May 12 Bike Tour of Historic Districts kicks off Preservation Month in Cleveland Heights

Mary Dunbar leads a walking tour of the Shaker Farm Historic District in 2011. Photo by Deanna Bremer Fisher.

May is both Bike Month and Preservation Month, so the Heights Bicycle Coalition (HBC) and the Cleveland Heights Historical Society are joining forces for a free lecture and bicycle tour of historic districts in the southern part of Cleveland Heights.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., and begins at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd. To register, call the Cleveland Heights planning department, 216-291-4878. (Rain date: May 26, same place and time.)

The lecture starts at 10 a.m., with speakers Christopher Roy of the Cleveland Heights Historical Society and Kara Hamley O'Donnell, Cleveland Heights city planner, providing a brief overview of the development of Cleveland Heights's historic districts. Those who attend the lecture will learn to spot the architectural features and styles that distinguish the homes that the tour will pass by.

The bike tour starts after the lecture, and bicyclists will ride through parts of five historic districts (Shaker Farm, Shaker Village, Ambler Heights, Euclid Golf and Fairmount Boulevard) and one historic site (the North Union Shaker Site). Mary Dunbar, Cleveland Heights city council member and president of HBC, will lead the bike tour, and other members of HBC will participate.

Bicycle parking is available near the back entrance of the church. Participants in the bike ride are asked to wear bike helmets, and will be asked to sign a waiver.