Plant City residents gathered before the sunrise Wednesday, March 22, for the inaugural Bike with the Plant City Mayor event at Gilchrist Park.
Mayor Rick Lott, joined by Vice-Mayor Bill Dodson, led a 2.75-mile bike ride through Plant City to commemorate Florida Bicycle Month.
"Other cities were doing it," Mara Latorre, a planner with the City of Plant City's planning and zoning division, said. "Bike/Walk Tampa (Bay) invited us to participate, and I thought it was a great idea. It really flourished. It got the support of the planning and zoning division, the parks and recreation department and our police officers. We also got support from the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization."
Mayor Rick Lott, who led the early morning ride, said he would like to see the event held every year.
"We have a very strong parks and recreation department," Lott said. "It's so diverse. This one element puts emphasis on more bike trails through our city, and it promotes bike safety. As Midtown develops, it will be possible for people to bike to work as well."
In addition to Lott, Dodson and Latorre, city representatives from the parks and recreation department and the planning and zoning division also came out for the ride.
-Emily Topper