From Alabama to Ontario in 46 days: First-ever “journey to freedom” on new Underground Railroad Bicycle Route set to conclude

From Alabama to Ontario in 46 days: First-ever “journey to freedom” on new Underground Railroad Bicycle Route set to conclude on May 29 at Lake Huron

2,058 miles and 46 days later, 14 cyclists will dip their wheels off Owen Sound and celebrate the inaugural trip on North America’s newest historic travel route

What: Welcome and ceremonial “wheel-dipping” When: Tuesday, May 29, 3:30 p.m. Where: At the flags, north of the Visitor Centre, 1155 1^st Ave. West, Owen Sound (call 519-371-9833 for directions). Barbecue will immediately follow at Harrison Park picnic shelter from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Please RSVP to Beth at Adventure Cycling: 800-755-2453 x211 or bpetersen@adventurecycling.org

May 24, 2007 — After a 46 day, 2,058 mile roller coaster of a ride, 14 hardy cyclists will roll into Lake Huron on Tuesday, May 29, as the first pioneers on the new Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. Their journey, sponsored by Adventure Cycling Association and the Center for Minority Health, began on April 14^th in Mobile, Alabama. The cyclists will be greeted by local dignitaries and a barbeque at Harrison Park in Owen Sound, which is celebrating its own 150^th birthday this year.

Adventure Cycling’s bicycle tour participants, trip leaders, and staff from the Center for Minority Health (based at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) will be available to visit and answer questions. The events are being hosted by Owen Sound Tourism, Grey County Tourism, and West Grey Premium Beef.

“We are overjoyed that the cyclists are near the end of their epic journey,” said Jim Sayer, Executive Director of Adventure Cycling Association, the largest membership cycling organization in North America. “It has been an emotional trip for our riders. They’ve had incredible support from dozens of communities and thousands of people — from school children in Alabama to the National Freedom Center in Cincinnati to the very friendly people in Ontario.” The 14 cyclists, who range in age from their early 30s to 72, represent different cultural and racial backgrounds, and come from all over the U.S. (and, with a Japanese rider, even the world).

About the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route

“Cyclists can ride from the Deep South all the way to Ontario, Canada,” says Carla Majernik, Adventure Cycling’s Director of Routes and Mapping. “Or they can take short rides on any portion of the route, which is filled with historic Underground Railroad stops and lots of excellent cycling through beautiful scenery.”

Every year, thousands of cyclists use Adventure Cycling’s TransAm Trail, the organization’s first and most popular cross-country route, and the organization says communities along any new route can expect a significant increase in the number of traveling cyclists passing through each summer. The Underground Railroad (UGRR) route is the second “heritage route” for Adventure Cycling (the first was the Lewis & Clark Trail), and they hope to do more historically infused routes in the future.

The UGRR route follows the most fabled trek to freedom in American history and honors the bravery of freedom seekers and those that provided shelter. According to Adventure Cycling, more people than ever are traveling by bicycle and the UGRR route, with its poignant stories and vibrant historical sites, should appeal to history lovers, African Americans, and adventurous people looking for a great ride.

Adventure Cycling partnered with the Center for Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (CMH) on the UGRR route after seeing its potential to strengthen cross-cultural ties and promote lifelong health through cycling — a form of physical activity available to people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Adventure Cycling’s maps for the route steer cyclists along cycling-friendly, low-traffic roads, and feature elevation profiles, historical notes, and information on camping, lodging, and worthwhile historical sites along the way. Starting in Mobile, Alabama, the route winds north through river valleys and wildlife refuges to Kentucky and Ohio, before reaching Lake Erie, Niagara Falls, and its end-point in Owen Sound, Ontario, on Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay, the final destination for many freedom seekers. Besides the lush green scenery and the many small towns the route passes through, a host of museums, historic parks, and visitor centers bring the history of this remarkable period alive.

“We’ve all heard the story of slaves who escaped to freedom,” says Dennis Coello, a veteran photographer and writer who photographed the route for Adventure Cycling, “but here’s a chance to feel that story — and to experience a continent along the way.”

The UGRR Bicycle Route was created with generous financial support from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), Bikes Belong, and the members of Adventure Cycling.

To learn more about the route, visit www.adventurecycling.org/ugrr.
For photos and other media materials, visit www.adventurecycling.org/ugrrmedia.
Adventure Cycling is leading a second tour, a seven-day supported ride beginning in Buffalo, NY, and ending at the 145th Emancipation Celebration in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada in July-August 2007, www.adventurecycling.org/tours/2007ugrrcelebration.cfm.

Adventure Cycling Association is the premier bicycle travel organization in North America with more than 42,000 members. A non-profit organization, our mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. We produce routes and maps for cycling in North America, organize more than 30 tours annually, and publish the best bicycle travel information anywhere, including Adventure Cyclist magazine. Visit www.adventurecycling.org.

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Contacts:
Mary Price Ginny Sullivan x229

Owen Sound Tourism Jim Sayer x201

1-888-675-5555 Adventure Cycling Association

519-371-9833 800-755-2453

mprice@city.owen-sound.on.ca gsullivan@adventurecycling.org