Velo Kids to Host Tulip Time’s First-Ever Bike Valet

Visitors hoping to fully experience this year’s “Bikes and Blooms” theme at the Tulip Time Festival now have a safe place to stash their bicycles while they tiptoe through the tulips. Velo Kids, a West Michigan non-profit dedicated to getting all kids on bikes, will be hosting the festival’s first-ever bike valet service this year.

Much like a coat check, visitors can drop off their bikes for free to Velo Kids staff members who will tag and safely store them while they enjoy the festivities downtown. Located at the corner of Central Avenue and West 10th Street, the service will be available Thursday, May 2 through Saturday, May 11 from 5:00 - 8:39 PM with extended hours of 12:00 - 8:30 pm on the two parade days.

“Tulip Time is thrilled to have Velo Kids support a bike valet,” said Gwen Auwerda, Tulip Time Festival’s Executive Director. “Our theme of ‘Bikes and Blooms” is a nod to the Netherlands, where 98% of the population gets around by bicycle. It is their main mode of transportation. Now you can ride downtown and valet your bike while visiting the parks, watching Dutch Dance, or a parade. And with so many bike lanes downtown, it is easy to get around.”

In addition to the bike valet, Velo Kids will be partnering with Tulip Time, Cultureworks, Equipo Vivela and the Holland Area Arts Council to present “Pedals in the Park” on Sunday, May 5, 2024, from 1:00 pm EST to 3:00 pm EST at Kollen Park in Holland. The event will include family-friendly, bicycle-based activities like bike and helmet decorating, complete with a "bicycle fashion" runway, a photo booth, and a fun design competition.

“We are thrilled that Tulip Time is embracing the power of bikes,” said Velo Kids Executive Director Jenny White. “As we know from our programming, there are tremendous physical and mental benefits of getting out and riding. We look forward to seeing visitors enjoying our community on two wheels.”

For the latest information on the bike valet hours and availability, visit www.velo-kids.org/bike-valet.