If you’re looking for a patriotic pastime this holiday weekend, consider biking Cumberland  -  after all, it was President John F. Kennedy that said, “Nothing compares with the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” And, thanks to the efforts of local resident Mike Clay and the Healthier Cumberland Coalition, biking Cumberland has never been easier! Mike has designed and mapped five bike routes within the city limits. The goal was to create family-friendly rides on well-paved roads that avoid highways and busy intersections. All are suitable for cyclists of every age and ability level. Ranging in length from 1.3 to 4.6 miles, the routes feature Cumberland’s beautiful natural scenery and quiet neighborhoods. Several also offer views of Beaver Dam Lake.

While maps and brochures of the Cumberland Family Bike routes were published last summer, the Healthier Cumberland Coalition also obtained approval from the City Council to paint street markers to guide cyclists along the bike routes. Four of the five routes have been completed so far. The markers for each route are a different color. They have been placed on the street at the approach to each intersection along the route and consist of a directional arrow and a Bike Cumberland symbol. Purple signs have been used to mark the Eagle Point Ride, a 1.3 mile route that starts from the City Beach. Blue was used to designate the Lakeview Ride. This 4.6 mile route also starts from the City Beach. The Jeffery Blvd. Ride starts from the Louie’s Finer Meats parking lot exit. Yellow markings have been used along the 2.5 mile route. The South Side Ride features a 2.5 mile small loop and a 3.5 mile large loop. Both start from the Middle School/High School parking lot and are marked with red signs. Markers for the East Side Ride will be completed in the next few weeks. This 1.8 mile route starts from the back of the Elementary School and will be designated with green signage.

Though the street markers make it easy for cyclists to bike Cumberland without a map, Cumberland Family Bike Route brochures are available at the Chamber of Commerce and on the “Get Moving Cumberland” page of the Healthier Cumberland Coalition’s website: www.healthiercumberland.org. Maps and brochures of longer bike routes, designed by Todd Barrows and Mike Clay, are also available at the Chamber Office and on the coalition's website.  The longer routes range in length from 12 – 31 miles and feature several area lakes, including Beaver Dam, Sand, Staples, and Vermillion.

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