Columbia Association’s (CA) annual BikeAbout will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, with riders setting off from the dock at Lake Elkhorn. The free, fun and informative tour presents Columbia’s history and showcases the connectivity of its pathway system.

Preregistration is not required but is encouraged via this webpage. Columbia BikeAbout will begin at 9:30am, with riders able to start up until 10am. They are expected to complete the ride by 1pm. Following the ride, participants will have the opportunity to refuel and have fun at the Owen Brown Festival, which begins at noon.

This year’s route is 10 miles long and winds through the villages of Owen Brown, Oakland Mills and Long Reach. In celebration of Columbia’s 50th Birthday, the theme of this year’s BikeAbout is “Appreciate the past and imagine the future.” Along the route, riders will get the answer to why the community’s power lines are mostly underground and get the answers to oft-asked questions about Columbia’s eyebrow-raising street names. They will also visit gravesites that pre-date Columbia, discover the early attempts to manage stormwater and learn how technology has changed current practice.

To accommodate families with young children, a shorter ride is available around Lake Elkhorn with enjoyable activities and fun facts about Columbia.