City Bikes to encourage healthy lifestyle in Ranson
Beginning this Wednesday, City Bikes, the county’s first bike-share program, will help local citizens to get out and cruise the new and improved bike ways on Ranson’s streets.
City of Ranson Mayor Duke Pierson is proud of this new project.
“Ranson has made significant road and safety improvements to allow safe cycling,” Pierson said. “We have also installed multiple racks through town around all the businesses. Charles Town down has done the same. We invite the community to explore the streets, get active, and do local shopping on two wheels.”
With a generous contribution from City Bank and partnership with River Riders, the program will launch with 10 restored beach cruisers, which are perfect for the city streets.
“City National Bank is prominent supporter for Health Wellness and Community initiatives and was happy to collaborate on this project with other community leaders. There is nothing better for our environment than reducing automobile traffic and getting people cycling,” said Jefferson County Retail Executive Melissa Knott.
My business, Two Rivers Treads, and I have been instrumental in connecting all of the partners to launch the program.
The heart of my day job and the store is to get people outside and moving and living healthier lives. The built environment is so critical to this. We moved our business to Ranson, as I saw the vision of a walkable and bike-friendly community. We get people out walking and running on a daily basis so now it is time to get people on the bikes!
To celebrate the launch, Two Rivers Treads, the City of Ranson, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, and City Bank is holding a City Bike Kickoff with refreshments and a bike ride for all ages on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Two Rivers Treads, 400 S. Mildred Street. Come with your own bike or borrow one of the 10 available.
Bikes will be kept locked at Two Rivers Treads; to borrow a bike, come to the store during open hours and sign one out. There is no charge, but the store will keep some form of identification until the bike is returned. The store will loan a helmet and a lock, also, if you do not have your own.
Two Rivers Treads’s hours of operation are Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Dr. Mark Cucuzzella is a professor at West Virginia University School of Medicine and the owner of Two River Treads in Ranson. To learn more about his health efforts in West Virginia, visit www.drmarksdesk.com/. He can also be reached at cucuzzellam@wvumedicine.org.