Bike Tours Offered at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Ford Transportation Interpreter, Ryan Locke, will be offering six guided bike tours per week on the backroads of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this summer.

News Release Date: June 23, 2008

Contact: Lisa Myers, 231-326-5134

Superintendent Dusty Shultz welcomes Ryan Locke to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore as a Transportation Interpreter, a position sponsored by the National Park Foundation (NPF) and through the generous support of Ford Motor Company, Proud Partner of America’s National Parks. Locke, from Spring Lake, Michigan, will spend the summer creating and offering bicycle tours to the public and promoting the use of alternative transportation in the National Lakeshore.

Locke is one of 18 students working in 15 national parks across the country providing visitors with invaluable information about the many alternative modes of transportation available to them. “While we will still be offering daily ranger-led walks, historical demonstrations, and evening campground programs, thanks to NPF and Ford, park visitors and locals may choose another way to see and learn about the National Lakeshore with a knowledgeable guide,” said Shultz. “Ryan worked with us as an intern in maintenance and cultural resources last year, so he is quite familiar with the park and is very excited about pioneering these bike programs.” Locke will pedal on two different routes, Wednesdays through Saturdays, beginning on June 25. The easy to moderate rides will cover between seven and ten miles and last approximately two hours. Topics are:

• Backroads, Farms, and Forests: South of Empire, through an agricultural landscape, ghost town, and former logging area. Thursdays at 11:00 a.m., Fridays at 5:00 p.m., Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.
  
  
• Discovering Cultural Landscapes: North of Glen Arbor, through the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m., Fridays at 11:00 a.m., Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.

No reservations are needed, and participants need only purchase the park entrance pass to join in the fun ($10/vehicle valid for seven days or $20/vehicle for an entire year). When planning to attend a program, be prepared for all kinds of weather, dress appropriately and wear a bike helmet. For more information about the schedule, meeting locations, or other Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore activities, please call the Visitor Center at 231-326-5134, ext. 328 or Click Here.

Other Transportation Interpreters will be located at Gateway National Recreation Area on New York Harbor offering bike/boat/train programs. Others will be on the propane-powered buses in Acadia National Park in Maine encouraging visitors to lock up their cars, ride a free shuttle, and help reduce traffic congestion, parking, and air pollution problems on the island. The Ford Transportation Interpreter Program is made possible through a partnership between the National Park Service, NPF and Ford.

As a Proud Partner of America’s National Parks, Ford is working closely with the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service to help develop innovative transportation and environmental solutions that enable visitors to enjoy the nearly 400 national parks without compromising their beauty. The Ford Transportation Interpreter Program was developed to encourage national park visitors to use alternative modes of transportation, such as trolleys, trams, or ferries, with the ultimate goal of reducing vehicle congestion as well as noise and air pollution.   

The National Park Foundation (www.nationalparks.org) is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered by Congress in 1967 to continue a century-long tradition of private philanthropy ensuring funding to preserve and enhance the legacy of our National Parks. As the official non-profit partner of America’s National Parks, the National Park Foundation does not receive federal appropriations for their support. The National Park Foundation serves to strengthen the connection between the American people and their national parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness. Support of the National Park Foundation ensures that the evolving history and rich heritage of our Nation remains vital and relevant.        

Ford Motor Company believes it is important to be a good corporate citizen. Ford continues to support nonprofit organizations that enhance opportunities for the people who live and work in communities where the company does business. A Proud Partner since 2000, Ford works closely with the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service to bring alternative transportation solutions to America’s 391 National Parks in order to enhance the visitor experience and preserve park resources. For more information, visit https://www.nationalparks.org/proudpartners/partner_ford.shtml.