Cutler Bay’s traditional fall event, the Hometown Harvest Bike Ride, returned for its sixth year on Sunday, Dec. 9, at Lakes by the Bay Park, attracting nearly 100 riders.
The purpose of the annual ride is to provide a fun family event, promote bike safety and encourage more people to use bicycles as transportation.
Escorted by the Cutler Bay Policing Unit and town staff. Riders, children ages 10 and up joined friends, family members and expert bicyclists on a scenic 10-mile ride through the Saga Bay neighborhood including Black Point Marina, Saga Lake Park and Saga Bay Park.
Town Councilmember Peggy Bell, a proponent and co-organizer of the event who enjoys biking, said there is a purpose to the ride.
“As an environmental leader, Cutler Bay promotes bicycle usage as an alternative to the automobile,” Bell said. “This is accomplished through signage, such as ‘Share the road,’ establishing designated bike lanes, and donating bike helmets. These events provide a safe atmosphere for families to enjoy bicycling throughout our town and encourage those who may not often ride, to join us as we ‘hit the road.’”
Amscot Financial and the State of Florida sponsored the Bike Ride by donating more than 100 helmets each, which were given to all riders free of charge, to help promote bike helmet safety. Younger riders were instructed on the importance of wearing a helmet while riding their bikes to help establish good safety habits.
Refreshments for riders were provided at the Saga Bay Park checkpoint by the town’s Parks and Recreation Department. In the spirit of the holiday season, at the end of the ride, additional helmets were given to residents and ride participants as gifts.
