More than 200 people participated in the inaugural ‘3Rivers Roll’ hosted by Community Living Wallaceburg on Wednesday evening, July 19.
“It was fantastic,” Kevin Cavanagh, president of the Community Living Wallaceburg board of directors, told the Sydenham Current following the 13 km bike ride.
“Took us just about an hour and a half, not quite. Everything was just a big rolling party.”
Cavanagh and his team of volunteers were inspired by the ‘Slow Roll’ events, which are held each Monday in Detroit.
The route started at the Wallaceburg Library parking lot, and rolled through different parts of town.
At the conclusion, participants were encouraged to visit one of the downtown restaurants for a bite to eat or a beverage.
“We have got The Stubby Goat, James Street Eatery and we have got The Black Goose,” Cavanagh said, adding that each restaurant provided a special deal to those on bikes.
Combined with an escort from the Chatham-Kent Police Service and a “sweeper vehicle” at the rear to help any of the riders, the entire event went off without a hitch, Cavanagh said.
“I think at first people were venturing into the lane and eventually they got the hint that there is oncoming traffic and we have to be respectful of that,” he said.
“Everybody kind of picked up on it and it went very smoothly.”
A second roll is planned for Wednesday, August 16.
It will leave from Crabby Joe’s on McNaughton Avenue and then venture off onto a completely different route.
“It is going to be through south side Wallaceburg and behind the hospital and then back to Crabby Joe’s,” Cavanagh said.
More details about the second event will be made available closer to the date.
Here is a video of the roll getting started on Wednesday:
The start of the inaugural @CLWallaceburg #3RiversRoll in #Wallaceburg 🚴🏻♀️🎶🚔 #ckont #inclusion pic.twitter.com/juzVONszaa
— Sydenham Current (@SydenhamCurrent) 20 July 2017
And here is a video of the bikers rolling in at the end of the route:
Bikers rolling in at the end of the inaugural @CLWallaceburg #3RiversRoll in #Wallaceburg 🚴🏻♀️🎶 #ckont #inclusion pic.twitter.com/zUTs1C65sX
— Sydenham Current (@SydenhamCurrent) 20 July 2017
Here are some photos of the event:
– Photo credit: Sydenham Current
