10th Annual Moonlight Bike Ride

By Cassie Johnson

Warm summer nights call for a ride in the dark! Break out your neon bike lights, glow-in-the-dark socks and all things flashing! Deck your bike and get ready for the 10th Annual Moonlight Bike Ride in Paducah. It’s all happening on August 5.

Martha Emmons and Hutch Smith are the owners of BikeWorld in Paducah. For the 10th anniversary of this fabulous event, they are working with their team to make this year’s Moonlight Ride the best yet. Paducah bicyclists, Justin and Erin Lewis, first conceived the idea for the ride. Every year, they work along with Hutch, Martha, and the entire team to make the ride possible. This year, a “Party in the Parking Lot” will kick off the night at 8 pm. Join your friends at the BikeWorld lot to pay your registration fee and enjoy live music, free ice cream, and a tailgate party. Please bring food to enjoy but not alcohol. The ride itself will begin at 10 pm.

Hop on the McCracken County Extension Office bicycle and pedal your way to a smoothie. The bike will create enough power to run a blender! The McCracken County Library will bring their Brary Bike and there will be various goodies and treats from other sponsors.

Ten Starry Miles

The full route is a 10-mile round trip starting and ending at BikeWorld at 809 Joe Clifton Drive in Paducah. Don’t worry, it’s such an easy route that you won’t even realize you have ridden 10 miles! If you don’t think you or your little one can make the full trip, enjoy the festival and ride around the block instead.

“So many young or older riders want to go on the ride, but may not be ready for the full distance,” Emmons said. “If you’re not feeling up to the challenge, don’t let that stop you. Every rider is welcome to make a circle around the block and call it a night.”

Usually, between 350 and 450 riders participate. The highest number of riders was 609. In 2020, there were only 70 riders due to the pandemic. Except for that year, the ride has grown consistently since it was started ten years ago.

Safety First

Kentucky state law requires that every bike must have a white light in the front and a red blinking light in the back one hour before sunup and one hour before sundown. Reflectors only work if a light shines on them, so every bike needs to have both required lights in the front and back. Riders are also required to wear a properly fitted helmet.

Earlier this year, the Moonlight Bike Ride received the honor of being chosen as one of only 32 grant recipients from the National Bicycle Dealer Association. Their Buy Where You Ride campaign encourages people to shop at their locally-owned bike stores. BikeWorld will receive funding for some expenses plus they will receive accessories such as vests, handlebar grips, lights, and bells to be given away as prizes.

Funds to Feed the Community

All proceeds go to Paducah Cooperative Ministries, an inter-faith ministry. Founded in 1973, the PCM strives to provide the basic needs of residents in McCracken County. Whether it be food, personal care, or homelessness, PCM has helped thousands of residents get back on their feet.

“PCM does amazing things and we are so proud to be a part of helping our community,” Emmons told me. “The needs are overwhelmingly great and their budget is not as large as what one may think. We want to do our best to help them and join their efforts as they strive to aid our community.”

Martha and Hutch would like to say thank you to all of the participants and sponsors over the years.

“We are so proud of this event because it’s quintessential to Paducah,” Emmons said. “We have riders every year who tell us they remember the first time they participated as a teenager or they live out of town but always want to come home for the Moonlight Bike Ride. My favorite memory was of a 92-year-old rider who completed the route with eleven of his family members. What a great memory for all of them to have!”

Pre-Register For Shirts

Each rider who registers before 4 pm on Saturday, July 8 will receive a free t-shirt. After that, shirts will be limited and on a first come first serve basis at the event. Registration is $25 per adult, $15 for ages 5-16, and riders 4 and under are free. Visit moonlightridepaducah.com to register or pick up registration information at BikeWorld or Paducah Cooperative Ministries, located at 402 Legion Drive in Paducah. For questions, call 270.442.0751 or email martha@bikeworldky.com. Check social media for rain or stormy weather updates. 