Several local cyclists formed Bicycle Owensboro many years ago to create a friendlier, healthier, and greener Owensboro through bicycling. Aside from creating a cycling community with group rides and events, the group also advocates for bike routes and promotes bicycle safety for young and adult cyclists.
A spokesperson for the nonprofit, Jared Revlett, said it’s a two-fold group, focusing on the community aspect while also promoting healthy lifestyles.
“We were founded to create a community for people who want to get out and be more active through cycling,” Revlett said. “We host several group rides for all experience levels. We have a beginner or casual group that will only ride a few miles and some more serious riders that will go 100 miles.”
Bicycle Owensboro also organizes the Bluegrass Century Ride, which attracts cyclists from all over the country and serves as the group’s primary fundraiser. Revlett said the ride, which offers various skill levels and distances, creates the perfect way to give back to the community.
The nonprofit hosts group rides twice per week, often starting from Be Real Sports on KY 54 or Waymond Morris Park. They also recently added gravel group rides, which are gaining traction nationally.
“Larry Myles at Be Real does a fantastic job organizing the group rides – he even works the rest stops on his own a lot of times,” he said. “Matt Evans created the gravel group rides to attract new members and to be a part of the sport’s evolution.”
Bicycle Owensboro is also a major advocate for improved bikeability and walkability within the community. Last year, they partnered with the Chamber for Young Professionals to administer a community-wide survey surrounding the issue.
The survey asked if people used public transportation and if they would like to ride or walk to work.
“The 3 biggest things to come from it were that people want painted designated bike lanes, more access to the green belt in areas around town, and more access to air to inflate tires,” Revlett said. “After the feedback, we began working with the Chamber and the Transportation Advisory Council to address the issues. Some of the city’s grant funding for reducing carbon emissions has been earmarked for the efforts.”
Revlett said improved walkability and bikeability play an instrumental role in attracting businesses and people to Owensboro. He added that the group believes more people would cycle or walk if it were more accessible.
To learn more about Bicycle Owensboro, visit them on Facebook here.
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a membership benefit of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1913, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with a membership base of nearly 1,000, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives, serving as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Shelly Nichols, Chamber Vice President, at 270-926-1860 or [email protected].
