Social Cycling ATX presents: Thursday Night Social Ride - the Alan Hughes Retirement Ride!

Though the facebook post for tomorrow's Thursday Night Social Ride hasn't been posted yet, I figured I'd go ahead and share what's going on because this ride is a bit different than the rest. Reason? We're celebrating Alan Hughes' retirement after many years of service to the City of Austin. This ride is a big deal, so much so in fact that we're convening tomorrow's Bicycle Advisory Council meeting early so that all the members can come on the ride. If you've EVER wanted a chance to meet up with some of the City of Austin's biggest movers and shakers as far as bicycle advocacy and facilities are concerned, BE ON THIS RIDE. Here are a few words from City of Austin engineer Nathan Wilkes:

Alan’s retirement ride is on for this Thursday the 21st and the weather looks beautiful. The Bicycle Advisory Council is adjourning at 7:30 so we can ride from the One Texas Center to the Scoot Inn to make the start of the ride. Everyone else not at the BAC can meet directly at the Scoot Inn. See you there. Details about the ride are below.

Ride Details:

Please join the Bicycle Program in celebrating Alan’s retirement after 27 years of service and his invaluable contributions to the bicycle network in Austin. For his send off we are taking him on a very special Thursday Night Social Ride. The Social Rides regularly attract 200-300 cyclists every week and offer different themed rides and destinations each week. On Thursday the 21st the ride will grace many of the bicycle facilities that Alan has either designed or given approval for during his tenure as a Traffic Engineer at the City of Austin.

Many of the bicycle lanes in the central city, where he was supervising engineer in the last half of his career, can be attributed not only to the Transportation and Public Works Departments initiative, but directly to his initiation, review, and input. As an avid bicyclist over the years (and a Half Ironman Finisher!), Alan has a keen understanding that roadways are for all types of users and worked hard through his career to assure all users were safe and felt comfortable on the road. So many bicycle lanes can be attributed to his review and approval, including, but not limited to Hancock, North loop, Manor Road, Pleasant Valley, Enfield, Exposition, Dean Keaton, Martin Luther King Blvd, Medical Parkway, and Guadalupe. Alan will be missed by the Bicycle Program, but we hope to see him out on his bike more now, enjoying the roadways he helped to keep safe and comfortable for all users!

We will meet on January the 21st at the Scoot Inn, 1308 East 4th Street (view map), at 7:30pm and the ride will depart sharply at 8:00pm. The ride is usually 15-20 miles at a comfortable “social” pace interrupted by several stops. We are planning on making our first stop at the Texas Bicycle Coalition between 8:30 and 9:00pm to make a special presentation. Up to this point we will be riding in and around East Austin’s relatively flat neighborhoods for those who don’t feel up for the full ride.

I believe this ride is going to include hitting up several of Alan's signature bike facilities in the downtown/central Austin area, as well as the usual beer/party stops along the way. Bring a friend or two, the weather definitely warrants it.