Community Corner

Join the 'Kiddicle Mass' Bike Ride Friday in Regent Square

A local mom is organizing a safe ride for kids and their families.

Jill Martin is creating a space of “Kiddicle Mass” in Regent Square, allowing children from across the neighborhood to gather with their families for themed bike rides filled with fun.

Inspired by weekly cruisers held for cyclists in Boulder, Colorado, Martin of Regent Square wanted to give families a chance to get outside this summer to ride in a safe environment.

“My sister lives there and every Thursday, people decorate their bikes and it’s super fun,” Martin said. “We went to ‘A Flock of Cycles’ ride last summer here in Pittsburgh, and that was fun but it was a little much for our kids.”

Find out what's happening in Forest Hills-Regent Squarewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Now that her children are riding their own bikes, she thought it’d be fun to create their own neighborhood rides in Regent Square since the area is relatively flat.

“It’s a place where they can ride and it’s more family-friendly,” Martin said.

Find out what's happening in Forest Hills-Regent Squarewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This Friday night at 6:30 p.m., families will gather at Turtle Park near the corner of Milton and Henrietta Streets close to the for the ride, named from a play on the words of "critical mass."

Martin just started organizing the Kiddicle Mass Bike Rides this past June.

“It’s just fun riding through the neighborhood with the kids on their own bikes and yelling ‘Happy Friday!’ to people along the way,” Martin said of the first rides. “We came down to the Square and people were outside eating and smiling and just happy to see the kids out.”

The best part is being able to see the kids enjoy the ride, she said. This Friday’s theme is tropical, so riders are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts or come up with other ways to decorate their bikes or themselves. Each ride is about 45 minutes.

“We end up in somebody’s backyard for sparklers and freezer pops or at the park and go to Rosa’s for ice cream,” Martin said.

The goal is simple: to get neighborhood kids moving and to build on a community that has developed since she and her partner moved to Regent Square about 12 years ago.

Erika Freiberger of Regent Square participated in the first events with her own children.

"Riding bicycles with our kids is a simple pleasure,” Freiberger said. “Because the Kiddicle Mass rides keep children's pace and safety in mind, it has really brought biking families together."

She also said the rides allow her children to grow in different ways.

"My children are willing to take chances and stretch their biking abilities in the presence of other kids,” Freiberger said. “Plus, I think they enjoy the attention and excitement they garner as they ride around the neighborhood. This bell-ringing, giggling group of kids on bikes is quite a spectacle."

Visit the Kiddicle Mass Bike Ride event page on Facebook by clicking here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Forest Hills-Regent Square