Louisvillians gather for independent ‘Hike, Bike, and Vote’ event after city cancellation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB+WAVE) — An annual Labor Day tradition in Louisville returned in 2026, but with a unique political and community-driven twist.

After Louisville Metro leaders canceled this year’s official “Hike, Bike and Paddle” event, local grassroots organizations and advocates stepped up to organize an independent “Hike, Bike, and Vote” gathering to celebrate community, health, and democracy.

Participants gathered at the Big Four Bridge at 10 a.m. for the rain-or-shine event, which was free and open to all ages and abilities.

Instead of the city-sanctioned paddle, organizers offered multiple routes to accommodate everyone:

• Walkers: Chose between a 3.5-mile route or a pet-friendly 2-mile route.
• Cyclists: Embarked on a two-hour round-trip ride passing through Shawnee Park, ending at Trellis Brewing at 827 Logan St.

“The Labor Day Hike and Bike event has always demonstrated that Louisvillians enjoy getting outside to walk and ride bikes in a safe environment,” said John Mahorney, organizer with Ridenfaden cyclists. “Louisville deserves safer streets and sidewalks for public health and promoting a sense of community.”

Beyond physical fitness, this year’s community-led event focused heavily on civic engagement ahead of the Nov. 3 mayoral and midterm elections. Organizers encouraged attendees to make their voices heard at the polls.

“I think that cycling in and of itself is an act of rebellion,” said Jeffery Vance of the Outsider Cycling Club. “Whenever you’re trying to lessen your carbon footprint, be more wary of the environment. I think cycling gives you a mindset that... luckily politics seems to fall in line with that sometimes.”

The event also served as a forum for residents to discuss transit, safety improvements, and community changes they would like to see under Mayor Craig Greenberg’s administration.

The Mayor’s Office stated that the official “Hike, Bike and Paddle” was canceled for Labor Day due to a high volume of other events happening across the city. However, officials noted that the official city-sponsored event is still scheduled to take place on Memorial Day.

To learn more about the community coalition and future rides, visit Ridenfaden Cyclists.