Bicycles Rock the Newark Night Festivities in Delaware

The throngs of people, the threat of thunderstorms, the bipolar humidity, turbulent wind that nearly blew the tent displays down did not deter this young man from talking to us about his passion.  BICYCLES!

Newark, Delaware recently awarded the Bike Friendly Community award by the League of American Bicyclists, closed down Main Street for a town-wide festival of vendors, organizations, and non-profit groups to share a day with thousands of Delaware residents.

Bike Delaware Advocacy Group (BikeDE) shared information with cyclists and families looking for information on where to bike in Delaware, how to bike in Delaware safely, and where could they find other cyclists to bike with on slow, medium, or fast bike rides.

A sweet Dad offers his fashion-conscious daughter advice on the correct placement of a reflective bicycle safety anklet she got from our shared tables of Bike Delaware Advocacy, Newark Bicycle Council, and DelDOT Bicycle Committee.

Another young lady thought my bicycle might be a lot more fun to take home than a safety anklet.

Meanwhile, a third young lady wasn't particularly interested in bicycles.  She was far happier in her Mercedes Benz stroller.  When interviewed she stated that she firmly believed in the "Share the Road" philosophy and right after kindergarten she was planning to enter law school to uphold the equality of pedestrian, cyclist, and motorists rights.

On the other side of the age spectrum was this delightful 80-something cyclist who was visiting from the Southwest.  When she returned from her vacation she was scheduled for a Sierra Bicycle Tour, though she admitted that these days she limits herself to only 10 mile bike rides.

Though sunny all day, the Newark skies were so windy that we resorted to strapping our bicycles to the poles of our tents to keep the tents from launching like hot air balloons.  The effect of $6000 worth of bicycle mechanical ballast added an artistic touch that we found very pleasing.

This young man took Amtrak down from his home in New Jersey to enjoy Newark Night festivities and then compete in the 29'ers Endurance Bike Race at Iron Hill State Park on Sunday.

Jeff Riegner, the President of the Newark Bicycle Council, is a very persuasive fellow.  I eavesdropped on this conversation.  Perhaps I misheard, but I think Jeff just talked this fellow into signing over the deed to his property to turn into more bike paths.

While that drama was taking place with Jeff, Frank Warnock, BikeDE's PR Chair was pondering the wind factor and calling for more ballast.  He's the kind of guy you want to have in your bomb shelter.

 Just as Frank, Rachel, and I were beginning to fear that we were going to spend the rest of our life on the table with no relief and no time off for good behavior, the Cavalry arrived in the persona of James Wilson, BikeDE's Analytics Chair.  As a Materials Science Graduate Student at the U of D, he quickly assessed wind speed, venturi effect, did a few calculus formulas in his head while swinging his delightful 5 year old in the air, carried on three simultaneous conversations with cyclists, deemed the tent would hold, and then took up my post so that I could determine if I was still capable of walking or talking or was I going to have a senior moment meltdown.  He's now known to us as Jamie Venturi.

Last to arrive was our President, Drew Know.  The man knows how to make an entrance.  How?  Come bearing a double dip of double deep chocolate ice cream cone for his Vice President.  That's how.  Relieved of duty on the table, I wandered in the crowd.

The crowds were very large this year and extremely friendly and well-behaved.  This gave Newark's Finest a chance to relax for a minute and listen to a highly-amplified band playing in the Newark Shopping Center Parking lot.

The band supplied VERY loud and not unpleasant music; however the most notable thing to me was that the portapotties were located about 12 feet from their monster speakers.  I suggest you try that experience just once.  Before you die.  It's like being trapped inside a very smelly, VERY LOUD drum.

By the time I made it back to the table, Delaware's Congressman Mike Castle was visiting with his wonderful smile and personable demeanor.

A few minutes later, Chris Coons, another extremely likable guy and candidate for the U.S. Senate joined us as well.

Bicycle Advocates are lucky.  Everyone, it seems, likes bicycles.  I mean really, what is more American than a bicycle, an ice cream cone, and a sunny Saturday afternoon in a town street festival?  Bicycles are not a partisan issue.  Everyone from any party can agree that improving the bike-friendly nature of our towns and states only serves to improve the lives of pedestrians and motorists as well.