Bolstering community involvement, the city of Dublin hosted a morning bike ride alongside the city’s mayor and police chief for residents to enjoy last Sunday.
Under clear skies and the beaming sun, bikers showed up early in the morning to take part in the event’s debut.
“In just two weeks, we achieved a remarkable outcome—a first for us. I valued how we were able to bring different groups of people together to simply enjoy the beautiful weather this Sunday morning and utilize the many great bike lanes we have here in the city of Dublin,” said Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez.
Participants traveled from Dublin’s DICK’s sporting goods to the main police station, stopping twice along the way for water and snacks courtesy of local businesses.
“We had it organized pretty well; we had businesses come together to be able to support our residents,” said Hernandez.
Between each leg of the four mile ride, citizens had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with the mayor and police chief, sharing moments of joy and raising concerns to their city leaders.
“There have been some questions about various things that have been going on, but more curiosity,” said Dublin police chief Nate Schmidt.
Most prevalent among the issues discussed was the state of Dublin schools, which local students came to ask officials about.
“I think events like these are valuable, because political participation in any community is vital,” said Dublin High School student Amrit Hari (’24).
City decision-making aside, organizers sought to make the event an opportunity for attendees to get to personally know their police officers and administrators, with everyone involved gleefully immersing themselves in the morning’s beautiful weather and delicious treats.
“It’s about getting our communities together, and being able to meet our police officers; it’s important for our residents to feel safe in the community that they live, work, and play in, so that they feel comfortable reaching out to us,” said Hernandez.
Enthusiastic riders gather at DICK’S Sporting Goods, ready to embark on the morning bike ride.
Mayor Melisa Hernandez and Police Chief Nate Schmidt inspire riders with encouraging words at the start of the event.
Cyclists of all ages pedal side by side under the warm morning sun.
Local businesses distribute water and snacks to energize participants.
Cyclists take a break at a preplanned stop, enjoying a moment of rest and camaraderie.
Riders gear up and hit the road again after a refreshing stop.
Cyclist pauses at Dublin’s Don Biddle Public Park, savoring both the breathtaking landscape and the camaraderie shared during the ride.
A police escort leading the way, ensuring a safe and smooth community bike ride through the city’s busy streets.
Mayor Melisa Hernandez engages in a thoughtful conversation with Dublin’s former fire chief.
Riders racing down Dublin’s streets, guided by a police escort.
With countless upcoming opportunities to engage with the city’s community, Dublin’s goals are clear.
“It is great to get to know the community and we have lots of events like this, like national night out. We get out on St. Patrick’s Day, we get out on the 4th of July to get to know the community. We get to know the people that we are serving, and they see us as ordinary individuals riding bikes, just like everyone else,” said Schmidt.
Shimon Arai • Oct 18, 2023 at 9:52 pm
Dang, I’m impressed with the quotes from the mayor and police chief. The ride must have been exhausting in that hot weather too. Good job on the article, Parsa and Zenil.