Riders are gearing up to brave frigid temperatures to support Detroit’s 13th annual Bike the Blizzard fundraiser for community bike programs.
With a projected low of -8°F and a high of 6°F, participants will experience the full force of winter Feb. 22-23 while biking as much as they can in one weekend, fundraising to support Cass Corridor’s Back Alley Bikes. The nonprofit, founded in 1999, provides a range of services, like a kids’ bike giveaway and a bike maintenance class. It operates with two full-time staff members and the help of hundreds of volunteers. Each year Back Alley Bikes hosts a fundraiser to help fund the programs. Last year the group raised nearly $30,000 last year.
“We’re a small organization with a small budget, but there’s all sorts of costs that accrue, even with trying to do things with a largely volunteer base,” said Justin Thompson, co-manager. “Bike the Blizzard keeps us open during the slow season as a resource for people to make costs nonprohibitive for biking in the city.”
Biking is essential in a city where one-third of residents don’t have cars and public transportation is severely lacking. In December, only 80% of Detroit Department of Transportation buses were on time. Back Alley Bikes seeks to help Detroiters left in the gap by making owning and maintaining a bike as affordable as possible.
“A bicycle is just the most cost-effective and energy-efficient way to get around,” said Thompson.
Last year the nonprofit gave away nearly 400 kids’ bikes, 100 adult bikes and hundreds of discounted refurbished bikes through an annual sale. Every Sunday, the shop offers a “DIY” service; people can bring their bikes to work on them with the shop’s tools and get help from staff, for a donation. The shop also offers a 7-week basic bike maintenance class.
The Bike the Blizzard fundraiser features 12 guided, and themed, group rides. Themes range from a tour of art murals to winter birding to a coffee and tea ride. Detroit City Council Member Scott Benson will also help lead a ride.
Bike the Blizzard registration includes the group rides, a raffle ticket for local gifts and a soup cookoff on Sunday. Throughout the weekend the shop will give tours of the space and have live DJs. The cost to participate is $35 with a t-shirt, or $25 without a t-shirt, and each participant is expected to raise at least $50.
“Last year we raised just under $30,000,” said Thompson. “We’d like to exceed what we did last year.”
The event is held during the winter when business at Back Alley Bikes and other biking events slow down.
“A lot of stuff slows down in the winter time, so it helps us with funding and keeping the place running,” said Tommie Dooley, co-manager of Back Alley Bikes. Dooley said the No. 1 priority for the city should be to “to keep people biking.”
Over the last few years, the nonprofit has been making the event more accessible to casual riders shifting from a 24-hour event to a two-day event with guided rides.
“For the longest time it was a 24-hour gig, but it only attracted hard-core bicyclists,” said John Williamson, a decade-long volunteer at Back Alley Bikes. “They’ve opened it up to make it more friendly. You don’t have to be a hardcore bicycle advocate to get involved, we can be more family-orientated and friendly to the public.”
Local pizzeria Michigan & Trumbull is partnering with Back Alley Bikes for the fourth year on a special pizza made with mozzarella and gorgonzola cheeses, cauliflower, leeks, pistachio, and truffle oil. Profits from the pizza, available through the third week of February, will be donated to the bike nonprofit. Last year, Michigan & Trumbull gave nearly $500 in cash and pizza.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Back Alley Bikes again this year,” said Michigan & Trumbull co-owner Kristen Calverley by email, adding that they’re on track to raise even more this year. “We are aware that now more than ever community organizations need our help, and we are especially motivated because of their commitment to Detroit youth.”
Bike the Blizzard registration kicked off in November with a film festival featuring short bike films from Filmed by Bike, free Michigan & Trumbull pizza, and a $20 coupon to Trek Bicycle Detroit Midtown. It was made possible in collaboration with Nate Mullen, a Back Alley Bikes volunteer and friend, who secured a grant to screen the films and helped organize the event.
Bike the Blizzard highlights how essential community support and collaboration are to keep Detroit’s cycling culture thriving, no matter the season.