By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore Autauga News
May is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Whether exploring nature or focusing on your fitness, riding a bike is a fun, healthy, and eco-friendly way to make the most of the season.
During the Monday, May 12 Elmore County Commission meeting, commissioners heard from Robert Traphan with Montgomery Bicycle Club. The Montgomery Bicycle Club was formed in 1980 and serves bike enthusiasts from the Capitol city, as well as Elmore and Autauga Counties.
“Our main mission and focus is to promote recreational and competitive bicycle riding, and we focus on the River Region,” Traphan said.
According to Traphan, there are members from all across the area.
“There’s a lot of great bicycle riding in this area,” he explained. “We love riding in Wetumpka, Millbrook, Coosada, Eclectic, Titus. There’s a lot of great bicycle riding in this area.”
The Montgomery Bicycle Club partners with the League of American Bicyclists, or LAB.
“LAB is the national organization that promotes bicycle riding throughout the country,” Traphan said. “They’ve designated May as National Bike Month. And, we, in turn, celebrate that here in the River Region.”
May was first recognized by LAB as Bike Month in 1956 by the League of American Bicyclists. The month promotes the many benefits of cycling, including health, environmental benefits, and transportation. This annual campaign encourages more people to ride bikes for commuting, recreation, and fitness. It also celebrates the cycling culture while advocating for bike-friendly communities and infrastructure.
Here in Elmore County, Rebecca Gilbert honors her brother, Raymond Butler, who lost his life after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bike in Eclectic in 2022.
To honor her brother, Gilbert organized the Share The Road, Remembering Raymond Butler 5k. Now in its 3rd year, proceeds from this annual event fund signage that reminds motorists to be mindful of cyclists.
“We partnered with her, and over the last two years, at about $200 a sign, we were able to raise money for 330 “Share the Road” signs, almost $6,000,” Traphan said.
According to Traphan, once the signs were purchased, county officials worked to install them.
“We paid for the signs, but then we partnered with the County to install them throughout Elmore County. And that’s just one of the ways that we try to make the road safe for bicycle riders,” he said.
Bicycling can be a form of recreation, however; for some, a bicycle is transportation. And on Alabama roadways bicycles and vehicles are required to follow the same traffic laws. This means motorists must treat a bicycle as a vehicle operator.
“Bikes are vehicles,” Traphan said. “Just like cars and trucks.”
The Club will participate in the Ride of Silence on Wednesday, May 21.
“It’s an international event to recognize anyone that’s been injured or killed on their bicycle,” Traphan said.
For more information about the Montgomery Bicycle Club or the Ride of Silence, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/mgmbikeclub/posts/10161696196744400/
To register for the 3rd annual Share The Road, Remembering Raymond Butler 5k, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/AL/Eclectic/ShareTheRoadRememberingRaymondButler5k
