Exercise your better self: Bike or walk this weekend

Six miles of Island roads will be open to cyclists and walkers and closed to traffic Sunday morning for “Exercising our Better Selves,” hosted by Sustain-able Tourism on Vashon. The event will begin at Paradise Ridge Park and will include three- and six-mile routes for cyclists and walkers as well as booths in the park, according to Kathleen Fitch, one of the organizers

By Susan Riemer • August 10, 2010 2:08 pm

Six miles of Island roads will be open to cyclists and walkers and closed to traffic Sunday morning for “Exercising our Better Selves,” hosted by Sustain-able Tourism on Vashon.

The event will begin at Paradise Ridge Park and will include three- and six-mile routes for cyclists and walkers as well as booths in the park, according to Kathleen Fitch, one of the organizers.

Jeff Ammon, owner of Vashon Island Bicycles, will be there to answer bicycling questions and show some of the newest in bikes, including a European tour bike, a cargo bike and an electric bike. Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie will have a booth with healthy food and beverages, and Bettie Edwards of The Little House will staff the awards table and give out awards for the best decorated bike for three age groups and the best decorated helmet award.

Sustainable Tourism on Vashon (STOV), a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to help the Island thrive economically while preserving and restoring its natural resources, will also have a booth. A raffle for two prizes will also take place; tickets are available now at Essentials 4 and can also be purchased the morning of the ride and walk.

Registration is required and runs from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, though latecomers will also be welcomed, Fitch said. The cost is $3 per person and $6 per family. Participants can walk or bike the route of their choice and stay on the course as long as they wish during the event hours, Fitch said. Leashed pets are welcome in the park, but they are not allowed on the course.

This is STOV’s first time to host this type of event, and Fitch expects to hold more, as it enables people to enjoy Vashon’s rural environment in a way that has a very low impact.

“We want to always promote the beautiful land we have,” Fitch said.

Choose your course

Three-mile route: The course is a loop that includes S.W. 220th Street, Wax Orchard Road, S.W. 232 Street and Old Mill Road.

Six mile route: This longer loop includes S.W. 220th Street, Wax Orchard Road, S.W. 248th Street and Old Mill Road.

For more information, see www.stov.us.