Historic Macon will host a bike tour of Macon’s industrial district on Saturday, October 8 from 10am to 12pm. The bike tour will begin at the Terminal Station (200 Cherry Street) and end at Macon Beer Company (345 Oglethorpe Street).

In the summer of 2016, Historic Macon hosted two summer interns, Elaine Sullivan and Sara Doll. As one of their summer projects, they researched Macon's industrial heritage and presented their findings at the Sidney Lanier Cottage in July. In addition to conducting research on Macon’s railroad, brewing, and iron industries and the buildings that housed these operations, Sullivan and Doll began writing a tour that will be used this Saturday. Eventually, the information will be published in a brochure that will be available in different locations throughout Macon.

Saturday’s bike tour will focus on the history of Macon’s industrial district but will also include plans for the future. Alex Morrison, executive director of the Macon Bibb County Urban Development Authority, will lead a bike tour. Morrison was an instrumental leader in Macon Action Plan. MAP was a study that collected public input and compiled research about ways to improve Macon’s urban core. Morrison will share some of the ideas from the Macon Action Plan and how they can be applied to Macon’s industrial area as downtown development begins to push further beyond Poplar Street.

This is the second bike tour Historic Macon has offered within the past year. As infrastructure for biking improves, along with expanded advocacy efforts for bikability and walkability from groups like Bike Walk Macon and the recent Macon Connects event, Historic Macon will continue to encourage the community to enjoy Macon’s incredible architecture by bike and foot through tours.

Tickets are $10 for Historic Macon Foundation members and $15 for non-members. Space is limited and based on online reservations. Reserve your spot at www.historicmacon.org/tours. Participants are welcome to join Historic Macon staff for a brewery tour and taste after the bike tour. The brewery tour and tasting is not included in the price of the bike tour ticket.  

The Macon Convention and Visitors Bureau received a Downtown Challenge Grant from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia in the first round of awards to install a bike share program in Macon. The program, operated by Zagster, has been implemented. Historic Macon encourages those who do not have a bike to rent one for the morning tour. A rental station is located at the Tubman Museum.