GREENFIELD — Greenfield City Council abolished an ordinance March 27 that was so antiquated, hardly anyone knew it existed.
The law required bicyclists to register the bikes they were riding.
“I had no idea that was even a thing,” said Teri House Gottschalk, who is in charge of bringing hundreds of cyclists to the city each year as coordinator of the Hancock Flat 50 bike race in August.
Last year, nearly 780 riders from 11 different countries converged in downtown Greenfield for the annual 50-mile event.
Gottschalk chuckled imagining the chaos that would ensue if the mass of cyclists were all cited with failure to license their bikes.
“I guess I need to pay more attention to the rules,” she said.
Former mayoral candidate Larry Silver said he and fellow Libertarians approached the city last month about eliminating the ordinance.
“We applaud the city council for putting the citizens rights first and appreciate the fact they see this ordinance has no purpose,” said Silver, who ran on a platform of limited government.
Regardless of how the ordinance originated, it’s clear it hasn’t been enforced in quite some time.
As temperatures warm and winter turns to spring, local cyclists are warming up for an assortment of bike-related activities.
On May 11 the Greenfield Parks Department will host a Bike Bash in the parking lot of the Hancock County Boys & Girls Clubs, at 715 E. Lincoln St. just west of Riley Park.
The public is invited to stop by between 3-6 p.m. for the family-focused event, which features stations like a bike wash and a decorating area. There will also be free giveaways, including a helmet giveaway to promote bike safety.
Free food is also on the menu, including shaved ice from Calliope Shaved Ice & More and hot dogs from Colonel Mustard Catering.
Coordinators from Healthy 365 and Hancock Flat 50 will educate the public and register riders for the upcoming race, while Mitch Doran — owner of Family Bike Chain — will offer demonstrations on how to change a bike tire.
Julie Patterson, assistant director of the Greenfield Parks Department, said the Bike Bash coincides with National Bike Month in May, as promoted by the League of American Bicyclists.
According to the league, National Bike Month was established in 1956 to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and to encourage more people to give it a try.
The league’s website — BikeLeague.org — encourages the public to get involved by making an extra effort to bike throughout the month of May, whether it’s going to grab a cup of coffee or simply riding around the block.
National Ride a Bike day is May 5, while Bike to Work Week is May 13-19 this year.
Patterson said she hopes the Bike Bash encourages the public to hope on their bikes and ride.
“We want people to enjoy our hundreds of acres of parks, which includes our paved Pennsy Trail and connector trails,” she said.
Connector trails and city sidewalks now allow riders to bike all the way from Brandywine Park on the southeast side of town to Beckenholdt park to the north.
With an increasing number of cyclists taking the streets as the weather warms, Doran — of Family Bike Chain — reminds everyone to ride safely and keep bikes in good working order.
“It’s important to be safe and to know the rules of the road, and to have a properly working bike. That means having bikes maintained by a professional once a year,” he said.
Doran said a bike professional can not only check the brakes, air up the tires and lubricate the gears, but can also address issues before they lead to bigger, more costly problems.
“If a drive train wears out, we’re able to replace the chains and prolong the life of the drive train,” he said. “If you’re not doing basic bike maintenance like lubing your chain it will wear out your drive train. We’re able to keep it rolling smoothly longer than you would if not getting it maintained.”
Routine maintenance can also help bike owners avoid prematurely wearing out their tires and bearings, he said.
As for registering bicycles, Doran said he had heard of the antiquated Greenfield law in the past but knew it was never enforced.
“I didn’t know it was even still a thing,” he said.
To promote cycling and a spirit of camaraderie among local cyclists, Doran hosts a group ride each Thursday along the Pennsy Trail.
On Wednesdays cyclists training for the Hancock Flat 50 meet in the parking lot of the Hancock County Annex, at 111 American Legion Place, for a group ride along county roads.
“Both are held in the spring and summer, weather permitting,” said Doran, an avid cyclist.
On Wednesday, riders meet up at 6 p.m. for rides stretching anywhere from 16 to 25 miles long, based on experience and skill level.
On Thursdays, riders meet at 6:30 p.m. at Doran’s shop, Family Bike Chain, at 101 E. Main St.
Gottschalk said the group rides are great ways to train for the Hancock Flat 50 and to connect with fellow riders.
This year’s 8th annual bike race is on pace to draw more cyclists than ever before, she said.
”At this point we are anticipating at least 850 registered riders. We had 779 last year, which was a record,” she said.
Gottschalk said that’s impressive growth for an event that started rather spur of the moment in 2017 with just 26 participants.
“Each year it’s gotten a little better,” she said.
This year’s event will see the return of Flat 50 Friday, a street party in downtown Greenfield the day before the race.
Events include a two-mile bike ride from downtown Greenfield to Brandywine Park, followed by a cornhole tournament and live music in the Living Alley outside Wooden Bear Brewing Co., at 21 W. North St.
“That’s really our night to kind of show off the town to the people who are coming from out of town,” said Gottschalk, who said that roughly 82 percent of Flat 50 participants come from outside of Hancock County.
Registration for the Flat 50 costs $50 per rider, with prices bumping up to $65 Aug. 18.
Funds raised from the Hancock Flat 50 go to support the Hancock County Trails Master Plan, bikeway signage to increase awareness and improve safety for riders, and initiatives to encourage bike riding for all ages.
For more information or to register, call 317-468-4743 or visit HancockFlat50.com.
