I rode my bike 17 miles around Ypsi today. I’m glad that I was able to be a part of it. I always like when someone in the community has a great idea and it kind of takes off, and that’s what seems to have happened here. Some folks in the Midtown Neighborhood Association began talking about bikes, and the importance of biking, when the City first announced that they’d be ticketing people riding on the sidewalks, and those conversations led to this idea that local bike-riders should get together for a discussion on bike safety, and a casual ride around town. When all was said and done, 55 people turned out for it, and it was a really cool thing. It feels good to be a part of a community where something like that can happen. And it didn’t hurt that today was the most beautiful day of the year.
How’s this for a new Ypsi tag-line: “Bike-Friendly, Beer-Friendly, Gay-Friendly and Green”? It occurred to me this afternoon as I was struggling up the last hill, making my way toward a frosty mug of Red Snapper at the Corner Brewery. I know Ypsi’s a lot more than that, but I think those four things in particular deserve to be called out. It’s better, in my opinion, than “Hip, Historic, Hipsilanti.” And, I know that Historic probably belongs in there, as well as Artistic, Progressive, Diverse, Sustainable, Creative and Walkable, but I wanted to limit it to four. And I know that we aren’t exactly all of those things yet, but I like the idea of steering this big ship of ours in that direction.
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Hip and Historic is kind of an oxymoron. But the ride does show that what makes Ypsi great is not the buildings but the people. It’s great to spend a few hours riding with friends and neighbors. After the ride I went join a community soccer game that happens in Frog Island every Sunday afternoon. They already had sixteen people playing. Yeah it being a nice day helps, but the point is these are the locals making the city great. I’m sure there are things like this going on all over the city. So get on the streets and start taking part.
And a big shout out to Mark. I found out about the ride on MM.com.
I’ll forgo the details, but I did want to share that I too exerted myself on Sunday. It my fifth annual self-abuse marathon.
Thanks for the advance advertising and this write up! As someone who rides all around Ypsi all by my self, I found it quite a trip to roll with such a huge, diverse group. I’m feeling all pro-Ypsi glowy!
Kudos to the organizers for whipping up such a good event. Is the next one next spring? I definitely want to come along. If the group can summon 62 people simply by word of mouth and modest flier advertising, then by spring they should be able to drum up well over a hundred. That would be so fun.
What a great sunday. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mark, and I look forward to the next ypsi ride. Hopefully no one catches on that I’m actually an Ann Arbor spy.
You might just see yourself as an Ann Arborite, but I sense potential. One of these days, who knows, we might ask you to join us here in Ypsilanti. Allow yourself to dream.