Participating in established national and international cycling events is a powerful way to build solidarity, raise awareness, and foster momentum within your community. Engaging in these events not only unites individuals around a shared passion but also amplifies important causes, promotes inclusivity, and strengthens communal bonds. This guide offers comprehensive information for community organizers aiming to host or participate in such events throughout the year, leveraging collective action to effect positive change.
| Event Title | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| National Bike Month | May (annually) | Celebrates and promotes cycling. |
| National Ride A Bike Day | First Sunday in May | Encourages everyone to cycle. |
| Bike to School Day | First Wednesday in May | Promotes cycling to school for students. |
| CycloFemme | Second Sunday in May (Mother's Day) | Empowers women through cycling. |
| Bike to Work Day | Third Friday in May | Encourages commuting by bicycle. |
| Ride of Silence | Third Wednesday in May at 7:00 PM | Honors injured or killed cyclists. |
| World Bicycle Day | June 3 (annually) | Celebrates the bicycle's global impact. |
| Park(ing) Day | Third Friday in September | Transforms parking spaces into public parks. |
| International Car Free Day | September 22 (annually) | Promotes car-free transportation methods. |
| World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims | Third Sunday in November | Remembers road traffic victims. |
Date/Time: Annually on the third Wednesday in May at 7:00 PM local time
Description: A silent, slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 km/h) to honor cyclists who have been injured or killed on public roadways. This powerful event creates awareness about bicycle safety and the vulnerability of cyclists on roads.
How to Participate: Cyclists of all levels are welcome. Participants should gather at a predetermined location, wear helmets, and maintain silence during the ride. White clothing is often encouraged as a symbol of remembrance.
Best Practices:
Resources: Ride of Silence Official Website
Date: Third Sunday in November
Description: A global event to remember those who have died or been seriously injured in road traffic accidents, including cyclists. This day serves as an opportunity to highlight the need for improved infrastructure and awareness.
How to Participate: Host memorial rides, candlelight vigils, or educational programs focusing on road safety. Installing ghost bikes (white-painted bicycles as memorials) can be part of this observance.
Best Practices:
Resources: World Day of Remembrance Official Website
Date: June 3 (annually)
Description: Established by the United Nations, World Bicycle Day celebrates the bicycle's role as a simple, affordable, and sustainable means of transportation. It acknowledges the bicycle's contribution to cleaner air, reduced traffic congestion, and healthier lifestyles.
How to Participate: Organize community rides, educational workshops, and bike donation drives to promote cycling. Family-friendly festivals centered around cycling culture work well.
Best Practices:
Resources: United Nations – World Bicycle Day
Timeframe: May (annually)
Description: A month-long celebration of cycling, highlighting its benefits and encouraging more people to ride. This extended timeframe allows for a variety of events to reach different community segments.
How to Participate: Organize events such as group rides, bike-to-work days, workshops, and safety seminars throughout the month. Create a calendar of activities that builds momentum throughout May.
Best Practices:
Resources: League of American Bicyclists – National Bike Month
Date: Third Friday in May (during National Bike Month)
Description: A day dedicated to encouraging commuters to try cycling to work, promoting the health and environmental benefits of biking as an alternative to car commuting.
How to Participate: Organize group commutes, set up pit stops with refreshments, and offer incentives for participants. Creating commuting "trains" led by experienced cyclists is particularly effective.
Best Practices:
Resources: League of American Bicyclists – Bike Month Dates and Events
Date: First Sunday in May
Description: A day to encourage everyone to get on a bike, whether for recreation, fitness, or transportation. This inclusive event aims to make cycling accessible to everyone.
How to Participate: Host community rides, bike safety clinics, and family-friendly cycling events. Consider organizing rides specifically for those who are new to cycling.
Best Practices:
Resources: League of American Bicyclists – Bike Month Dates and Events
Date: First Wednesday in May (during National Bike Month)
Description: An event encouraging students to safely bicycle to school, promoting physical activity, reducing traffic congestion around schools, and teaching road safety from an early age.
How to Participate: Coordinate with local schools to organize group rides with adult supervision, safety instruction sessions, and special activities upon arrival at school.
Best Practices:
Resources: National Center for Safe Routes to School
Date: Second Sunday in May (Mother's Day)
Description: A global celebration of women in cycling, aimed at empowering women and girls through the joy of bicycle riding and connecting women cyclists worldwide.
How to Participate: Organize women-led community rides, skills clinics specifically for women and girls, or social gatherings centered around cycling.
Best Practices:
Resources: CycloFemme Official Website
Check out our Critical Mass guide for more detailed advice on hosting a Critical Mass event.
Date: Typically the last Friday of each month
Description: A loosely organized, often spontaneous gathering of cyclists who ride together through urban centers to raise awareness about cycling and assert cyclists' right to the road.
How to Participate: Join or initiate a local Critical Mass ride by spreading the word about meeting times and locations through social media and community networks.
Best Practices:
Resources: Various local Critical Mass social media groups (note: Critical Mass is decentralized and typically organized at the local level)
Date: September 22 (annually)
Description: A day encouraging motorists to give up their cars for a day in favor of cycling, walking, or public transportation, highlighting the environmental and health benefits of car-free transport.
How to Participate: Organize community bike rides, temporary conversion of parking spaces to mini-parks (parklets), or advocate for car-free zones in your community for the day.
Best Practices:
Resources: World Car Free Day
Date: Third Friday in September
Description: A global, public, participatory project where people temporarily repurpose curbside parking spaces and convert them into public parks and social spaces to advocate for safer, greener, and more equitable streets for people.
How to Participate: Organize the transformation of metered parking spaces into temporary parklets that can serve as mini-parks, art installations, or social spaces. Engage community members, local businesses, and artists to design and implement these spaces, fostering community interaction and highlighting the potential of urban areas when reclaimed for public use.
Best Practices:
Resources: Park(ing) Day Official Website
Review our Ride Guide, Ride Leaders Guide, Community Event Guide, and Marketing Guide for more detailed advice.
For successful bicycle event planning, follow this general timeline:
Insurance and Liability: Secure appropriate event insurance and consider liability waivers for participants.
Inclusivity: Design events to be accessible to riders of different abilities, ages, and cycling experience.
Weather Contingencies: Have plans in place for inclement weather, including rescheduling options or modified activities.
Volunteer Management: Recruit, train, and recognize volunteers who will be essential to your event's success.
Documentation: Capture participation data, photos, and testimonials to build support for future events.
Evaluation: Develop metrics to measure the success of your event and identify areas for improvement.
Bicycle events offer a powerful way to build community, promote active transportation, and advocate for safer streets. By participating in established national and international cycling days, local organizations can tap into broader movements while addressing the specific needs and interests of their communities.
Whether focusing on safety, recreation, transportation, or environmental benefits, these cycling events provide frameworks that can be adapted to communities of all sizes. Through thoughtful planning and enthusiastic implementation, your bicycle event can become a cherished community tradition that grows in impact year after year.