More than 300 riders came out on Saturday, October 25, 2025, to celebrate the ninth annual BIKE 5, Bike/Walk Central Florida’s signature ride showcasing the power of safe, connected streets. What began as a small, local ride nine years ago has grown into a beloved regional tradition rooted in community, mobility, and the belief that people of all ages and abilities deserve safe places to walk, bike, and roll.
BIKE 5 isn’t just a ride. It’s a unique Central Florida experience: small, guided group rides led by local city partners, transportation planners, and cycling advocates. Unlike large “critical mass” events, BIKE 5 blends calm neighborhood streets, active roadways, and scenic trails to show riders what real-world, everyday connectivity looks like. As BWCF’s annual fundraising event, it fuels the education, advocacy, and outreach that make walking, biking, and rolling safer across our region. Every pedal from our riders, volunteers, and partners helps advance real change.
A Big Year for BIKE 5: The Debut of the Main Streets Route
This year brought a new addition: the 10-mile BIKE 5 Main Streets Ride, highlighting Orlando’s vibrant districts and growing bike-friendly infrastructure. Riders pedaled through Audubon Park Garden District, City District, Ivanhoe Village, The Milk District, Mills 50, and Thornton Park District.
More than a scenic tour, this new route demonstrated one of the core missions of BIKE 5: showing the community that staying connected by bicycle is not only possible, but increasingly easy thanks to a growing network of low-cost safety improvements built over the last several years. These incremental upgrades make everyday trips between Orlando’s districts safer and more comfortable. And with more improvement projects on the horizon, the Main Streets Ride gave participants a glimpse of the multimodal city we are continuing to build together.
For many riders, the biggest surprise of the day was realizing just how close and connected these districts truly are when experienced from the seat of a bike.
The 30-Mile Flagship Ride: BIKE 5 Cities
Our flagship 30-mile BIKE 5 Cities route once again showcased what regional connectivity looks like when cities invest in trails and safe streets. Riders explored low-stress paths through Orlando, Winter Park, Eatonville, Maitland, and Casselberry.
The ride celebrated how five distinct cities are connected by multimodal infrastructure, from neighborhood greenways to multi-use trails. Permanent BIKE 5 Cities signage continues to guide riders year-round, turning the annual ride into a lasting community resource.
Riding With Purpose
Events Manager Anna Strasshofer summed up what BIKE 5 is all about:
“BIKE 5 isn’t about racing or setting records. It’s about experiencing our cities at a casual pace, connecting with fellow riders, and learning how we can all help make Central Florida’s streets safer and more welcoming for people on bikes.”
Executive Director Emily Bush emphasized the vision we’re pedaling toward:
“The BIKE 5 routes show how far we’ve come in creating connected, comfortable streets and trails. But they also show where we still need to push—so everyone from ages 8 to 80 can ride safely and confidently.”
Working With Our City Partners to Prepare the Route
What riders experience on event day is the result of months of preparation. We begin in March with a ride alongside our city partners, reviewing early conditions and identifying opportunities for improvements. As the year goes on, we conduct multiple test rides and route refinements, submitting maintenance requests to jurisdictions along the way. In the final stretch, our ride leaders complete dedicated training rides to ensure a smooth, predictable experience for participants. These repeated touchpoints ensure that the final route reflects the most accurate and up-to-date conditions on the ground. Through this continued collaboration, riders get to enjoy a seamless journey across the trails, paths, and neighborhood streets that connect our region.
We are grateful to all participating jurisdictions for reviewing the items we submitted and for addressing many of them ahead of the event. The updates completed this year reflect ongoing care for the public spaces and infrastructure that make regional events like BIKE 5 possible.
Several of the completed updates included:
- Landscape trimming along path segments and sidewalks
- Pavement repairs in areas with worn or uneven surfaces
- Clearing leaves, soil, and natural debris from trail sections
- Refreshing or restoring functional elements such as pedestrian signaling equipment
These routine maintenance activities helped ensure that the BIKE 5 experience was smooth, enjoyable, and reflective of the vibrant places our riders explored. We appreciate the continued collaboration with our partners and their commitment to keeping these connections active year-round.
Thank You to Our Riders, Sponsors, Partners, and Volunteers
BIKE 5 is Bike/Walk Central Florida’s annual fundraising ride, and its impact is only possible because of the community that stands behind it. From the people who ride, to the organizations that support the mission, to the volunteers who power the day, every participant plays a vital role in making this event a success.
We want to extend an extra note of appreciation to our BIKE 5 ride leaders. This talented group of planners, partners, advocates, and community cyclists gave their time, energy, and route knowledge to ensure a supportive and enjoyable experience for every rider. Without them, offering smaller group rides would not be possible. Special thanks to Franki Gonzalez, former BWCF board member, for leading the ride leader committee
Ride Leaders for BIKE 5 2025:
- Bill Scanlon
- Billy Hattaway
- Daphne – City of Orlando
- Doug Crenshaw
- Doug Zang
- Franki Gonzalez
- Jacques – City of Orlando
- Jamie Krzmenski
- Jarrod V
- JR Rodriguez
- Kelly Clark
- Laura – City of Orlando
- Mark Hoipkemier
- Matt King
- Patrick Panza
- Scott Toschlog
- Shawn Hebb
To Our Riders
Thank you to the more than 300 cyclists who joined us this year. Your enthusiasm and commitment to exploring Central Florida on wheels are what fuel BIKE 5. Whether you rode 10 miles or 30, you helped demonstrate what’s possible when our communities are connected by comfortable, low-stress places to bike. You are the heart of this event.
To Our Sponsors
Your support sustains BIKE 5 and our year-round education and advocacy work. We deeply appreciate our 2025 sponsors:
Ardurra Group | Bicikleta Bike Shop | Blue Cord Professional Services | Brookline Development & Associates | Burgess & Niple | Cogent Bank | Dix.Hite + Partners | DRMP | England-Thims & Miller, Inc. | Fehr & Peers | Florida FreeWheelers | HDR | Kittelson & Associates | RSP Engineers | SpanPath | Traffic & Mobility Consultants | VHB | WTS Central Florida
In-Kind Sponsors
Your contributions made the rider experience even better: Harvill’s Produce | Kyle’s Bike Shop | REI | Trek
To Our Volunteers
Our volunteers are the backbone of BIKE 5. From registration and ride leaders to city stops, photography, and logistics, your time and dedication bring this event to life. Thank you for bringing your energy and giving your Saturday morning to the community.
Relive the Day: Explore the BIKE 5 2025 Photo Album
The BIKE 5 photo collection highlights more than a day of riding; it shows what a connected region looks like when people come together to experience their cities at a human pace. These images tell the story of community, mobility, and the joy of discovering how close our neighborhoods really are.
Take a look, revisit your favorite moments, and share the ride with others.
Save the Date: BIKE 5 Returns on October 17, 2026
We’re already gearing up for next year, and we would love to have you join us!
➡️ Mark your calendars for the 10th annual BIKE 5!
Riding together builds safer streets, stronger communities, and a more connected Central Florida.
Let’s keep the momentum going.
