Detroit to Welcome Thousands of Cyclists Sept. 21 for Tour de Troit

The 12^th Annual Tour de Troit scheduled for Saturday, September 21^st has more than 3,000 people registered. Recently recognized as Michigan’s largest bike ride by the League of Michigan Bicyclists, a portion of the proceeds from Tour de Troit will go to support Detroit area greenway projects. Since 2005, nearly $160,000 has been raised to support greenway and non-motorized transportation projects.

The 12th annual ride will take place Saturday, Sept. 21 starting at Roosevelt Park located at 2200 Michigan Avenue in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. The ride schedule will be staggered as follows:

By 7:15 a.m. 15 MPH pace 62-mile metric century group
By 7:45 a.m. 18 MPH pace 62-mile metric century group
By 8:15 a.m. 20 MPH pace 62-mile metric century ride group
At 9 a.m. Leisurely 30-mile ride that will pass-through several historic neighborhoods, including Southwest Detroit and Indian Village, before finishing at Roosevelt Park.

After the ride, there will be food, drink and music at Roosevelt Park in the shadow of the Michigan Central Station.

The registration fee is $55 through Sept. 13 and then $65 for onsite registration, if available. Students and those who opt not to receive a t-shirt will receive a $5 discount. Registration is available at tdt2013.eventbrite.com or www.Tour-de-Troit.org.

In 2012 more than 5,500 people participated including riders from Windsor, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan. Withmore than 3,000 already registered the event is on pace to exceed last year’s total.

Officials with Tour de Troit recently learned from the League of Michigan Bicyclists that the September bike ride is largest cycling event in the state.

Since 2005, the Tour de Troit bike ride has raised nearly $160,000 to support greenway and non-motorized transportation projects in and around Detroit, including the development of more than 17 miles of bike lanes as part of the Southwest Detroit Greenlink (now Corktown-Mexicantown Greenlink). Tour de Troit has also raised money for the Villages of Detroit Community Development Corporation, the Connor Creek Greenway and other non-motorized projects.