April 2025

Spring is in full swing, with Bike Month just around the corner.  Preparations are being made for the many exciting events that will be held next month.

In this month’s Newsletter:

• The first annual Dapper Spring Ride and Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, April 20 at 11:00 am with a bike ride from the Tower Theater to the Fresno Art Museum.. 

• May is Bike Month, with Bike to Work Day, Bike with the Mayor Ride, Ride Through History, and Clean California Mural Ride.

• FCBC facilitated a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Seminar at Fresno State in March.

• The next FCBC general membership meeting and FCBC Board meeting are scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 at 6:30 and 7:00 pm, respectively.

Dapper Spring Ride and Picnic

The first annual Dapper Spring Ride and Picnic will take place on Easter Sunday, April 20.  The meeting location will be the Tower Theater at 11:00 am.  From there will be a ride to the Fresno Art Museum near Clinton Avenue and First Street to have the picnic.  Ride your vintage bike if you have one while donning seersucker or spring pastels and bowties or suspenders.  Bring your own food and beverages.  Wicker baskets, fine china, and silverware are optional.  After having a delightful lunch, enjoy free admission to the museum as your bikes are securely stored. Register here.

May is Bike Month

Here are some of the activities to mark on your calendar for Bike Month:

• Clovis Trail Fest is also on Saturday, May 4, from 8:00 to noon along the Old Town and Dry Creek Trails and includes many family-friendly activities along the trails.

• The third annual Bike with the Mayor Ride with Fresno Mayor Dyer will take place on Wednesday, May 7 at 4:00 pm at City Hall, with a ride in Downtown Fresno.

• Arrangements are being made for a Bike Through History on Saturday, May 10.  This ride is sponsored by FCBC and the Fresno Historic Preservation Commission.  More information is to come.

• Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 15.  FCBC and Caltrans will have an energy station at Manchester Center near the Starbucks along Shields Avenue.  There will not be an energy station at the Tower Theater this year.

• The Ride of Silence is organized by the Fresno Cycling Club and will also be on Wednesday, May 21.  The ride is a 8 mile loop beginning and ending at Buchanan High School.  The gathering time is at 6:30 pm, with a ride off time of 7:00 pm.

• The Bike Station will have a bike clinic event in the Tower District.  Date is yet to be determined and will be posted on the FCBC website and The Bike Station Facebook page.

• To close out Bike Month, there will be a Clean California Mural Ride on Saturday, May 31, beginning at 9:00 am at the Ted C. Wills Community Center in the Tower District..

Fresno Vision Zero Action Plan Outreach Event on March 30

Our most recent Vision Zero event took place in March, and it was one to remember.  In total, we donated 15 bikes to community members–each one bringing joy and new opportunities to its recipient. But one donation stood out in a truly special way.

Among the bikes was one from the estate of David Cunningham, an avid cyclist whose love for riding spanned a lifetime.  After David’s passing, his sister Barbara and family reached out to FCBC with a heartfelt wish:  they wanted David’s bike and gear to be passed on to someone who truly needed it.

Chris Eacock of Tower Velo and Board Member Julie Congi made the trip to Visalia to pick up the donations, and with some TLC, got the bike ready to shine again.  It was raffled off at our Vision Zero event, and the boy who received it was overjoyed–he had hoped for it and was beyond thrilled to take it home.

David’s legacy lives on through that bike, now part of a new chapter in someone else's cycling story.

“I know my brother would have loved this,” Barbara shared. “Cycling was such a big part of his life, and it means so much to know his bike will continue to bring joy and freedom to someone else.”

Stories like this remind us why we do what we do. They’re more than just bikes — they’re memories, connections, and new beginnings.

LCI Seminar in Fresno

On March 21 to 23, FCBC facilitated a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Seminar at Fresno State in collaboration with the Fresno County Department of Public Health, CalFresh Healthy Living Program,  Besides employees of Fresno County, registrants included FCBC Board Members Julie Congi, JD Graves, and Danny Vazquez, as well as Fresno Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) Chair Laura Gromis among several others.

The LCI Seminar was taught by LCI Coach Jim Baross, President of the California Association of Bicycle Organizations (CABO) and Board Member of the League of American Bicyclists (LAB).  Over the 24 hours of instruction, LCIs learned how to give effective presentations of the LAB content and teach the parking lot bike handling and avoidance maneuvers.

There are now more than 10 new LCIs in Fresno to provide bicycle education to the community.  Special thanks to Fresno County and the Fresno Council of Governments for their financial support and the US Green Building Council Central California for use of their facility.  Another LCI Seminar is planned for Fresno next year.

Earth Day 2025

FCBC and The Bike Station were at Earth Day Fresno at Fresno City College on April 12. It started with a bike ride from City Hall.  FCBC provided free bike valet and gave away two kids’ bikes.

Items Needed–Donation Opportunity

Earlier this year we had asked if any members would be willing to donate towards the purchase of some items we felt would help FCBC better serve our membership and community.  We would like to thank George Madrid and Wendell Stephenson for donations that will allow us to purchase some new megaphones to help on our larger rides and also some first aid kits that we will carry along in case anyone gets too close to the pavement.  Thank You George and Wendell! 

We are still planning to acquire a new popup tent this year so if you feel compelled to support your friends at the FCBC you can do so here or you can mail a check made out to Fresno County Bicycle Coalition to PO Box 2332, Clovis CA 93613.

Next General Membership and Board Meetings

The next general membership and Board meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 at 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm, respectively, via Zoom.  The general membership meeting is for members and nonmembers to meet with the Board prior to the official Board meeting to ask questions or raise issues for the Board to consider.  Board meetings are restricted to members only.

If you would like to participate in either or both meetings, register here, and you will immediately get the Zoom link.

Membership

If you are not yet a member of FCBC or need to renew, please visit https://fresnobike.org/join to become a member or renew your membership.

Have a comment or suggestion?  Contact us at info@fresnobike.org.