Niles-area residents, including families and kids, are invited to bike over to Culver School Saturday, Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. for "Bike Niles!," a morning of fun, a bike ride through the forest preserve, entertainment and refreshments.
Extreme X-Game medalist Matt Wilhelm will show off his stunts and tricks in a show at 10:30 a.m., and Coca-Cola and Meijer will provide bottled drinks. There will also be food from Celli's Hot Dogs for sale.
"Bike Niles" is about more than fun, though.
"We want to make people aware of regional bike paths in the area," said Bruce Sylvester, senior planner for the village of Niles.
"This is also part of a larger planning effort. We want people to give ideas about getting around the community---like, 'we need a better crossing here, more signage there.'"
The ride through the Miami Woods forest preserve will be easy enough for children, he added.
There will also an obstacle safety course for the youngest cyclists, helmet fittings and bike safety checks.
The event starts at 9 a.m. at Culver School, 6901 W. Oakton Street, Niles, and runs through noon.
The village received a grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to create a bicycling plan.
The idea also ties into the Niles 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which lists making the area more pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly as a goal.
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