Ecoride 2007

Thanks for a Great EcoRide!

The weather was perfect for the 2007 EcoRide on June 24, and we hope that everyone who joined us at Hudson Mills Metropark had as much fun as we did. We'd love to hear what you thought about our new location, new routes, new online registration tool, and the event in general. Please send your comments and feedback to Stephanie.

You still have time to raise pledges!

Even if you missed the EcoRide, you can still do an honor ride on your own and raise money to help the environment. Help us meet our goal of raising $40,000 for a safe and healthy environment!

EcoRide 2007 Holds New Surprises!

Are you ready for the amazing new changes to this year's EcoRide? Back by popular demand, the EcoRide has returned to its historic roots on the west side of the Ann Arbor area. After spending the last three years on the east side at Greenhills School, this year riders will be departing from and returning to Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter, a familiar and beautiful site for many of our participants. In addition to some great views of the meandering Huron River, the new site offers a lot for families, including a 3.5-mile paved bike trail (the Loop Route) completely contained within the park, a playground, softball diamond, and nature trail. That is, of course, in addition to all of the fantastic EcoRide music, children's games, food, and other festivities you know and love, with some fun surprises in store as well.

The routes from Hudson Mills are enjoying a freshening up, with new lengths of 10-, 25-, 50-, and a tantalizing Century (100-mile) Route. Riders have the opportunity for more choices, especially those choosing longer lengths, as the routes will form interchangeable loops across a variety of scenic terrains.

Another exciting addition this year is
that registration has gone electronic!

The 2007 EcoRide and all future rides will be set up for participants to register, pay, and raise pledges all from the convenience of their computer.** Every aspect of registration will be available online, whether you want to print pledge forms, fill out waivers, pre-order EcoRide merchandise, log-in pledge checks, and more.... all you'll have to do is check-in at the ride! The best part about the online registration is that riders can create their own personalized Pledge Page, complete with a picture and message to friends, family, co-workers and other riders. It's a place where goals for fundraising can be set and tracked, emails can be sent out requesting pledges, and everyone can see the front-runners in fundraising, which should create some healthy pre-Ride competition! The top fundraisers have the ability to win prize packages, including the Grand Prize of a new bicycle, provided by Two Wheel Tango.

** NOTE: Online ride registration and sponsoring is now closed. Join us in 2008 and look for EcoRide 2008 online registration next Spring!

You can also download the EcoRide brochure in pdf format.
It includes a registration form and a sponsor sign up sheet.

For more information about this year's EcoRide and how you can participate or help out, email Stephanie or call (734) 761-3186 x110.

All proceeds from the EcoRide benefit the Ecology Center's work for a safe and healthy environment where people live, work and play.

EcoFriendly EcoRide

In 2006, for the first time in its history, our annual EcoRide was “climate neutral” thanks to the generosity of Clif Bar. From carbon credits to sugarcane-based plates to good old-fashioned conservation and recycling, we wish to show that big events don’t have to be big polluters. For more details, see this article in the May/June 2006 issue of our newsletter, From the Ground Up.

Greening Health Care

As a national leader in the movement to protect human health from dangerous pollutants, we work with hospitals, retailers, and suppliers to promote green health care products. Our work on medical waste led to the closure of all 157 of Michigan's medical waste incinerators and persuaded hospitals to use cleaner disposal methods.

Cleaning up the Chemical Industry

We are working to hold Dow Chemical accountable for their contamination of the Tittabawassee River, as well as phasing toxic chemicals out of consumer products. We are also promoting chemicals policy to put health first in approving chemical use.

Don't Trash Michigan

We are leading the campaign to hold imported trash to Michigan's standards, stop illegal dumping, and expand recycling programs throughout the state. The state passed bills to toughen controls on out-of-state trash and we will continue to work to expand the bottle bill and promote more community-friendly waste disposal methods.

Smart Growth

Programs, such as our successful Ann Arbor Parks and Greenbelt campaign, save land around the city to help stop sprawl and refocus development in urban areas. We strive to build communities with strong neighborhoods, while conserving farmland and open space.

Environmental Education

Our GEE-WOW! education program brings hands-on lessons in environmental awareness to thousands of students and teachers each year. We also helped develop local walking school busses and other programs to encourage kids to be more active and enjoy the outdoors.

Be Ready to Ride:

• Always wear a bicycle helmet
• Have your bike in good repair
• Observe all traffic laws: obey all traffic signs and signals; ride to the right of the lane or path; signal for turns and stops; don't bike more than two abreast; please be courteous to pedestrians, other cyclists and motorists.
• Remember to bring: filled water bottle, sunscreen, extra inner tube
• Cyclists should try a practice ride or two at the chosen distance before ride day. This is strongly recommended for the two longer routes.

Registration opens at 7 a.m. Registration will run until noon. Riders, based on their ability, should time the start of their ride so as to finish back at the River Grove Site in Hudson Mills no later than 2pm.

3.5 Mile Loop: Start 10am–Noon (11:00*)

Riders & Walkers!

This flat terrain hike-bike loop is perfect for families and those who want a relaxing view of a lagoon and the Huron River. Safe and entirely contained within Hudson Mills. Walkers and rollerbladers welcome!

10 Miles (10:00*)

This trip along the Huron River is great for families and intermediate riders. Want to keep riding? Hop onto the 3.5 Mile loop within Hudson Mills Metropark and add as many laps as you like at your own pace.

25 Miles (9:30*)

Heading northeast from Hudson Mills, there are a good amount of hills to keep the ride interesting. The trip goes up to Hamburg on paved straight-away roads and then heads back to Hudson Mills for lunch. Want to keep riding? After lunch, connect with a 25-mile section of our Century Route.

50 Miles (8:30*)

Beginning along the same route as the 25 Mile trip, it then continues north up through Livingston County. This trip can be challenging as it goes through meandering and scenic roads. It then connects back to the 25 Mile route as it returns to Hudson Mills. Want to keep riding? Turn this into a 75 Mile or 100 Mile trip by riding parts of the back half of The Century.

100 Miles (Century) (7:15*)

Get ready for the challenge of a century ride!

The first half is the same as the 50 Mile route, ending back at Hudson Mills for lunch, relaxation, and reuniting with anyone doing the shorter routes. The 2nd half heads northwest of Hudson Mills. Through Hell and around Waterloo Recreation Area, this has rolling hills on some winding roads in a picturesque area, making it a heck of a ride.

* Group start time for each ride — for riders who wish to meet others and ride in pairs or small groups.