Holiday street ride raises bike awareness in the Bronx
BY KYLE VUILLE
This past weekend, Bronx
Bikes along with various
sponsors hit the streets on
their two wheelers to promote
safe cycling in the Bronx and
spread holiday cheer.
The ‘Santa Rampage’ began
this holiday season with
it’s fi fth year run, according
to Cristopher Chavez,
founder and organizer of
Bronx Bikes.
“The Santa Rampage ride
started somewhere in Wyoming,
but we adopted the idea,
and have been doing it for fi ve
years now,” Chavez said.
Chavez and his counterparts
at Bronx Bikes have a
mission for the Bronx. They
want to increase the number
of cyclists in the borough
and promote a better bicyclefriendly
infrastructure.
Chavez explained the
Santa Rampage is just a fun
way to get people out and on
their bicycles while getting
into the holiday spirit. Riders
dress as Santa or other
holiday favorites and decorate
their bikes with holiday
lights and décor.
“It’s a free ride for anyone
who has a bike and wants to
A group of riders dressed in their best festive attire pedal their way down the Grand Concourse in the Bronx on Saturday December 7. Riders who
took part in the “Santa Rampage” had a leisurely 4.5 mile ride to advocate for cycling and bike infrastructure in the borough while spreading holiday
cheer. Photo courtesy of Bronx Bikes
ride,” Chavez said.
His organization tries to
fi nd new sponsors and a different
route to ride every
year to keep it interesting, he
added.
“It was a 4.5 mile ride
that went through the entire
Grand Concourse from East
Mosholu Pkwy South to 112
E. 157th Street,” Chavez said.
“We passed through Kingsbridge
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D 38 ECEMBER 13-19, 2019 BTR
Road, Fordham Road
Burnside, Mt. Eden, East
167th Street, East 161 Street,
and fi nally our endpoint
157th.”
Fifteen riders attended
Saturday’s ride, Chavez said..
The other organizers of
the ride: Guadalupe Benitez
and Karen Rojas wanted to
thank this year’s sponsors:
Urban Health Plan (Livable
Hunts Point), Shape Up NYC,
Hazlo Tech and Bronx Cycles.
He added Bronx Bikes
won’t have another event
until the summer, but he encouraged
anyone who wants
to volunteer, become a coordinator
or be involved in the
organization, to visit the website,
www.bronxbikes.org for
contact information.
/www.bronxbikes.org
/www.bronxbikes.org
