MISSOULA, MT, September 6, 2016 — Over 1,300 rides with nearly 10,000 participants in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and several countries are already registered for the first-ever Bike Your Park Day on September 24. Organizers expect people to register hundreds of additional rides in the next several weeks.

Bike Your Park Day encourages people to ride to and within parks and public lands in celebration of the National Park Service (NPS) centennial, National Public Lands Day, and Adventure Cycling’s 40th anniversary. Many parks will have free entrance, and some parks will offer special activities and service projects.

“Bike Your Park Day is a great opportunity to promote healthy, active recreation in our parks while at the same time encouraging family-friendly activities during the NPS Centennial year,” said Bob Ratcliffe, NPS Program Chief of Conservation and Outdoor Recreation. “Plus it’s a much better experience seeing our parks from the seat of a bicycle than sitting in a car!”

People who want to participate in Bike Your Park Day can design their own ride — any distance, any style of bicycling, and any type of park or public land that is open to bicycles. Participants register their ride for free at BikeYourParkDay.org and an interactive map displays all of the rides taking place. Everyone who registers by September 5 will be entered into a drawing to win a custom-painted Salsa Marrakesh touring bicycle.

Bike Your Park Day’s interactive map of rides include many that are open for others to join. People can contact the ride organizer via the interactive website. Those who have questions about the event can contact one of the 150 Bike Your Park Day volunteer ambassadors based in 47 states. They can answer questions about bicycle safety, bike-friendly routes, and nearby parks and public lands.

Media tools are available for those wishing to share or promote their ride, including the Bike Your Park Day logo, sample social media posts and images, a template press release/newsletter article, and a downloadable fill-in-the-blanks poster. The Bike Your Park Day hashtag is #bikeyourpark.

The generous sponsors of Adventure Cycling’s 40th anniversary include Raleigh Bicycles, Montana Department of Commerce, Salsa Cycles, Advocate Cycles, Primal Wear, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, Visit Mississippi, Travel Oregon, Visit Idaho, Osprey Packs, Experience Plus!, Destination Missoula, Missoulian, and New Belgium Brewing.

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Adventure Cycling Association inspires and empowers people to travel by bicycle. It is the largest cycling membership organization in North America with more than 50,000 members. Adventure Cycling produces cycling routes and maps for North America, organizes more than 100 tours and leadership courses annually, and publishes the Adventure Cyclist magazine. With over 45,000 meticulously mapped miles in the Adventure Cycling Route Network, Adventure Cycling gives cyclists the tools and the confidence to create their own bike travel adventures. Phone: 800-755-BIKE (2453). Web: www.adventurecycling.org.

CONTACT

Lisa McKinney, Communications Director

lmckinney@adventurecycling.org

Direct: (406) 532-2759 / Twitter: @advcyclingassoc

IMAGES & INTERVIEWS

Download web-ready photos and a Bike To Park Day logo here. For high-res images, or to arrange an interview, please contact Lisa McKinney.

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Facebook/Newsletter: Explore parks and public lands in your backyard by bicycle on September 24, 2016. Bring your friends and family and celebrate the National Park Service’s Centennial, Adventure Cycling’s 40th anniversary, and National Public Lands Day. http://bit.ly/1LkuwtC #bikeyourpark #findyourpark