Popular Community Bike Rides Expand Schedule
Free Recreation that Brings People Together
Fort Wayne, Ind. – Season two of the popular Trek the Trails community bike rides will begin one month earlier and feature expanded trail trips.
“Last year our rides were so popular -- growing to well over a hundred riders each week. Residents loved the guided tours and told us they wanted more of them. It’s no wonder as Fort Wayne has one of the finest trail systems in the Midwest with over 60 miles of trails winding through urban and rural areas around the City,” said Mayor Tom Henry.
Beginning Tuesday May 3, 2011 at 6:00pm you will have an opportunity to join other trail users on a community bike ride every Tuesday through the end of September. 22 guided bike rides will take bicyclists through all parts of the community – along the Rivergreenway, the Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, the Aboite Trails, the Pufferbelly Rail-to-Trail and the Salomon Farm Trail.
It’s a great opportunity to see Fort Wayne from a new perspective that’s off the beaten path. Each Tuesday trail ride is about 6 to 8 miles long. Helmets are a requirement for participants.
“We listened when riders requested an expanded schedule and to those who wanted longer bike rides. Besides the Tuesday rides we’ve added four Saturday rides that will run up to 20 miles. I think that will attract a whole new group of residents,” said Mayor Henry.
Another new Trek the Trails tradition this summer is Monday lunchtime walking tours around downtown Fort Wayne. These 40 minute tours will meet at the Courthouse Green at noon each Monday in June and July, with the exception of Independence Day, and will tour the trails, the downtown and nearby historic neighborhoods.
If there is unsafe weather, such as lightning, the ride or walk will be cancelled.
Below is a list of events.
Tuesday Trail Rides – 6pm:
All Tuesday evening rides start at 6pm.
1. May 3, 2011 - Salomon Farm and Pufferbelly Trail – Meet at Salomon Farm Park on Dupont Road. Ride is 4-6 miles.
2. May 10, 2011 - Towpath Trail - Meet at the Rockhill Park Trailhead on Catalpa Street, near West Jefferson and Freeman. Ride is 8 miles.
3. May 17, 2011 - Aboite Trails – Meet at the back of Indian Trails Park on Aboite Center Road. Ride is 8 miles
4. May 24, 2011 - Rivergreenway – Meet at Johnny Appleseed Park near Coliseum Blvd. Ride is 8 miles.
5. May 31, 2011 - Rivergreenway – Meet at Foster Park near the trailhead parking lot by Pavilion #1. Ride is 8 miles.
6. June 7, 2011 - Aboite Trails - Meet at Deer Ridge Elementary (1515 S Scott Rd) near the trail. Ride is 8 miles.
7. June 14, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at the Lawton Park Trailhead gravel parking lot near the skate park on 4th St. Ride is 8 miles.
8. June 21, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at the North River Rd Trailhead (Boat Launch) west of Kreager Park. Ride is 8 miles.
9. June 28, 2011 - Aboite Trails - Meet at Deer Ridge Elementary (1515 S Scott Rd) near the trail. Ride is 8 miles.
10. July 5, 2011 - Towpath Trail - Meet at the Rockhill Park Trailhead on Catalpa St, near W Jefferson and Freeman. Ride is 8 miles.
11. July 12, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at the IPFW parking lot off Coliseum Blvd on the campus side of the river near the new pedestrian bridge. Ride is 8 miles.
12. July 19, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at the Headwaters Park parking lot near the intersection of Clinton and Superior. Ride is 8 miles.
13. July 26, 2011 - Aboite Trails - Meet at the back of Indian Trails Park on Aboite Center Rd. Ride is 8 miles.
14. August 2, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at the parking lot in Shoaff Park by the soccer fields on the south side of the park, near the trail. Ride is 8 miles.
15. August 9, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at the Lawton Park Trailhead gravel parking lot near the skate park on 4th St. Ride is 8 miles.
16. August 16, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at the North River Rd Trailhead (Boat Launch) west of Kreager Park. Ride is 8 miles.
17. August 23, 2011 - Aboite Trails - Meet at the back of Indian Trails Park on Aboite Center Rd. Ride is 8 miles.
18. August 30, 2011 - Towpath Trail - Meet at the new trailhead parking lot at Statesman's Way and Engle Rd. Ride is 9 miles.
19. September 6, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at Moser Park in New Haven in the parking lot by the baseball field. Ride is 8 miles.
20. September 13, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at Swinney Park West in the swimming pool parking lot. Ride is 8 miles.
21. September 20, 2011 - Towpath Trail - Meet at the new trailhead parking lot at Statesman's Way and Engle Rd. Ride is 9 miles.
22. September 27, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at the Lawton Park Trailhead gravel parking lot near the skate park on 4th St. Ride is 8 miles.
Saturday Trail Rides – 9am:
These are longer trail rides intended for intermediate bicyclists. Please be ready to ride at 9am.
1. June 11, 2011 - Aboite Trails - Meet at Deer Ridge Elementary (1515 S. Scott Rd). Ride is 10 miles.
2. July 9, 2011 - Rivergreenway and Towpath Trail - Meet at the Foster Park Trailhead parking lot by Pavilion #1. Ride is 15 miles.
3. August 13, 2011 - Rivergreenway - Meet at the parking lot in Shoaff Park on the south side of the park by the soccer fields, near the trail. Ride is 17 miles.
4. September 10, 2011 - Towpath Trail and Rivergreenway - Meet at the new trailhead parking lot at Statesman's Way and Engle Rd. Ride is 20 miles.
Monday Lunchtime Walking Tours
40 minute walks beginning at 12 noon every Monday in June and July. Walkers will meet at the Courthouse Green in the 100 block of E. Main Street.
No tour on July 4, 2011.