For Immediate Release
Contact: Mike Charbonneau, 919-485-7413
Research Triangle Park, NC (June 7, 2017) – Riding has its rewards for people who are game enough to bike to the Durham Bulls’ matchup against the Norfolk Tides on June 11.
Anyone who participates in GoTriangle’s fifth annual Bike to the Ballpark event will get 15 percent off tickets for the 5:05 p.m. game, and the first 200 cyclists will receive goody bags that include water bottles, stadium keepsake boxes, calendars, flashlights and coupons from area businesses. Cyclists also will be entered into a drawing for a new child’s bicycle.
“There’s a huge biking community in Durham, and we are happy to be a part of that,” says Nick Bavin, a sponsorship account executive for the Durham Bulls. “We love encouraging people to get out and bike more. And it helps us out if people choose to use public transportation or bikes a little more, and it helps them out as well to get them out of their cars.”
The Bulls will set up a free bike-locking station on Blackwell Street, where Performance Bicycles will offer bicycle inspections and basic service as well. Cyclists must park their bikes there to receive discounted tickets.
The event attracts bicyclists from varied locations, with many people using the American Tobacco Trail that runs between New Hill-Olive Chapel Road southwest of Apex to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Others park at the Streets of Southpoint mall and make the 30-minute ride from there, says Bavin, who notes that he also has met people from Raleigh and Cary who mapped their own routes and cycled in.
“We have one guy who rides to games every Sunday with his kids, and last year’s Bike to the Ballpark event was the child’s first outing on his own bike. Usually he had come in a trailer with his dad,” Bavin says. “To be a part of that moment, for his first ride on his bike, it was so cool.
Promoting bicycling is part of GoTriangle’s overall mission to reduce the number of Triangle residents traveling alone in cars.
“Cycling is a great way to get out of congestion and into the fresh air for a trip that is better for your health and for the environment,” says Shelly Parker, manager of sustainable transportation at GoTriangle. “It has a positive net benefit compared with making that trip in a vehicle. The more people who bike, the better.”
And what could be better than a healthy bike ride that ends with getting to participate in America’s favorite pastime? And without having to find a place to park?
“It’s a great time,” Bavin says. “Have a hotdog, have some fun, hang out with friends. Best sport there is.”
Bike to the Ballpark
When: Sunday, June 11. Game starts at 5:05 p.m.
Where: Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell St., Durham, NC 27701
What: All riders receive 15 percent off game tickets, and the first 200 fans to arrive will receive goodie bags.
Note: The Bulls are now offering 15 percent off game tickets every Sunday to people who use public transportation to get to the game. Learn more.