Boston residents parked their cars and dusted off their bikes this weekend to partake in a day of bicycling activities in Dorchester.
The Boston Centers for Youth & Families invited families to learn about the world of biking at the first-ever R.O.C.K., Roll, & Ride event held at Franklin Park Sunday.
More than 100 people attended the event, which aimed to encourage people to use bicycles as a means of transportation and recreation. Free bike-related games, bike tours, Boston Pedicab rides and trail rides were also set up around Franklin Park. Bike safety, maintenance workshops and bike riding tips informed families on safely riding bikes together more often.
For longtime bicyclist George Duncan, the day allowed him to introduce his 6- and 4-year-old girls to bicycle as more than just an occasional hobby.
"[Though] both my girls already own their own bikes, today was an opportunity to have a nice day outside as a family," Duncan said.
Boston Family Center recreation and sports Director Ryan Fitzgerald, one of the event organizers, said the goal of the afternoon was to show how bike riding could be a "fun activity families could enjoy all together" and also show participants how to ride bikes safely in the city.
"It's all about comfort. People are more afraid than they need to be," organizer Dan Hoagland said. "That's why we have the safety workshops to teach hand and vocal signals and basic rules of the road."
Some attendees also saw the day as a chance to practice an alternative to driving. For Eva Phenix, who said she had not peddled a bike in 40 years, the activities allowed her to prepare for city riding.
"I want to practice riding before I go to purchase a bike and start biking to work. I also just want to exercise and get outdoors."
Phenix also said it was important for her niece and nephew to attend because she wanted to see them engaged in outside recreation.
"Sometimes it's hard to steer kids away from the TV and get them to exercise. But as soon as I called them, they were over here in 10 minutes."
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