Gulf Shores residents, it’s that time of year again. Spend the weekend giving your bicycles a tune-up and join the National Bike Month fun.

Andy Bauer, Gulf Shores zoning administrator and avid biker, said the city has been recognizing National Bike Month since 2017 and Bike to School Day since 2015. Each year, up to 120 children strap on their helmets and peddle to school on Bike to School Day.

The 2024 National Bike Month events are:

• May 5 – National Ride a Bike Day
• May 8 – National Bike to School Day
• May 13-19 – National Bike to Work Week

“The city has continuously improved our bike facilities over the past 10 years,” Bauer said. “It has vastly improved safety and increased ridership over the past years.”

Gulf Shores has been recognized as a Bronze-Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, and Gulf State Park’s Hugh Branyon Backcountry Trail has been named Best Recreational Trail by USA Today in 2023 and 2024.

Within Gulf State Park, visitors without a bicycle can borrow one to use while exploring the extensive trail systems. In 2022, 30,921 riders used the Bikeshare program. The Backcountry trail use numbers between Feb. 1, 2023, to March 27, 2023, are impressive. The Gulf Oak Ridge trail saw 39,716 users, Coyote Crossing 22,885 and the Lodge Crossover 33,754.

Over the years, Gulf Shores has made an effort to improve and build trails and Bicycle Paths. Improvements are currently under construction at Waterway East Boulevard but when complete (December 2025) will feature a 14-foot multiuse trail and bike lanes. A half-mile bicycle path has been completed on each side of the road at Medical Village. The bicycle lanes, trails and paths have led to 687 bikes being ridden and parked at the National Shrimp Festival Bike Valet in 2023.

When it comes to creative education, Gulf Shores City Schools has implemented many cutting-edge programs since its start, and one includes bicycles. In 2021, the Bike Barn at Gulf Shores Elementary School opened with 30 bicycles that take fifth-grade science students on rides every Thursday. The GS Middle School also has a Bike Barn with 60 bicycles used by many programs in the school.

The Bike Barn houses a class set of bicycles for students and teachers to use. These bicycles allow Gulf Shores City Schools to expand their Science …

If your Gulf Shores student would like to participate in Bike to School Day May 8, there are two meet-up locations. The Gulf Shores Police Department will be assisting with National Bike to School Day. Here is what you need to know.

• Meet Up: Johnnie Sims Park Kids Park Playground (departure at 7:15 a.m.) and Meyer Park (departure at 7:30 a.m.)
• All participants should wear a helmet.
• Children in second grade and younger should be accompanied by an adult.
• There will be a return ride held after school with students arriving at Meyer Park at 3:15 p.m. and Sims Park at 3:30 p.m.
• In case of inclement weather, the Bike to School ride will be postponed to Wednesday, May 15.

Finally, the Gulf Shores Recreation Department is holding a bike challenge called “Do the Ride Thing” during May. This free four-week outdoor bike challenge has weekly mileage goals. To register, visit www.gulfshoreal.gov.

For more information on the Gulf Shore Bike Month events, visit www.gulfshoresal.gov/bikeevents.