Third Annual StreetFest Set to Wheel into Lexington
Residents of Lexington and visitors alike are eagerly looking forward to the third annual StreetFest, scheduled to take over the city this weekend. With a focus on cycling and other ‘wheeley’ forms of transportation, the event promises a day of fun, fitness, and community-building.
The festival is set to take place on Oliver Lewis Way between West High Street and South Broadway. These streets will be closed to motorized vehicles from 10:00 a.m. until noon, enabling the streets to be safely taken over by participants on various forms of transport, such as bicycles, scooters, and skateboards.
Encouraging and Increasing Comfort in Non-Motorized Transport
The mission behind StreetFest is to promote comfort and safety among those who use alternative forms of transportation. Speaking on the objectives behind the event, Alternative Transportation Educator, Julia Maugans, emphasized that StreetFest is all about making people feel secure and comfortable when they move around the streets of Lexington.
While it may not seem unusual for a city to encourage less motorized transport, it resonates with the broader objective of the city’s transportation department to reduce traffic and make the streets more usable for people who choose these alternative forms of transportation.
Activities Planned for the Day
Beyond just enjoying an uninterrupted time of wheeling, participants can look forward to other fun activities planned for the day. StreetFest is part of the Bike Month celebration in Lexington, and this is evident in the line-up of activities.
One of the highlights is the free bike tune-ups that will be done at the event. For younger bicyclists, bikes will be available to check out on a first-come-first-serve basis. This is in line with the event’s goal of making bicycles and other ‘wheely’ modes of transport more accessible to all participants.
Speaking on plans to increase bike trails in Lexington, Maugans mentioned infrastructural developments that have taken place since the previous event. She shed light on a recent road diet initiative, which involved slimming down roads to pave way for bike lanes.
A Day for the Community
One of the integral aspects of an event like the StreetFest is its ability to bring the community together while promoting a healthier lifestyle. Apart from the various wheeling activities, attendees can look forward to other fun-filled activities.
Food trucks will be available on-site for attendees to enjoy a variety of local flavors. For younger attendees, there will be kid-friendly activities such as a hula hoop contest. The combination of these activities is aimed at ensuring a wholesome and fun-filled day for everyone.
The third annual StreetFest is, therefore, more than just a day for cycling – it is a day for Lexington’s community to come together, celebrate alternative forms of transportation, and most importantly, to create a safer environment for everyone to enjoy the streets of their city.
