May being “Bike Month” can only mean one thing in Davis: completing a 12-mile bike ride
By OLIVIA HOKR — city@theaggie.org
On Sunday, May 5, community members, families and students gathered for the annual Loopalooza bike ride through Davis. The tradition is hosted by the city of Davis and Bike Davis, who collaborate to create a fun day of cycling around the Davis bike loop. The event aims to promote safe biking while educating citizens about the bike infrastructure available in Davis.
The Loopalooza route started at Community Park, but participants were welcome to hop in at any point of the loop, which intentionally passes through various parks and schools to show residents the bikeability of Davis. Numerous city and campus organizations provided interactive and informative stations — 11 in total, ranging from dance groups and karaoke to educational opportunities from bicycle professionals.
Davis Senior Transportation Planner Jennifer Donofrio explained that Loopalooza was created when a group of community members, The Schools Committee, wanted to bring awareness to the safe bike routes in Davis.
“The Schools Committee created Loopalooza, a yearly event that directs families and community members around the 12-mile Davis bike loop with fun activities set up along the way,” Donofrio said. “Participants learn that they can get from their homes to their schools and throughout the community via the Davis paths.”
Bike Davis is a non-profit organization that focuses on promoting biking in Davis through advocacy and education, working with the city to organize the event. Sanne Fettinger, a member of the Bike Davis board of directors, shared how they focus on advocating for a bike-centered community.
“We envision Davis as a city where bicycling is the priority mode of travel, and we are committed to challenging and inspiring the citizens of Davis to reconnect with nature and their neighbors in pursuit of better health, kindred community and the pure joy of riding a bike,” Fettinger said.
Cool Davis is a non-profit organization that works with households on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable living. Once a month, they are present at the Davis Farmers Market to educate the community, and they also participate in Loopalooza every year.
The Cool Davis station along the bike loop focused on educating families and encouraging them to get out on their bikes more often. Transportation plays a major part in our greenhouse gas emissions, according to Executive Director Chris Granger.
“We’re focused on topics related to transportation,” Granger said. “Here in Davis, over 70% of our greenhouse gasses are related to our transportation behavior, so whether or not we get in our car to do everything is huge.”
This year’s Loopalooza had more activities, stations and food vendors than in previous years, according to Donofrio. Local businesses such as the Davis Co-op were in attendance to sell food to participants. The ASUCD Bike Barn also had a station where cyclists could talk with bike mechanics.
“We envision a city that tirelessly promotes and preserves a comfortable, beautiful and convenient bicycle network year-round for cyclists of all ages,” Fettinger said. “We hope that the rich bicycle heritage in Davis will continue to distinguish us as the Bicycle Capital of America.”
Written by: Olivia Hokr — city@theaggie.org
