May 2025

It’s Bike Month!  Some Bike Month activities have already taken place, but there are still many things to do for the remainder of the month.

In this month’s Newsletter:

• Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 15.  You can bike to work, school, or anywhere that day.  This year there will be a single energy station at Manchester Center co-sponsored by FCBC and Caltrans.  You can get a snack or get replenished with water from 7:00 am to 8:30 am.

• The Bike Station will be at the Tower Theatre on Saturday, May 24, from 9:00 am to noon.

• Coffee Outside will be on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, at 10:00 am at Trolley Park near Fresno High.

• The grand finale to Bike Month will be the Clean California Mural Ride on Saturday, May 31, at 9:00 am to see recently painted murals, with some still in progress at San Pablo Park, Romain Park, and points in between below the State Route 180 freeway.

• The next FCBC general membership meeting and FCBC Board meeting are scheduled for Tuesday, June 17 at 6:30 and 7:00 pm, respectively.

Bike to Work Day

Locally, as in most of the metropolitan areas in California, Bike to Work Day is on Thursday, May 15.  It is scheduled a day earlier than the National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16, as many people have Fridays off or telework that day.  This year, FCBC and Caltrans will co-sponsor an energy station at Manchester Center behind the Starbucks along Shields Avenue from 7:00 am to 8:30 am.  There will not be an energy station at the Tower Theatre this year.

The Ride of Silence

The Ride of Silence is a global event that honors bicyclists who have been killed or injured.  Locally, the ride is organized by the Fresno Cycling Club.  The 23rd annual ride will be on Wednesday, May 21, and will be an 8 mile ridebeginning and ending at Buchanan High School in northwest Clovis.  The gathering time is at 6:30 pm, with ride-off at 7:00 pm.  The ride is silent and travels at a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour, making it suitable for riders of all skills.  Register here.

The Bike Station 

This month, The Bike Station will be at the Tower Theatre on Saturday, May 24 from 9:00 am to noon.  The Bike Station is a mobile bike clinic where you can do bike repairs or maintenance with the help of experienced bike mechanics.  On this date, beginning at 8:00 am, the adjacent intersection of Olive and Wishon Avenues will be repainted in preparation of the Pride Parade scheduled for June 7.  The crosswalk repainting is being organized by the office of Councilmember Miguel Arias, and registration can be found here.

Coffee Outside

There will be a Coffee Outside gathering at Trolley Park, near Fresno High at Van Ness and Weldon Avenues, on Monday, May 26 at 10:00 am.  Bring your own beverage, and come celebrate Memorial Day.  Register here.

Clean California Mural Ride

The mural rides of the past have typically involved visiting iconic murals in Downtown Fresno.  This year, the mural ride will visit brand new murals that are being painted below the State Route 180 freeway between San Pablo Park and First Street, across from Romain Park.  The murals will be painted on bridge columns and the slope paving below bridges.  Funding is from the Governor’s Clean California initiative.  Many of the murals have not been started yet but should be under way in the next few weeks.

The mural ride will begin at San Pablo Park, located at Belmont and San Pablo Avenues, at 9:00 am on Saturday, May 31. The ride will be 4 miles long with stops at Romain Park and freeway undercrossings.  You will be able to meet some of the artists.  Registration is here.

Dapper Ride and Picnic

The first annual Dapper Ride took place on Easter Sunday, April 20, with participants in their spring pastels riding from the Tower Theatre to the Fresno Art Museum for a delightful picnic.

Tranquillity Walk-Bike-Roll

On May 8, FCBC collaborated with the Fresno County Department of Public Health at the Tranquillity Elementary School Walk-Bike-Roll event to encourage parents and students to walk and bike to school.  FCBC donated refurbished bikes for the event.

Ride with the Mayor

FCBC collaborated with the Fresno Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) on the 3rd annual Ride with the Mayor on May 7.  There was a ride from City Hall to Chinatown and back after a number of dignitaries, including Mayor Jerry Dyer, Councilmembers Mike Karbassi and Nick Richardson, Supervisor Nathan Magsig, ATAC Chair Laura Gromis, and Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas, made speeches.  Earlier at City Hall, on May 1, the City Council Council passed a resolution proclaiming May as National Bike Month.

Bike Through History

On May 10, Bike Through History explored places from author William Saroyan’s life and writings.  James Sponsler, Chair of the Fresno Historic Preservation Commission, explained the significance of a dozen buildings in Old Armenian Town and how bicycling was important for William Saroyan to get around the community.  20 people participated in the ride.

Legislative Update

There are several bills related to bicycling proceeding through the legislative process.  These include bills that would require Caltrans to establish a bike highway system in the two major metropolitan areas of the state or to implement a quick-build pilot program on State highways.  There are also bills related to the setting of speed limits and regulation of e-bikes.  However, most of the discussion by the FCBC Legislative Committee have centered on the change in direction in transportation funding by the federal government.  Previously, there was a large focus on active transportation.  The current administration has downplayed the value of bike lanes and is openly hostile to road diets.  Federal funding for such safety improvements is in jeopardy for some local projects.

Next General Membership and Board Meetings

There is no general membership or Board meeting in May.  On June 17, FCBC will have in-person general membership and Board meetings at Me-n-Ed’s Victory Grill, located at 4010 N. Cedar Avenue in Fresno at Granite Park.  The general membership meeting will start at 6:30 pm, and the Board meeting will start upon the conclusion of the general membership meeting, no later than 7:00 pm.  The general membership meeting is for members and nonmembers to meet with the Board prior to the official Board meeting to ask questions or raise issues for the Board to consider.  Board meetings are restricted to members only.

Membership

If you are not yet a member of FCBC or need to renew, please visit https://fresnobike.org/join to become a member or renew your membership.

Have a comment or suggestion?  Contact us at info@fresnobike.org.