights are mandatory, as is a helmet. Once at One Well, we’ll sample their wares, enjoy witty conversation, then ride back to the shop. All are welcome. It’s big fun.

Location: Pedal, 611 W Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 OR Pedal, 185 Romence Road, Portage, MI 49024

Sponsor: Pedal

Cost/Fees: None

Primary Contact: Tim Krone; info@pedalbicycle.com; 269-324-5555 (Pedal South), 269-567-3325 (Pedal Downtown)

Tuesday Night Women’s Ride meets at the Celery Flats Picnic Pavilion to enjoy 20-30 miles of quiet country roads with friendly and supportive women. The routes are mostly flat, with some rollers on the longer routes.  Three paces are supported with ride leaders: 14 mph and under, 15-16 mph and 17+ mph average. The Portage trail system is there, too, if you prefer a slower roll.

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Event website: kalamazoobicycleclub.org

Cost/Fees: Free!

Comments: Prospective members and new riders are welcome! Please visit to our website to familiarize yourself with rider expectations. Please let your ride leader know if this is your first time riding in a group, and plan to arrive early.

For more information, please contact: Paul Wells at educationchair@kalamazoobicycleclub.org

The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club’s May monthly meeting is on the second Tuesday or every month, and starts with a business meeting at 6:00, and then has a bike related general interest presentation at 7:00 on a range of topics (see the KBC website at kalamazoobicycleclub.org for details.)

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Event website: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/

Cost/Fees/Registration Requirements: free

For more information, please contact: Paul Wells, educationchair@kalamazoobicycleclub.org

Enjoy WKZO’s Morning Radio Show with host Ken Lanphear, at 590 AM or 106.9 FM Kalamazoo, MI. Ken and his guest will highlight what’s happening during Kalamazoo Bike Week with a conversation that should interest everyone. The 4-5 interviews move fast, so be sure to tune in early.

Today’s guest: Paul Wells, Education Chair, Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Sponsor: WKZO Radio, 590 AM - 106.9 FM

Event website: https://wkzo.com/shows/

This is one of KBC’s regular weekly rides. There are up to eight ride groups, from 12-13 mph, to 19-21 mph, on several routes, from 15 to 30 miles.

Comments: KBC uses one of its Monday Night Ride groups to offer a “Bike Camp” like experience (similar to Run Camp is for runners) at no charge, during which additional tips about riding are offered and the pace is typically slower.
Prospective members and new riders are welcome! Please visit our website to familiarize yourself with rider expectations. If this is your first time riding with KBC in a group, please let your ride leader know that, and plan to arrive early.

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Bicycle Club

Event Website: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/rides/club-rides/

Primary Contact: Paul Wells; https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/contact/

Let’s ride mountain bikes and eat gilled goodies! We’ll meet and introduce ourselves at six and ride shortly thereafter. ALL MOUNTAIN BIKERS ARE WELCOME. Bring your whip, a helmet and your stunning personality. We’ll have a great time on the trail and afterward eating a hot dog.

Sponsor: Pedal Bicycle

Cost/Fees: None

Primary Contact: Tim Krone; info@pedalbicycle.com; 269-324-3325