I received an email from a group called “Cycle Thon” this morning about what looks to be an incredible, community-driven bike ride on the BMO Marathon course. See their release below and if you feel so inclined, perhaps you’ll participate in their respectful Ride-Ahead on May 6th!

How many of these bicycles (and their riders) featured in our Bike Brake series will we see out on the course? Photos: Rachel Bee

Be part of the inaugural Community Ride-Ahead Sunday May 6
Explore the BMO Vancouver Marathon course on two wheels

Imagine a temporary 30-km scenic city bike route completely protected from cars, passing through UBC, Spanish Bank, Kitsilano beach and downtown Vancouver. It’s happening early Sunday May 6 in Vancouver.

Most people know the route as the course of the BMO Vancouver Marathon. This year it will also be the first test ride of the Community Ride-Ahead, an experimental family ride along a big section of the Vancouver Marathon course ahead of the runners. The Community Ride-Ahead will start at 33^rd and Ontario, the southeast corner of Riley Park (out of the way of the running start line), ending at the Jack Poole plaza at Thurlow and Cordova in downtown Vancouver, a distance of approximately 32 km.

This is a spontaneous, unregulated, unorganized experiment in having a community bike ride in Vancouver that doesn’t make car drivers angry and doesn’t cost anything. It will take advantage of the financial investments and hard work of the Vancouver Marathon organizers, sponsors and volunteers in setting up a barricaded course.

To participate, just show up at Ontario and 33^rd Avenue ready to leave by 7 am. Ride south to 37^th Ave., then west along the 37^th Ave. bike route to connect with new Vancouver Marathon course at Cambie St.

Bring your friends and family! Wear a costume!

To make this work, PLEASE:

- Think of this a chance for cyclists of all ages, abilities and with any kind of bike to explore our beautiful city by bicycle. It is not a race.

- Respect the Vancouver Marathon. Your first priority is not to interfere with the race or the runners in any way. Ride well ahead of the first full marathon runners. They start at 8 am and move fast. That means starting no later than 7:00 am from Riley Park (meet at Ontario and 33^rd). Riders should be over the Burrard Bridge by 9:00 am. Riders can start anywhere along the route before these times. Check out a street by street description of the full marathon route here.

- Do not go west along Pacific Boulevard or around the Stanley Park Seawall—the half marathon race will be in progress. Instead cross the Burrard Bridge on the northbound sidewalk, then turn one block east (right) onto the northbound Hornby St. bike lane to Hastings and then north and west to Cordova and Thurlow. Join other cyclists to celebrate the end of the ride at the Jack Poole Plaza by the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.

- Remember that cycling is not allowed on the marathon course or half-marathon course while the race is in progress.

- Show your appreciation to the BMO Vancouver Marathon by donating a minimum of $10 to the Vancouver Food Bank (donate online here), or to another of the marathon’s designated charities.