Bike Coalition Hosts First Group Ride

Huzefa Irfani of South Orange was handing out printed directions for the routes to the approximately 50 riders who showed up in the parking lot of the Baird Center on Mead Street at noon. But when it came time to line up, the 10-milers decided to join the overwhelmingly larger group of four-milers, and the  group headed off through South Orange Village together. 

Many participants decided to make a family outing of the event. Leena Khandwala and Huzefa Irfani brought daughter Nawal, 3, to ride on the back of dad's bike. And the Sinkler family included dad Scott, daughters Sasha, 6, and Maia, 5, plus mom Marianna Giraudo. Both families were from South Orange. The Donat family of Maplewood included riders Chris and Adrianna and their sons Cole, 8, and Henry, 4 1/2, who rode behind dad on a "tag-along" purchased at High Gear Cyclery in Millburn.

Kirk Sohr of Maplewood was sporting his Colavita riding vest. Said Sohr, who is a member of the Maplewood Transportation Committee, "This is a good thing. Millburn has put in the bumps and the paint. And South Orange is working on its waterfront. It's time for Maplewood to step up." Sohr said that, basically, Maplewood needed to connect with the bike lanes on Millburn's Glen Avenue, just a half mile from Maplewood Village, through to the South Orange waterfront lanes.

Before heading off on the ride, Coalition co-founder Tom Reingold reminded riders that the next organizational meeting would take place Tuesday night at the Baird.

But today was all about enjoyment as riders of all ages pulled out of the lot to wend their way through South Orange and Maplewood on this beautiful day.