Cycling organization to host premier event in Catoosa for national bike month

To support May as national bike month, the Friends of Fremont will host an Alliance Cyclists (for) Economics, Recreation and Sport (ACERS) premier event Saturday, May 16, at 2 p.m. at Park Place Restaurant, 2891 Old Lafayette Road, in Fort Oglethorpe.

ACERS will install the first known area cycling alliance for northwest Georgia to raise awareness of cycling and especially the economic benefits of supporting the family friendly activity.

For Catoosa County this means an official survey of cycling Catoosa to report to the community about proposed bike lanes and other civic supports for cycling. The project is to raise safety awareness and help advance greater public and governmental applications for citizen cyclists.

Citizens who cycle are invited to attend. The premier event is free with advance registration at UsAcers.com or $20 at the event. Organizers will offer door prizes. Tootsie Hair and Nails is a community partner.

Aleq Boyle, special events chair for Friends of Fremont and area contact for U.S. ACERS, said May is touted as national bike month for several reasons, including the upcoming school free season. Schools will soon be dismissing and as the weather becomes more cycling friendly, Friends of Fremont wishes to stress to motorists to always be on the look out for cyclists, especially children.

The premier event comes at the end of “National Bike to Work Week.” Special honors and recognition will be presented to those who bike to work. To suggest a nominee, visit USACERS.com. You may follow on Twitter at Twitter.com/Usacers or call U.S. ACERS at 202-630-4659. Some sponsorships are available.

ACERS spoke at the Fort Oglethorpe Kiwanis Friday, May 1, to officially launch national bike month for the TAG region (Tenn., Ala., and Ga.). Other sponsors include BuyTAG.us and the St. Jerome Society at StJeromeSociety.com.

Fremont Philanthropies is a national alliance partner with U.S. ACERS, and is in collaboration with the League of American Bicyclist, based in Washington, D.C.