Chris True, River Action event manager, is shown with a bicycle during a news conference Tuesday, April 15, to promote the new Ride the Island event to be held on Father’s Day. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
A new Father’s Day bicycling tradition is about to take off in the Quad Cities. The first Ride the Island event will be presented by River Action on Father’s Day (Sunday, June 15). The 10-mile bicycle ride will take center on touring many of the historic sites on Arsenal Island. The new ride is a […]
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A new Father’s Day bicycling tradition is about to take off in the Quad Cities.The first Ride the Island event will be presented by River Action on Father’s Day (Sunday, June 15). The 10-mile bicycle ride will take center on touring many of the historic sites on Arsenal Island. The new ride is a twist on River Action’s traditional Ride the River event. That annual Father’s Day bike ride was launched in 1985 in an effort to bring attention to riverfront access.
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James Lasher, River Action program manager, discusses the organiazation’s new Ride the Island event during a news conference Tuesday, April 15, outside the Quad-City Times in Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Members of the River Action staff pose for a photo during a news conference Tuesday, April 15, to announce a new Ride the Island event on Arsenal Island. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
River Action Executive Director Kathy Wine discusses plans for a new Ride the Island event during a news conference Tuesday, April 15, near the Quad-City Times in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
“We know it will be so much fun. … This will be an opportunity to explore history,” Kathy Wine, River Action’s executive director, said during a brief news conference Tuesday morning, April 15, to introduce the Ride the Island concept. The announcement was made in front of the Quad-City Times building, 500 E. Third St., Davenport, – the starting and finishing point for the 2025 bike ride. Go here to register for the event.She added that this year’s ride will be a special event because Arsenal officials have agreed to showcase the island to riders and the community as part of celebration activities to honor the Army’s 250th birthday. (The U.S. Army was established on June 14, 1775. Numerous events around the world are being planned to celebrate the birthday.)During the ride on Arsenal Island, bicyclists will have the chance to stop and tour various historic sites and buildings. Those buildings will be fully staffed on Father’s Day so riders can get a good picture of the history and stories surrounding the Arsenal, said James Lasher, River Action program manager.Mr. Lasher said he recently mapped out the bike route around Arsenal Island, and called that a “surreal experience” to visit a place relatively few people get to visit.In addition to enjoying local and military history, the Ride the Island event promises to be a time to cherish friends and family.“It’s going to be a family picnic, a family reunion feeling. … We are going to hang out together and break bread together,” said Chris True, River Action event manager.Here are some event details for Ride the Island:
Packet pick-up will be from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 14, and 7:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 15, in the Quad-City Times parking lot. Same-day registration for the ride is available.
The fees to take part in the ride are: $15 for adults, $5 for children, and $35 for a family of three to eight people.
The ride starts and ends in the QC Times parking lot at River Drive and 3rd Street. That parking lot will be the “base camp” for the ride, which runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The ride will include 12 interactive stops on Arsenal Island including: the Mississippi River Visitor Center, Col. Davenport House, Quarters One, Rock Island Arsenal Museum, the Sept. 11 Memorial, the Clock Tower Building and other stops.
The route will travel around the north and south sides of the island.
There will be food, music and games available to riders during the event on Arsenal Island.
Bicycle helmets are required on the island.
Bicycle repair stations will be available during the ride.
During Tuesday’s news conference, River Action leaders said any bike ride participants will not need to get a special pass to go on Arsenal Island. However, they are asking riders to have a driver’s license to use as a form of ID with them during the ride.“This ride will be a new tradition. … Let this be the first bicycling event of your summer,” said Mr. True.
