Joint Bicycle & Safety Month Event on May 9th!
In May of each year, it is marked as the National Bicycle and Safety Month. It is great to know that some of our entities in the MPO area are going to start their annual bike and safety related event dedicated to promoting healthy and safety awareness in the community. The RCRPC has been actively involved in enhancing safe and accessible transportation options (ISAATO) for the MPO during May’s bike and safety event since 2024.
We are excited to announce that this year, MPO is collaborating with the Mansfield Police Department for the annual "Bike-A-Palooza." This community event aims to promote bicycle safety for youth who are passionate about riding bikes and for everyone from the community to join.
Event 1 Details:
Date: Saturday, May 9th, 2026; Time: 10 AM - 2 PM; Location: North Lake Park;
Activities will include: Bike Ride with a Cop, Bicycle Safety Rodeo, Bike Inspections & Small Repairs, Guided Bike Trail Ride with Mansfield Police Officers, etc..
Additionally, the Richland County Regional Planning Commission (RCRPC) will have a booth featuring educational materials, including maps of sidewalks and trails within the Richland County and the Metro Area. We will also provide a small safety-related gift at the table as well as a map detailing bike/pedestrian-related crash locations that have occurred in the last five years throughout our MPO region as a safety reminder.
We hope that you will join us for this enjoyable and informative day promoting safe cycling practices. Your participation will help foster a safer community for all.
Also in July the Shelby Bicycle Days festival will occur in downtown Shelby. The event consists of bicycle safety clinics, museum tours and various artwork activities. This festival has been running for over 30 years and is a important part of Shelby's history. Over 7,000 attendees are expected over the event days.
Event 2 Details:
Date: Friday & Saturday, July 10th-11th, 2026; Time: 11 AM - 10 PM; Location: Shelby;
Activities will include: Bicycle museum tours, Shelby Steel and Wheel tour, kids bicycle clinics, bicycle decorating contest, ax throwing, dunk tanks, balloon artists, etc.
During Bicycle Days, our organization conducts a comprehensive Bike Clinic designed to promote youth safety, skill development, and responsible bicycle maintenance. Participants receive instruction on proper bike care, including basic maintenance techniques, equipment checks, and safe‑riding practices. Children also navigate a supervised obstacle course that reinforces these safety concepts in a hands‑on environment. The committee provides safety related items, such as bicycle helmets to children who need them and ensures that all helmets are properly fitted by trained volunteers.