Registration is still open for the July 16 Owl Ride, Omaha’s nighttime urban cycling adventure. The unique recreational bike ride, now in its seventh year, is the largest annual night bicycle ride between Chicago and Denver.
The Owl Ride is not only a unique and fun event, it’s for a great cause, helping the non-profit Meyer Foundation for Disabilities (MFD) improve the lives of adults with developmental disabilities in our community.
Almost everyone knows or went to school with someone who has Down syndrome, autism or some other disability. Did you know that as children with disabilities age out of the school system into adulthood, support for them and their family dries up, often leaving them socially isolated?
The Owl Ride gives these families a lift, providing recreational, social and life skills programs for young adults with disabilities, many delivered through UNMC’s renowned Munroe-Meyer Institute. When you register for the Owl Ride, you help these young adults enjoy an evening of swimming or games with friends, be part of a book club or learn to cook for themselves. And you give their families a much-needed break from the role of 24/7 caregivers.
Register online by clicking here. The cost is $30 for individuals and $10 for riders 18 and under when accompanied by an adult; $35 and $15 the day of the event.
The 2016 ride starts at 10 p.m. at Lewis and Clark Landing on Omaha’s riverfront, with pre-ride entertainment beginning at 9 p.m.
The ride follows a 17-mile course through downtown, Midtown, Dundee, Aksarben, Field Club and the Old Market, with “Owl perch” stops and support along the way. A shorter, eight-mile course also is available, making the Owl Ride a fun, active experience for riders of all ages and abilities.
Last year, nearly 2,000 riders took part in the ride. Bicycle decorations ranging from battery-powered holiday lights to custom neon creations enhance the atmosphere of the ride, with awards given for the best decorated bikes.
The costs of the Owl Ride are covered by sponsors, allowing every dollar of registration fees to go directly to MFD and its services.
This year’s sponsors include: Metro Credit Union, Fruitful Design, Anderson Print Group, UNMC, the Munroe-Meyer Institute, Nebraska Medicine, Papillion Sanitation, Lawlor’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sodexo, Hy-Vee, the Field Club of Omaha, Aksarben Village, Midtown Crossing and the Omaha Pedalers Bicycle Club.