Pontiac to host bike ride to celebrate 150 years
Saturday, June 11, 2011
By ALANA BEVEN
Special to The Oakland Press
With Father’s Day right around the corner, why not take Dad for a bike ride and explore the historic sites of downtown Pontiac and other nearby cities?
The Rotary Club of Pontiac will host its first bike ride in support of the Sesquicentennial 150 Celebration in the city of Pontiac.
The event is to help support the numerous youth events held by the Rotary Club of Pontiac.
“Dr. Allison Harmon of Pontiac schools is even encouraging the kids to get dad and go out for a nice bike ride,” said Carol Cousineau, of the Pontiac Rotary Club, which is organizing the ride.
The Rotary Club of Pontiac raises money for the youth in Pontiac and hosts various events aimed toward children in Pontiac schools. It honors a select student each month and treats them to lunch, offers scholarships and assists youth with polio as well as youths in Equador, said Ron Cousineau.
“The bike ride is not like any other bike ride,” said Carol Cousineau.
The bike ride offers five different routes to choose from. There is a nine-mile route, 16-mile route and 17-mile route. For more experienced riders there is a 44-mile route, and a 93-mile route. There will be many stops at various locations, including Oakland County Pioneer, Historical Society museum, Oak Hill Cemetery, West Bloomfield Historical museum, Walter Chrysler museum, Chrysler headquarters and observation of firefighters training at OCC also with Emergency Services Training and many more stops.
“We have been working really hard on this bike ride and we have given away 110 bikes and 700 helmets at Alcott Elementary School in Pontiac,” said Ron Cousineau.
The helmets were given by Mike Northcross. He is a trainer of the Pontiac Optimists Club bike safety program with the Oakland County Sheriff bike and POH helmet distribution to needy kids.
The nine-mile route is a historic tour of Pontiac. Lunch will be at the historic Goldner Walsh Nursery.
The 16-mile route is a tour of eastern Pontiac and Auburn Hills. Lunch will be at Riverside park in Auburn Hills. The 17-mile route is a western Pontiac and West Bloomfield tour. Lunch will be at Goldner Walsh Nursery.
The 44 miles goes from Pontiac, to Rochester, to Lake Orion, to Clarkston and back to Pontiac.
Visit pontiacrotary.org