Make a Difference: Go Green by Biking to Riverbend

Outdoor Chattanooga wants you to park your car at home during this year's Riverbend festival.

"With fuel prices being what they are people are very excited about looking into alternatives and bicycling is a very efficient way to move around town," says Outdoor Chattanoog's Bicycle Coordinator Philip Pugliese.

Bike to Riverbend gives cyclists somewhere to safely park their bikes while they enjoy the festival. Volunteers from the Chattanooga Bicycle Club and other organizations will man the bicycle corral on the south end of the Walnut Street bridge.

"Checking your bicycle in, getting you a claim check ticket and you can go enjoy the festival and come back and your bike will be there waiting for you," explains Pugliese.

Around 50 to 100 bikes in the corral every night means fewer cars using gas hunting for parking spots. "It's easier to get there. It's environmentally friendly. You can park your car along the Riverpark and ride your bike along the lighted Riverpark into the festival," adds Pugliese. "A lot of people just ride from home."

If you don't have your own bicycle, don't worry. There are companies in Chattanooga that will rent them to you, even by the hour.

StormTeam 12 Chief Meteorologist Patrick Core thinks Bike to Riverbend is a good idea. "With the gas prices I'm sure it's going to get even more popular and one other thing- it's easier to get to Riverbend sometimes on a bike than it is in the car so it's going to help in many ways."

Pugliese adds: "The Bike to Riverbend program won a 'Best Environmental' award from the International Festivals and Events Association last year, so we were very excited about that and are very excited to bring it back to Riverbend this year."

The volunteers will be at the Bike to Riverbend bicycle parking lot every night during Riverbend from 5pm until midnight.