Plant City residents tested the city’s bike friendliness early Saturday morning as they hit the streets in the annual Bike with the Mayor and Dean’s Ride event.
This is the first time the city has combined the Bike with the Mayor event with Dean’s Ride. Dean’s Ride was created in memory of Dean Snyder, a resident who left a permanent mark on his community and encouraged others to pursue healthy lifestyles. The mayor’s event was created to promote bike safety and offer a unique opportunity for the public to get to know their mayor and commissioners.
However, despite its name Mayor Rick Lott was not present at this year’s event as he had a prior commitment. Commissioner Bill Dodson stood in his place, encouraging the crowd to continue to get involved with their city’s events and echoing the hope frequently mentioned by Lott at prior events that the city will one day have an accessible bike program and bike trails.
“One of the main purposes for Bike with the Mayor is to raise awareness of Florida Bike Month, which is held in March,” Dodson said. “But in Plant City we also want to raise awareness of bikeability and walkability in the community… I’m really proud of the relationship the city has with the YMCA. The proceeds you’re providing for (the Dean’s Ride) goes toward the Livestrong Program, which is a great program coming out of the YMCA for cancer survivors.”
It’s the third year the event has been held in Plant City and the promise of connecting bike trails from Tampa to even neighboring Pinellas and Pasco counties have been mentioned nearly every time. Dodson was more vague and reminded the public such a massive undertaking takes time and thanked everyone for showing up and proving there was a desire in Plant City for biking events.
Dodson focused his speech on the importance of recognizing bike-ability in Plant City, a concept not many think of when they think of the strawberry-focused town. Historic downtown has cobblestone, many neighborhoods have extremely narrow streets and the handful of avid biking groups that are local bike shortly after sunrise, long before rush hour traffic makes its way to the city.
Normally the Bike with the Mayor event is held on a weekday early in the morning and attracts attendees from all over Hillsborough County. Coordinated by the Plant City Parks & Recreation department as well as Planning & Zoning and Plant City Police Department, the event is relatively short and fosters a sense of camaraderie between the public and city officials.
This year, several of the regular local attendees opted to participate in one of the 64-mile, 37-mile or 19-mile waves for the Dean’s Ride rather than do the 3.5-mile stroll through Plant City. After posing for a photo with Dodson, the Bike with the Mayor participants biked from the Trinkle Center and into northeast Plant City with the guidance and assistance of PCPD officers.
Prior to the Bike with the Mayor event, three waves of athletes headed out from the same starting point for the Dean’s Ride. There were 132 riders signed up to participate and the event supports the Plant City Family YMCA’s Livestrong Program for cancer survivors.
“This was by many accounts the best Dean’s Ride yet with the help of more sponsors this year,” Bryan Cross, membership director for the ‘Y, said. “We raised more money for our LiveStrong Program than any year prior.”
It’s become a staple in the community since its creation in 2013. The first year Snyder himself joined the bikers even though he was battling esophageal cancer. His strength, strong character and humble nature touched the hearts of everyone he met and the event has only continued to grow since his death.
Thousands have been raised over the years by the event and Livestrong uses the funds to help its free 12-week wellness programs that supports cancer survivors and helps them achieve a healthy lifestyle flourish.
Despite the early start the riders are always in jovial spirits as they sip coffee and enjoy a light breakfast while catching up with friends at the starting line. Regardless of the weather the group never fails to show its support and raise money for the worthy cause.