Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition (SNVBC) announces “Celebrate Cycling,” a host of bicycle happenings during November’s First Friday event, November 5, in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District. Festivities include a social group ride, bicycle safety checks by Las Vegas Cyclery, helmet, lights, slap bracelet giveaways, and two bicycle-inspired public art projects. All activities apart from the group ride take place at the Cycling Vendor Village, located at 1208 S. Casino Center Blvd., near the corner of E. California Avenue and S. Main Street.
The vendor village includes organizations like E-Bike Marketplace, Ghost Bikes Las Vegas, Las Vegas Cyclery, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), Save Red Rock, and UNLV’s Vulnerable Road Users Project. Author Alan Snel will be signing his book Bicycle Man: Life of Journeys.
Social Group Ride
6:30 p.m. | Government Center (500 S. Grand Central)
Bring your bicycle or reserve a rental bike from the RTC’s Bike Share fleet. There are limited Bike Share bikes and it will be first come first serve. The ride starts at 6:30 p.m., departing from the Government Center (500 S. Grand Central), where parking is available. Bicyclists will travel through the Arts District. The ride will end at the corner of E. California and S. Main Street. People are encouraged to decorate their bikes with lights. Riders must register to participate and reserve a bike.
Community Mural Project
5 to 9:30 p.m. | 1208 S. Casino Center Blvd (Near E. California Ave and S. Main St.)
You don’t have to be an artist to help complete SNVBC’s community bicycle mural. Created by local artist Shan Michael Evans, this “paint-by-numbers” style mural allows the community to contribute. Paint and brushes will be available, and SNVBC volunteers and local artists will be on hand to provide guidance.
#NoMoreGhostBikes Community Art Project
5 to 9:30 p.m. | 1208 S. Casino Center Blvd (Near E. California Ave and S. Main St.)
When a bicyclist is killed in Las Vegas, Ghost Bikes LV places a white bike as a quiet memorial and reminder to people to slow down, be safe, and peacefully coexist. The organization’s goal is to no longer exist. In a show of hope, the community will paint a white ghost bike a rainbow of color. Paint and brushes will be available; volunteers and artists will provide direction.
Celebrate Cycling is a part of the nonprofit’s launch of its third public awareness campaign, Let’s Get There Together. The campaign focuses on motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Its call-to-action urges people to look ahead, be visible, and avoid collisions so that everyone can reach their destination safely. But it’s also aspirational, challenging people in Southern Nevada to be considerate of one another while on the road. Campaign elements have been designed to ease frustration between user groups. Recently, Nevada surpassed year-end traffic fatality totals for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Clark County had the highest numbers in the state.
Let’s Get There Together art was created by Las Vegas artist Shan Michael Evans and curator Paco Álvarez. At the press conference, SNVBC will unveil a unique art element of the campaign.
In January 2021, SNVBC launched Change Lanes For Bikes. It’s the Law, inspired by the December 10, 2020 cycling tragedy where five cyclists lost their lives.
In May 2021, SNVBC launched the second part of its safety campaign, “Ride Safe: Know Before You Go.” The education program targets new and existing cyclists. Ride Safe identifies five critical points of cyclist safety: Protect Your Head, Be Visible, Pick Bike-Friendly Routes, Be Predictable, and Ride Defensively.
SNVBC partners include Clark County School District’s Safe Routes to School program and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), and Olympia Companies’ communities Skye Canyon and Southern Highlands, UNLV’s Vulnerable Road Users Project, local jurisdictions, and advocacy organizations like Save Red Rock and Ghost Bikes Las Vegas.
To become a member of SNVBC, visit www.snvbc.org.
