Our September Cyclist(s) of the month are George Johnson and the East Side Bike Club. Since April 2016, the East Side Bike Club has met every Saturday at noon at the head of Martin Luther King, Jr. in MLK park for leisurely-paced rides around the city.

Our September Cyclist(s) of the month are George Johnson and the East Side Bike Club.

Since April 2016, the East Side Bike Club has met every Saturday at noon at the head of Martin Luther King, Jr. in MLK park for leisurely-paced rides around the city.

George Johnson, President of the Buffalo United Front, started the club this spring in order to allow folks to practice riding their bikes to participate in Slow Roll Buffalo and encourage more people from the East Side to ride with the group. The group now rides every Monday with the Slow Roll Buffalo, on Wednesdays with the Jes Roll bike group, and on other rides throughout the week.

Before starting the club, George had not been on his bike a while. But after meeting with Henry Raess of GObike Buffalo and Seamus Gallivan of GObike Buffalo’s Slow Roll, George was inspired by how communities can be lifted by biking together. Since April, the East Side Bike Club has grown from around 20 people to more than 60.

“We have fun and a lot of great exercise,” said George Johnson. “It’s important, especially right now, to get people riding together and coming together.” George noted that bikes have a unique ability to bring people together that other activities do not possess. They’re also great for health, with Johnson noting he’s lost 22 lbs himself since starting the bike club!

For more information about the East Side Bike Club, please visit their Facebook page here. Better yet, join them on Saturday afternoon for a nice bicycle ride with new friends!