The famous Tour de France inspired a group of local residents to get the people of Muncie active in the community.
The first Tour of Muncie will be Saturday to promote exercising, greener living and motorist and cyclist unity, event coordinator Kyle Johnson said.
“We want to increase cycling in our community,” Johnson said. “There are people who want to and it’s a good form of transportation.”
Co-coordinator Jarrod Case said the event started as a group of friends joking about wanting to have a Tour de France party, similar to Super Bowl parties.
“We watch the tour every year. It grew into ‘why don’t we have a tour of Muncie in honor of France?’” he said. “It started with just the three of us for fun and the next thing you know, it turned into a big idea.”
Case said about 30 people are pre-registered for the event and more than 100 people have volunteered to help make the tour happen. He said he’d be happy if at least 50 people participate in the event.
“The more the merrier,” he said. “It’s not about the money, hopefully the tour will grow and get bigger and better and become an annual event.”
Participants must pay a $5 fee that will go toward Muncie Delaware Clean and Beautiful, an organization that promotes the beautification and renewal of Delaware County and the Muncie community.
The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. in downtown Muncie and the course will weave throughout various parts of the city before ending in the downtown area around 6 p.m.
The tour will feature six stages, or routes, green landmarks and “green stops” that highlight sustainability in the community, Case said. The total length is more than 100 miles, but people who participate aren’t required to ride each route.
“It covers every neighborhood and social, economical class of Muncie,” he said. “People can come to us and say they want to go on the short [eight mile] stage or the longer stages and we’ll show them on the map which route to go on.”
The tour won’t interfere with motor traffic, which was key as a cyclist advocate, Johnson said.
“None of the roads will be closed, that’s part of the point,” he said. “Cyclists belong on the road just like motorists.”
Case and Johnson said the first 100 registered participants will receive a green bag with a T-shirt and other items.
Case said it’s important to keep in mind why the tour was started.
“The goal is to spend a fun day riding bicycles,” he said. “We had no ulterior motive when we first started the idea. Just if we’re going to do it, let’s do it for the common good.”
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