Creatively decorate your bicycle for a group bike ride
The health benefits to riding a bike are numerous and include strengthening your hips, thighs and rear end. Because cycling is a low-impact activity, it is gentle on joints, making it an excellent activity for individuals of varied ages and activity levels. But most importantly, bike riding is fun and a great way to bring the community together over exercise.
This summer, join Our Vibrant Community for bike events designed to increase visibility for cycling as participants inventively decorate their bikes for a group ride. The Wacky Wheelers Parades will rotate throughout Springfield’s various neighborhoods annually. As of press time, two Wacky Wheelers Parades are planned for this summer: Saturday, June 10, from 1-4 p.m., in Enos Park, and Saturday, July 15, from 1-4 p.m., at Vredenbergh Park located inside the Sherwood subdivision. Both parades are free for participants and spectators.
Each Wacky Wheelers Parade will follow the same format. From 1-3 p.m., participants will undergo bicycle safety training and decorate their bikes creatively for the group ride. Some art supplies will be provided by Our Vibrant Community, but attendees are welcome to bring their own materials and creative embellishments as well. The bike parade will occur at 3 p.m. During the parade, voting will take place in three fun categories: “Best of Illinois,” “Most Creative” and “Best Animal.” Prizes will be awarded to winners at 3:45 p.m.
Our Vibrant Community, the host of the Wacky Wheelers Parades, is a local organization created and led by visual coordinator and community engager Rhiannon Gurley. OVC was founded in 2015 with the goal of encouraging and hosting arts-based community development and social art justice initiatives, as well other creative events and community-based art services. Our Vibrant Community hosts a variety of events each month, such as artsy bonding activities for adults and children, adult coloring nights featuring coloring sheets by local artists, and various other art therapy programs, camps and classes.
For more information about Rhiannon Gurley and Our Vibrant Community, like Our Vibrant Community on Facebook, call 331-2027, email rhiannon@ ourvibrantcommunity.com or visit http:// rhiannonsarbor.com. –Nan Kording
