The saying goes, there’s strength in numbers. Friday, Nov. 5, local bicyclists turned up in DTLV to help forge a more united community so that we can create change. People from across the valley with all types of bikes, from road bikes to e-bikes to low riders, decked out in lights, showed up for a group ride to celebrate the launch of Let’s Get There Together.
Led by SNVBC’s Rob Hutchinson and Tony Capsouto, the ride started at the Government Center and traveled through the Arts District, ending at our Celebrate Cycling vendor village and community mural area.
As cyclists grabbed brushes to help finish the mural outlined by local artist Shan Michael Evans, pedestrians passing by on the street also joined in. In an act of hope, a white Ghost Bike was painted a rainbow of colors. After all, their goal is to no longer exist, #NoMoreGhostBikes.
As people milled about the vendor area, there was a lot of talk about community and safety. A low-rider bicyclist talked about how a friend had been hit by a car and hospitalized recently. He said he showed up to support the idea of safer streets. Local journalist Alan “Bicycle Man” Snel of LVSportsBiz.com commented that the evening was the most diverse showing of bicyclists in Las Vegas.
And that was our goal because if we want to get there, meaning zero fatalities, we have a better chance if we all work together.
The mural painting started around 5 p.m., and by 9:30 p.m., we were looking at Las Vegas’ first community cycling mural.
To produce the event, it took the work of a village. Many thanks to our vendors: The American Heart Association, Gizmo, RTC’s Ride Share, Save Red Rock, and Trek Bikes for donating helmets we were able to give away for free. We are grateful for Shan Michael Evans, Paco Álvarez, Paul Murad, Dunn Edwards Paint, photographer Hugh Bryne, and volunteers like Stephanie Bissonnette, Eden Capsouto, Paul Doyle, Leigh Eckley, John Hail, Mike Hileman, Ami Kempf, Bob McCall, Vic Miera, Justine Ries, Johnny Rodriguez, Janet Runyan, Donna Trauger and Gina Waymire.
If you’d like to see more community events of this nature or if you’d like to be on our volunteer list, hit us up on social or join our mailing list!