INDReporter

Forward Lafayette announces Mickey Shunick Memorial Bike Ride

Forward Lafayette announced today details for the Mickey Shunick Memorial Bike Ride, which will occur on Thursday, July 7, beginning and ending at Rotary Point starting at 5:45 p.m.

The date was selected because it is the first anniversary of the resolution establishing the Mickey Shunick Memorial Bike Loop. The resolution, adopted by the City-Parish Council, included a map of the Loop and identified West Bayou Parkway as a portion of the Loop.

The resolution, which passed the City-Parish Council 9-0, stated the “Lafayette community has expressed a desire to memorialize Mickey’s legacy” and that she “loved to bike and used her bike as transportation throughout the community.”

“We have received 1800 signatures and a lot of positive feedback in the last two days, and a lot of people have said they want to demonstrate their support beyond signing,” said Mark deClouet, Forward Lafayette organizer, in a release announcing the ride. “We also heard from Mickey’s sister who encouraged us to put on this ride, and the timing of the anniversary of the council’s resolution establishing the Loop just felt right."

Organizers also plan to gather at Corner Bar on Johnston Street following the completion of the ride.

“I am happy to help bring awareness to this issue,” says Stanley Lerille, owner of Corner Bar, in the release. Lerille lives off of West Bayou Parkway and supports the bike lanes. “My neighborhood is safer since these lanes were installed, and my kids can cross over West Bayou Parkway to see friends and family. If we can bring a little more community to this conversation, I think that is what Lafayette is all about.”