Bike with the Mayor Recap
On Saturday, Bike Denton hosted Denton’s first-ever Bike with the Mayor event. Mayor Gerard Hudspeth and members of the Denton community toured the various types of bicycle infrastructure in Denton, including simple painted bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, protected bike lanes, and off-road trails.
As we work towards offering more transportation options in Denton, it is important to regularly assess what our current weaknesses and opportunities are. By identifying where we can improve, we can make more strategic decisions moving forward.
The ride began at Carl Young Sr. Park in southeast Denton.
Mayor Hudspeth rode a cargo bike from Bunch Bikes, a Denton company that was recently featured on the national TV show, Shark Tank.
Mayor Hudspeth and Bunch Bikes owner, Aaron Powell.
Riding through downtown Denton.
Traveling up Fulton Street.
The group made a pit stop on Fulton Street at Denton High School to focus on bike routes to the schools in the neighborhood. Currently, there are not safe routes to allow students to ride a bicycle to Denton High School or Calhoun Middle School. Very few parents feel comfortable allowing their children to bike to Newton Rayzor Elementary, as well.
Fulton Street and parts of Crescent Street are being resurfaced within the next year. According to the Denton bike plan, Fulton Street is slated to have bike lanes installed. Crescent Street is slated to have a safer bicycle accommodation than the sharrows that currently exist, but options are still being assessed.
Pit stop in front of Denton High School.
Next, the group stopped at Frios Gourmet Pops on the corner of Malone St and University Dr for a break, some popsicles, and some coffee.
Stopping for popsicles is a must! Frios Gourmet Pops.
Gabe Aguilar, owner of Velo Republic Bike Shop, performing a bicycle safety check.
One of our fantastic event volunteers, Paula!
Buffered bike lane on Hinkle. Will eventually be a bollard-protected bike lane.
Paved trail through North Lakes Park.
Trail connects Hinkle to the dog park, soccer complex, UNT’s Discovery Park, and Evers Elementary.
Striped, unprotected bike lane on Malone St.
Bollard-protected bike lane on W Hickory Street.
On Mulberry at Carroll Blvd, about to ride past the Denton Community Market.
Passing the DCTA station on Hickory Street.
Street Eats Catering graciously agreed to be our post-ride lunch!
Enjoying our post-ride lunch from Street Eats Catering.
Post-ride shenanigans.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped with this event. Thanks also to:
Bunch Bikes for letting the Mayor borrow one of your awesome cargo bikes.
Velo Republic for offering pre-ride bicycle safety checks.
Street Eats Catering for being our post-ride lunch.
Mayor Hudspeth and family for spending your Saturday morning with us and seeing Denton from a new perspective.
