May is known as National Bike Month and with that in mind, several local events are being planned around that theme. Ride your Bike to School Day will be on May 9th.

Ride your bike to work week is May 14 – 18. Ride your bike to work day is May 18. We’d like to challenge anyone who works downtown, to ride their bikes to work on Friday May 18.

Wednesday, May 16 is the Ride of Silence. Start at the Square in front of the court house. 10 – 12 miles, single file, slow pace, in silence to honor or in memory of those who have been injured or killed on their bikes. Here’s a link to the international organization – this ride takes place at the same time all over the world. Here’s their website:http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

May 19th is a very busy day. The Tour de Cure starts at 8:00 at Barfield Crescent Park – it’s a fundraiser or the American Diabetes Association. http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TennesseeArea?pg=entry&fr_id=8072 Contact Gregg Lessley for more information at glessley@diabetes.org

Rutherford County EMS is celebrating EMS Day at Stonecrest Medical Center. There will be a Bike Rodeo for kids of all ages at this event. Contact Terry Cunningham at (615) 898-7790 for more information. Hours are 11:00 – 3:00.

And the Recycle Backyard Event is also on May 19th from 10:00 – 1:00. Kids can bring their bikes by for free maintenance. Or even get a free bike, and maybe a helmet. This is Greenhouse Ministries bike program. Contact Parker Eakes at 1 (615) 494-0499 for more information. – Their website is here: http://greenhousemin.wordpress.com/