Anyone who enjoyed Madison's inaugural Ride the Drive stands to enjoy it twice as much in 2010. When they gathered last night at the extensively renovated Mansion Hill Inn, now owned by Trek Bicycles and Trek Hospitality, those in attendance heard Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announce tentative plans to shift into a higher gear and hold the event not once next year, but twice.
"I think so," Cieslewicz says Thurdsay, noting that while the prospect of two Ride the Drive events next year is not yet official, it's "very likely."
The reason? "Public demand," he says."I have never gotten so much positive reaction" as he has for this year's event, which closed down parts of John Nolen Drive, East Washington, the Capitol Square and a handful of other downtown arteries to motor vehicle traffic so cyclists, in-line skaters, pedestrians and other non-motorized citizens could have the streets for a day and enjoy the isthmus from an unprecedented perspective at relaxed speeds.
"I still get people stopping me around town," the mayor adds, "saying how much they enjoyed it." View photos from this past summer's event in the Might two Rides in one year lead to more, as in other cities where similar rides are held every month or even every week? "It's possible," Cieslewicz allows, "but we want to ease into it."
