Planning is underway for the EMS Memorial Bike Ride 2006, set to begin in New York City on May 21, 2006. EMS professionals from the Northeast will ride 600 miles to honor the memory of those EMS professionals being inducted at the memorial service as well as in support of the "To The Rescue" Museum. On Saturday morning, cyclists will lead a parade to the museum as part of the National EMS Memorial Service weekend events. Riders will then attend the National EMS Memorial Service that evening.
This is the tentative itinerary for the ride:
Day 1, Sunday, May 21, 2006: The ride begins at the Fire Department of New York Academy in Fort Totten, New York and ends in Hillsboro, New Jersey.
Day 2, Monday, May 22, 2006: The ride goes from Hillsboro, New Jersey, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Day 3, Tuesday, May 23, 2006: The ride goes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Baltimore, Maryland.
Day 4, Wednesday, May 24, 2006: Riders travel to the Pentagon, Washington, DC, and the ride ends in Woodstock, Virginia
Day 5, Thursday, May 25, 2006: The ride goes from Woodstock, Virginia, to Staunton, Virginia.
Day 6, Friday, May 26, 2006: The riders travel from Staunton, Virginia, to Roanoke, Virginia.
Day 7, Saturday, May 27, 2006: The riders will participate in the parade, then there will be free time to enjoy Roanoke. That evening, the riders will attend the National EMS Memorial Service.
Registration is now underway for the ride. Cost to participate is $150 per rider, which covers insurance costs, shirts for the riders, support items and administrative costs. Riders are responsible for covering the cost of their own hotel rooms. Click on this link for more registration information. Registration deadline is January 31, 2006.
To participate in this ride, cyclists must be in good condition and have their bicycles in good mechanical order prior to departure. The ride will cover an average of 75 to 100 miles each day, and riders should be in good enough shape to complete at least half of those miles without holding up the rest of the group. Bike helmets will be required for all riders.
Services along the route that wish to host riders are asked to e-mail EMSBIKERIDE05@aol.com.