Put up the kick stand and cruise into Dearborn Homecoming Aug. 3 to 5 this year now with three bike programs. Two new bike-riding programs will join the returning Healthy Dearborn Family Bike Ride, continuing the city’s efforts to promote a fun and healthy lifestyle.
Thanks to Bike Dearborn, a nonprofit promoting cycling in the city, guests who ride their own bike to the festival grounds at Ford Field Park will now have the option to drop it off at the new bike valet, near the tennis courts. The valet will be open from 4 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 3 and noon to 11 p.m. on Aug. 4 and 5.
“Just like you valet park a car, you can drop off your bike. We will hand you a claim ticket and then securely store your bike for you,” said Tracy Besek, founder and ride leader of Bike Dearborn. “We are hoping this makes our city a little bit more bike-friendly.”
The valet service is free for festival guests, but donations will be accepted. The donations will help fund Bike Fixation repair stations and air pumps to be placed at select locations in Dearborn so riders can make bike repairs while cycling through the city and its trails.
All patrons of the Bike Valet will be able to enter a drawing for a Saris SuperClamp EX-2 bike rack valued at $470. The drawing will take place on Aug. 5 and the winner does not have to present to win.
Like all Bike Dearborn events, the valet service is run by volunteers.
Zagster Bike Share at Homecoming
Also new to the festival, Zagster will place a bike station near the tennis courts at Homecoming for the public to use as an extension of Zagster’s Bike Share Program.
The Bike Share Program allows Dearborn residents and visitors to locate and borrow a bike to get around Dearborn using the free Zagster Mobile App or online at zagster.com/dearborn.
Outside of the festival, Zagster bike rental stations are in both east and west downtowns.
Riders can join the program by signing up for a $20 annual membership online, or can participate as an hourly guest. Members receive the first 2 hours of each ride free and a $2 fee for each hour afterward, up to $20. Non-members pay $2 per hour up to $20 a ride.
Healthy Dearborn Bike Ride
Returning for its third year is the Healthy Dearborn Family Bike Ride on at 10 a.m. Aug. 4. The eight-mile bike ride through Dearborn neighborhoods is family friendly and police-supported, and accommodates cyclists of all ages. Helmets are required.
D&D Bicycles will be on site to do pre-ride safety checks. “They will be there making sure your tires are pumped, your handle bars are straight, things like that,” said Besek. “So it is best to be there early.”
Registration begins at 9 a.m. Waivers are required and can be completed in advance by printing them at cityofdearborn.org/homecoming.
Healthy Dearborn is a collaboration between Beaumont Health, the city of Dearborn, and other stakeholders to build a “thriving, diverse community that fully embraces a unified culture of health.”
Homecoming runs Aug. 3 to 5 at Ford Field Park. The annual festival includes carnival rides, food, musical performances, free family activities, and on Saturday and Sunday night, fireworks. Admission to the festival is free.
To learn more, go to www.cityofdearborn.org/homecoming.