The Resource Center to conduct community bicycle ride June 3

This party will be rolling. And everyone is invited!

The Resource Center is collaborating with other organizations to hold a free community bicycle ride Saturday, June 3, in Dunkirk. The ride will begin at 1:00 at The Point Restaurant on Lake Shore Drive.

The ride is called the Dunkirk Pedal Party. Participants will follow a route taking them through various neighborhoods, along the lake front and into Point Gratiot Park. Along the way, there will be stops at Washington Park, Wright Park Beach and The Resource Center’s facility on Lake Shore Drive. At those points, riders will learn about the services and supports The Resource Center provides to the community.

The total distance is about 12 miles, and the ride is expected to last about 90 minutes. For people who don’t want to do the full ride, there is an option to do a 2-mile loop that takes riders through Point Gratiot, to The Resource Center and back to The Point. The 2-mile loop was added to make it possible for people of all ages and abilities to participate.

The full ride also will end at The Point, where participants are encouraged to stay to enjoy music and refreshments.

The Pedal Party is patterned after the Slow Roll Buffalo and Central Connection initiatives, in which cyclists gather to take bicycle tours of the communities. These rides are not races.  Rather, as the name implies, Slow Roll cyclists take a leisurely ride.

About 110 cyclists participated in last year’s ride, and organizers anticipate a larger turnout this year. Participants will receive a free gift as a thank-you for supporting the event.

The Dunkirk Pedal Party is being organized by The Resource Center; its STARS employee wellness program; Filling the Gap, Inc.; and Slow Roll Buffalo.

Though the event is free, organizers encourage those planning to participate to register online. It is recommended that all riders wear a certified helmet; New York State law requires children under 14 years old to wear a certified helmet when riding on a bicycle.

For more information, phone The Resource Center at 716-483-2344.