Norwalk BikeWalk Commission to staff bike valet at Pride, ramps up volunteer recruitment for summer events

The Norwalk BikeWalk Commission on Tuesday confirmed plans to provide free bicycle valet at Norwalk Pride in the Park on June 13 and to pilot bike-valet and outreach at the Sono Saturday Market on June 27, and pledged continuing support for a GirlTrek Walk and panel on June 6.

Chairing commissioner Becca Stole said the commission will use social channels and an email blast to recruit volunteers immediately: "I will connect offline with Emily and make sure that we can get an email blast and an Instagram post out this week to start recruiting volunteers," she said. Commissioners asked that each of the five commissioners present make at least one outreach contact to recruit helpers.

The commission reported the May Bike to Work Day table at the train station reached roughly 10 passersby; participants who arrived by bike received a $100 voucher toward a tune-up at Smart Cycles and were entered into a drawing for a rear bike camera. Commissioners said the event raised awareness and suggested moving future Bike to Work Day outreach to a midweek date when more commuters are in the office.

Logistics for Pride in the Park were discussed: because the commission operates as an entity of Norwalk City, it is covered by city insurance and will not pay a vendor fee; volunteers are needed to pick up equipment and staff shifts across the afternoon and evening program. Commissioners discussed using a mix of individual outreach, a sign-up form and targeted messages to prior volunteers and partner groups such as Sustainable Streets.

Members also agreed to prepare small outreach kits (flyers, business cards or laminated QR-code cards linking to the commission’s web/social pages) so commissioners can distribute materials at community events where table staff are unavailable. The commission will revisit volunteer signup results and event staffing at its next meeting.