News-Current Report

XENIA — A slowing down trend is catching on quickly in Greene County.

Slow Roll, a group of bicyclists who like to leisurely ride through their respective communities, will have its inaugural ride in Xenia 6 p.m. Monday, June 20. The goal is to give bikers a better perspective of their communities. Groups already exist in Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and Washington, D.C. and overseas.

Xenia, known as the Bicycle Capital of the Midwest, is a logical location for a new Slow Roll group. Local organizers are also trying to raise awareness about the trailhead that leads to Wilberforce.

“It’s a fun way to bring the community together, and I couldn’t be happier that the local Slow Roll movement is taking root in Xenia,” said Mayor Marsha Bayless.

Riders are encouraged to arrive between 5:30-5:45 p.m. at Xenia Station, 150 Miami Ave., for the free, public event. Participants will pedal six miles to Wilberforce and six miles back at a slow pace. There will be an optional scavenger hunt with prizes to test your knowledge about Wilberforce upon arrival to the Payne Theological Seminary campus destination.

Other rides, always the third Monday of the month, will be held 6 p.m. July 18 and Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.

In July, the Mandela Monday Slow Roll will begin at the National Afro American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce. The ride will end with a street fair with food, entertainment and a museum tour of the Nelson Mandela exhibit.

The August Slow Roll will include an optional historic scavenger hunt of downtown Xenia. Participants can qualify to win prizes from local merchants

“Slow Roll is about more than bicycling,” said Sonya Thomas, a member of Spokes, the community action group responsible for organizing the ride. “There is also the message of fresh air, exercise, and good times with family, friends and neighbors. We are going to ride slowly into Wilberforce, and by doing so, show people parts of their community that they did not know existed.”

To learn more about Slow Roll Xenia/Wilberforce, call Thomas at 937-376-2946, Mary Crockett, Xenia’s community development and downtown coordinator at 937-376-2786, or visit Spokes Xenia-Wilberforce on Facebook.

News Report compiled by Scott Halasz.