Thanks to all who competed for the 2019 Bike Easy Challenge!
The Bike Easy Challenge grew out of the first Bike to Work Day eight years ago. Since then, New Orleans Bike to Work Day has expanded to include the Greater New Orleans region and maintains it’s spot as the marquis event of the Bike Easy Challenge. Three years ago, organizations and people involved in the planning of Bike to Work Day recognized that to hold an event that truly captures the depth of people who bike in this city, we must include more than just the people who bike to work. The Bike Easy Challenge was born and has been growing ever since.
The Challenge intends to show the breadth of people who ride bikes in New Orleans and also lets them show a little of their competitive edges by riding for the top spot on leaderboards and prizes. People who bike anytime, anywhere can participate – whether they’re up on the levee, riding to work, or to the grocery store. The point system also heavily favors encouraging new riders to join. It’s always easier to get back in the saddle when you’re doing it as part of something bigger.
The competition and events attracted record-breaking participation! Over 1000 people logged a ride on the Love To Ride Platform throughout April, riding a total 92,581 miles. Think about all that traffic eased and CO2 saved! 145 workplace teams competed from tech firms to non-profits to New Orleans City Hall and informal groups tested out the new club/group feature for cycling clubs or teams of friends and family. Before and during the month of April riders in Gentilly, New Orleans East, and on the Greenway could stop by our pit stops for coffee and bike maintenance – completely free of charge, bike commuters gathered for the eighth annual Bike to Work Day, and all who competed in the Challenge came together to celebrate at the Bike Easy office with some crawfish and beer. Check out some of the pictures below!
Tulane Americrps Vista Team
“Last Chance Crawfish Boil!” – Heather Haylett, Tulane Americorps VISTA team champion
Green Coast Enterprise Team
“GCE biking with Pogba” – Joe Ryan, Green Coast Enterprises team champion
Long-time rider Jeff Dye
“BEC Day 3: Rolling on the river” – Jeff Dye, Law Offices of David Jefferson Dye team champion
While we’ve reached the end of the 2019 Bike Easy Challenge, Bike Easy has plenty of events planned for the rest of the year. Join us May 26 for our signature Bicycle Second Line – a pedal powered version of the second lines that wind through our streets. You can check out details on the Facebook event here. And stay tuned for our 2019 Bike Easy Challenge individual and team prize winner announcement! And of course, join us next April for the 2020 Bike Easy Challenge.
Thank you to all of the sponsors that make this month-long competition and all of it’s events possible – our featured sponsor Entergy, and Bike Law Louisiana, Blue Bikes, Clean Air Coalition, and GE digital!
