HARLINGEN — Angie Rodriguez sat on her bicycle, waiting to begin a casual ride through town.
“It’s great exercise,” said Rodriguez, 52, whose grandson sat in a cart connected to her bike.
“I think this is really good for the community,” she added, waiting in the parking lot of the Harlingen Public Library with about 50 other bicyclists yesterday morning.
They’d gathered for the monthly Harlingen Social Bike Ride coordinated by the Harlingen San Benito Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The ride was exactly that. It wasn’t a race but simply a casual excursion through town. The bike rides through downtown Harlingen began earlier this year as a way to promote exercise and a sense of community, said J. Joel Garza Jr., director of the MPO.
He was pleased with yesterday’s turnout.
“We had people who were there for the first time,” Garza said. “That’s what we try to encourage — safe cycling and, of course, a healthy activity.”
Bicyclists expressed appreciation to the Harlingen Police Department for keeping bicyclists safe along the seven-mile route.
“The police are providing escort to keep us safe,” said Andy Barajas, 42.
He’s been bicycling recently with his wife and daughter, but yesterday morning they were asleep and he was riding “solo.”
“We came out for the last social bike ride and I wanted to do it again,” he said. “It’s a great community effort. It’s a good way to get some exercise and stay safe.”
Gloria Priestly, 47, used to participate in bicycling activities in Brownsville. Then Harlingen began having more events of its own. She felt it was imperative to support those efforts. If not, fewer events would be organized.
“We should have more,” said Priestly.
“It’s a way to be out with other people,” she said. “It’s exercise. It doesn’t feel like exercise. For a lot of people, that’s the most important thing. But if you’re cycling there’s no way you could not be exercising.”
While exercise is the major goal of the ride, there was no doubt about the social angle.
During the ride, cyclists stopped at La Reyna Baker on Tyler Avenue. After about 20 minutes, they continued the route back to the library, completing the ride in about 1 1/2 hours.
