Bicycles will take over streets of West Chester Saturday

On Saturday, Aug. 11, the streets of Downtown West Chester will again host a series of bicycle races:

To build the “race course”, the Borough of West Chester is required to post no parking signs on Friday morning. The race course will be prepared on Saturday morning. Vehicular traffic will be diverted beginning at 11 a.m. until midnight.

The racing schedule is as follows: 3:30 p.m. (WC Dental Arts Kids’ Race); 4:30 p.m. (Tolsdorf Adult Trike Challenge); 5:45 p.m. (Rothman Institute Amateur Men’s Race); 6:45 p.m. (Brumbaugh Wealth Management Pro Women’s Race); 7:45 p.m. (Iron Hill Pro Men’s Race).

The race course is as follows: With the exception of the Kids’ Race, cyclists will head west on Gay Street, south on Church Street, east on Market Street, north on Matlack Street and back to Gay Street.

Traffic message boards will be installed days before alerting vehicular traffic of the event and road closures. Signs will be located: southbound on Pottstown Pike, eastbound on Route 322, northbound at Rosedale and High and westbound on Gay Street.

This is a non-alcoholic event. Alcohol is not permitted outside of designated licensed restaurant café areas. Please help to keep this a family friendly event for all those attending. Also, please be sure to keep a clear passageway on all sidewalks and outdoor cafes to allow pedestrians to pass comfortably.

The Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic was established and organized as a community initiative by community business people with an enthusiasm for the sport of cycling. The Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic remains the only professional sporting event in Chester County. The goal is to continue to create an environment of fun and fitness for families. With the added excitement of the USA CRITS Series, West Chester is again positioned as a destination point for shoppers and diners not only from southeast Pennsylvania but from throughout the United States. Local retailers and restaurants are encouraged to showcase their businesses with the increase of foot traffic coming for the races. The chamber and event volunteers will be encouraging guests and spectators to visit and support local shops. Initiatives like ThinkShopBuy...LOCAL are encouraged.