MACON BIKE WALK MONTH 2023

Ditch your car, dust off your bike, and lace up your sneakers because May is Macon Bike Walk Month!

Bike Walk Macon celebrates Macon Bike Walk Month each year by hosting several free events that celebrate biking and walking. Not only is choosing to bicycle or walk better for the environment, but it is also better for you too. This month we have a number of events designed to get you out into the community and moving.

Check out our full schedule of events below and stay engaged with us on Facebook!

Consider supporting our work by signing up for a Bike Walk Macon membership

As a member, you are providing critical funding that supports our work to make Macon-Bibb County a safer, more enjoyable place to bike, walk, and live. All members will also score an invite to our second annual Mobility Maker Awards and Member Party at on June 22nd. Secure your invite and support our mission today!

Upcoming events

May 3

Walk & Bike to School Day

Celebrate the joy of active commuting while building a sense of community and school spirit. The event brings attention to the importance of creating safe routes to school. For more information on how to get involved, check out www.walkbiketoschool.org.

MAY 6

Walk With A Doc: Atrium Health

Walk with a Doc is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. You’ll take a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from a healthcare provider, then spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active, and enjoy all the benefits that come from walking.

Registration begins at Amerson River Park at 7:45 AM, and the walk will begin at 8:00 AM. Wear appropriate fitness gear and bring a water bottle. We hope to see you there!

MAY 7

Open Streets Macon: Houston Avenue

Bring your friends and family, and share in the experience of enjoying our city streets as public space!

Join Bike Walk Macon and Macon-Bibb County's District 2 Community Family for a special spring Open Streets Macon on Sunday, May 7th from 1 PM to 4 PM!

The streets of Macon will leap to life as Houston Avenue (Villa Crest Ave. to Lynmore Ave.) becomes a paved park. The road will be closed to motorized traffic for Maconites to enjoy their city streets as public spaces. There is no registration, and Open Streets Macon is FREE and open to the public.

Open Streets Macon is a car-free celebration of public space; bringing people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds together to walk, skate, bike, play, and re-imagine how we use our public streets.

MAY 11

MAcon Bike Party: Rock Candy Ride

Join Bike Walk Macon on Thursday, May 11th for Macon Bike Party’s Rock Candy Ride as Jamie Weatherford of Rock Candy Tours takes us on a roll around Downtown and Intown Macon highlighting several prominent music locations! Learn about Macon’s diverse music history while enjoying the scenic views from two wheels.

The Details
Macon Bike Party is a FREE, slow-paced community bicycle ride for people of all ages and skill levels. Enjoy our great city and its neighborhoods from a unique perspective.

Registration begins at the Bike Walk Macon office - 830 High Street, Macon, GA 31201 at 6:00 PM. Before the ride, we’ll share city-cycling safety tips. Wheels are down at 6:30 pm and we will end at Fall Line Brewing Co. for our profit sharing night after the ride! 

Riders are welcome to join or depart the group at any point. A complete route map will be available on this page 24 hours before the ride.

Remember to bring a helmet. We'll have FREE Bike Walk Macon lights, snacks, and drinks.

More details at www.bikewalkmacon.com/bikeparty.

MAY 11

Fall Line Brewing Co. Profit Share Night

Attention beer lovers and supporters of multimodal transportation!

Fall Line Brewing Co. is partnering with Bike Walk Macon for a special Profit Sharing Night on Thursday, May 11! A percentage of all sales will be donated to help support Bike Walk Macon's efforts to create safer, more accessible, and more connected streets for all.

But that's not all! Macon Bike Party is also taking place that evening and will end at Fall Line Brewing Co. for the Profit Sharing event. Participants can support both events by attending the Bike Party ride that starts at 6 PM at the Bike Walk Macon office (830 High Street) and ends at Fall Line Brewing Company or by simply joining us for the Profit Share Night.

Either way, you'll get to enjoy delicious handcrafted beer and tasty bites at Fall Line Brewing Co. while supporting bike and pedestrian safety in Macon. All you have to do is tell the cashier that you're there for the “Bike Walk Macon Fundraiser Night”.

Whether you're an avid cyclist, commuting pedestrian, or just someone who loves to support alternative transportation, this is a great opportunity to drink, eat, and socialize for a great cause. So, bring your friends, bring your family, and let's raise a glass for bike and pedestrian safety!

MAY 16

Tattnall Tuesday GROUP HEALTH WALK

Join us for Tattnall Tuesday to explore the streets of Macon in a healthy way!

This one-hour, medium-pace fitness walk meets on the third Tuesday of each month (March to June and September to December) at 6:00 PM.

Meet at the Tattnall Square Park parking lot on Oglethorpe Street. Participants should be able to walk 3 miles non-stop. Wear appropriate fitness gear and bring water.

May 23

UrBan Confidence - ADult Bike Class

Urban Confidence is an intermediate bicycling course for adults. This class will help you improve your experience and safety so you can pedal our city’s streets. We'll cover general bike safety, communicating with other commuters, using dedicated bike infrastructure, and reviewing state and local laws. The class will help students be predictable, visible, and confident while biking in an urban environment.

THE DETAILS

This class is FREE to attend for adults 18 and up, but please pre-register at urbanconfidencebikeclassmay.eventbrite.com to help us prepare. The class will begin at 6:00 PM in the Elaine H. Lucas Senior Center parking area, and last about 2 hours. We'll have FREE Bike Walk Macon lights, snacks, and water. Be sure to bring your helmet!

Bike Walk Macon has a limited supply of bicycles for use, though we recommend bringing your own bike since it is best to learn to ride on the bike you will be using most. Email kaylee@bikewalkmacon.com to borrow a bike.

This Bike Walk Macon class is made possible by a Georgia Office of Highway Safety Grant.

MAY 25

Re-Cycle Macon Bike Co-op

Join Re-Cycle Macon for their monthly bike co-ops in which organizations and volunteers work together to fix donated bikes and distribute them to community members in need of reliable transportation. Participants are also encouraged to bring their own bike to get work done to it, or just join us for the free meal and community.

All co-ops are held at 1185 Ash St. , also known as the Centenary Church Fellowship Hall, at 6:00 PM. Interested in volunteering as a mechanic or general help volunteer? Email Cassie Montelongo, Re-Cycle Macon coordinator, at cemontelongo1314@gmail.com.

MAY 26

Macon CAR FREE DAY

Join the movement to go car-free in Macon on May 26th.

By pledging to use alternative transportation (public transit, biking, or walking) or reduce your car use (ridesharing, carpooling, or teleworking), you can explore new options, improve air quality, reduce emissions, save money, meet new people, and see your community from a different lens. Whether you're on your way to work, school, the park, or to run errands, Car Free Day is a chance to see all the benefits of alternative transportation.

We've also teamed up with several businesses to offer perks to those who commit to going Car Free on May 26 by signing the Car Free Day Pledge. Sign up today to receive your confirmation email to show at participating partners on the big day.

Help us reach our goal of 200 Maconites going car-free on May 26th.


Looking to fullfil your car-free pledge? The Macon Transit Authority (MTA) is providing FREE bus rides to all passengers from a bus stop or the Transfer Center in Downtown Macon.

It's not always possible to bike or walk the entire commute, so let MTA help you complete your trip. No bus pass needed. Hop on or load your bike on an MTA bus bike rack and board the bus (including paratransit) to claim unlimited FREE rides on May 26!

Share your commute using #tryMTA and visit the MTA website for instructions on how to load and unload your bike.

MAY 26

Bagels & BIKES Commuter Meet-up

In celebration of Macon Car Free Day, we’re hosting a commuter meetup at Macon Bagels located at 470 Third Street for a casual conversation about how we all can commit to enhancing biking and walking in Macon and the benefits of having alternative transportation options.

As an added incentive, Macon Bagels is offering FREE hot or iced coffee to everyone who ditches their car on May 26! Drop-in anytime between 7:45 am to 9 am and grab a breakfast sandwich, drink a quick cup of joe, or just mingle with fellow commuters.

Very casual, wear whatever you commute in.

After the meet-up, join the Bike Walk Macon team for Ride Free Day with MTA!

June 3

Macon Trails Day: Explore, connect, and give back!

Celebrate National Trails Day at Amerson River Park on June 3 from 9 am to 12 pm and help support one of Macon's most beloved attractions - the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail (OHT).

We’ll have a fun-filled day of free, family-friendly activities at the pavilion at Amerson, all aimed at raising funds and increasing awareness for the OHT! Join the Amerson Adventure Challenge, take a guided tour, or check out our community partners. There will be plenty of opportunities to soak up the picturesque scenery and learn more about the trail's importance to the community.

Whether you're an experienced trail enthusiast or a newcomer to Macon's outdoor scene, we welcome you to join our cause and show your love for Macon's trails by joining us for this FREE event or by making a donation.

Here is how you can join us in celebrating National Trails Day in Macon:

  • Join us. Bring out your friends, family, and bicycles to Amerson River Park on June 3rd from 9 am to 12 noon for the FREE Macon Trails Day event! More event info here: www.bikewalkmacon.com/events/nationaltrailsday2023

  • Make a donation. Proceeds will benefit NewTown Macon's Ocmulgee Heritage Trail construction fund which furthers trail expansion. Donations will also support traffic calming projects led by Bike Walk Macon that will connect to the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail. Donate here: www.betterunite.com/macontrails2023 

  • Get active. Hop on a new (or familiar) trailway in Macon. There are several trail options for you and the family to get out and get active by biking, running, walking, or skating! Pick one and enjoy!

  • Connect. Whatever way you choose to celebrate our community’s greenspaces, connect with us on social media. Take a photo enjoying Macon's trails and tag @bikewalkmacon or @newtownmacon with the hashtag #TrailsDayMACON so we can share your pics.

JUNE 22

MOBILITY MAKER MEMBER PARTY 

5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | Fall Line Brewing Co.

Become a member during Bike Walk Month and get an invite to the Mobility Maker Party on June 22! As a member of Bike Walk Macon, you are helping to make Macon a safer, more enjoyable place to walk, bike, and live.

Members are invited to join Bike Walk Macon’s annual Mobility Maker Party. Drop-in and celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together in the past eight years. Get ready for an evening of fun and good company!

This event is FREE to Bike Walk Macon members.

Not a Bike Walk Macon member? Join here!
Not sure if your membership is up to date? Email rachel@bikewalkmacon.com.

ongoing events

 
 

Donate a bike

Re-Cycle Macon is a program Centenary Community Ministries (CCMI) founded in partnership with Bike Tech and Bike Walk Macon to get bicycles to under-resourced individuals in Macon lacking dependable transportation.

Bikes may be dropped off at Re-cycle Macon, 1235 Ash St., Macon, GA 31201.

crank to coffee

Join the Bike Tech family each Saturday Morning (weather dependent) for a fun bike ride exploring downtown Macon.

Crank to Coffee is a casual weekly bicycle ride. All riders and skill levels are welcome! The route is around 8-10 miles (round trip) but the route is rather flat for the area. We stop along the route at a local coffee shop (varies) for a quick break. Arrive around 8:00 AM at the shop to prepare for the ride. Wheels down at 8:15 AM sharp!

Gravel Ride Series

Join Bike Tech in Juliette for their Gravel Ride Series. Rides are typically 15+ miles at an 11+ MPH pace on surfaces that can include smooth & washboard gravel, loose, rocky, and sandy terrain over a mix of paved and gravel roads.

A helmet, gloves, front and rear lights, spare tube, etc. are required. More info at biketechmacon.com under the Ride With Us page.

omba chill ride

Join the Ocmulgee Mountain Bike Association for a chill ride around the L.H. Thompson Trail every Tuesday (weather depentent) at 6:00 PM.