Celebrating Cycling at the 11th Annual Fall Bike Fest
Cupertino Civic Center Plaza buzzed with excitement on Saturday, September 28th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as Safe Routes to School hosted another spectacular Cupertino Fall Bike Fest. This marked the 11th year of the beloved festival, transforming the plaza into a vibrant hub of 30 diverse bike-centric activities, orchestrated by a fantastic array of local bike and environmental organizations.
At its heart, the bike fest championed bike safety, offering crucial services and engaging activities for attendees of all ages. Walk-Bike Cupertino provided essential helmet checks, ensuring everyone was riding safely. Community Cycles of California offered on-site bike repair, keeping bikes in top condition. Safe Moves conducted invaluable traffic safety skills training, empowering cyclists with the knowledge to navigate roads confidently. Festival-goers eagerly put these newly honed skills to the test by participating in one of the two community bike rides, a highlight of the bike fest.
The 10-mile Park Tour Ride, expertly led by the Black Mountain Composite high school mountain bike team (BMC), took nearly 90 riders on an invigorating exploration of 11 of Cupertino’s beautiful parks. For families and casual riders, the ever-popular 2.5-mile Family Fun Ride and Scavenger Hunt, guided by Bicycle Solutions, drew close to 200 participants, with children as young as three proudly pedaling their own bikes. The bike fest truly catered to all levels of cycling enthusiasts.
Welcome to Cupertino Bike Fest banner, inviting attendees to a day of cycling fun and community engagement.
Beyond the rides, the plaza was alive with interactive and creative bike-themed fun. Craft stations offered helmet decorating courtesy of Tino Eco, personalized bike license plate creation by the Saratoga Biking Club, and unique bike jewelry making with Eco Valley. Games added to the festive atmosphere, including on-bike challenges, mesmerizing spin art, and the ever-popular sLEDgehammer. Attendees could even refuel with healthy and delicious pedal-powered smoothies. Adding an artistic dimension to the bike fest, three captivating art installations were showcased: Poppy, the festival mascot crafted by Balloonatics; vibrant chalk art on Torre Ave by Active Circle; and a thought-provoking recycled art installation from Eco Valley, ingeniously using retired orange pedestrian crossing flags from Cupertino crosswalks.
Enthusiastic wave from participants at the Family Fun Ride start line, showcasing the joyful community spirit of the bike fest.
The event was further honored by the presence of Mayor Mohan, who delivered an inspiring keynote speech, alongside other supportive City Council members, BPC members, and Sustainability Commissioners. The success of the bike fest was truly a collaborative effort, deeply indebted to the dedication of 137 volunteers and vendors, and the enthusiastic Cupertino community members who turned out in impressive numbers to champion cycling.
Mayor Mohan delivering a keynote speech at the Bike Fest, highlighting the city’s commitment to cycling and community events.
The organizers and participants alike are already looking forward with anticipation to the next bike fest, promising another day of community, cycling, and fun in Cupertino.
Bike check crew diligently inspecting bicycles at the Bike Fest, ensuring rider safety and promoting responsible cycling.
Family Ride participants setting off from the Bike Fest, embarking on a fun and engaging community cycling adventure.
Family cyclists riding under an archway at the Bike Fest, symbolizing the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere of the event.
Family Fun Ride participants cycling on a street during the Bike Fest scavenger hunt, enjoying a safe and scenic community ride.
Crowd of participants gathered at Wilson Park during the Bike Fest scavenger hunt, showcasing the event’s popularity and community engagement.
Children creating personalized bike license plates at the Saratoga Bike Club booth, a fun and creative activity at the Bike Fest.
Sustainability Commission volunteers assisting attendees with button making, promoting eco-friendly initiatives at the Bike Fest.
Park Tour Ride group departing from the Bike Fest, ready for a longer cycling route exploring Cupertino’s parks.
Participant enjoying the sLEDgehammer bike game at the Bike Fest’s activity zone, highlighting the fun and interactive elements of the event.
Child creating spin art at the Bike Fest, engaging in an artistic and bike-themed activity suitable for all ages.
Close-up of spin art being created at the Bike Fest, demonstrating the colorful and creative bike-related crafts available to participants.
Aerial view of vibrant chalk art created by Active Circle at the Bike Fest, showcasing the artistic installations featured at the event.
Active Circle artists with the announcer at the Bike Fest, celebrating the creative contributions and community partnerships at the event.
Cupertino’s Fall Bike Fest is partially funded by 2016 Measure B, underscoring the community’s investment in cycling and events like this bike fest.
