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What It Takes to Organize UPAF's Ride for the Arts

Every year since 1981, the streets of Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin have been flooded with bicycles for the annual United Performing Arts Fund Ride for the Arts. The routes offer both recreational and avid bike riders a chance to see Milwaukee all while supporting the arts.

This Sunday’s Ride for the Arts will attract more than 6,000 participants and hundreds of volunteers. The ride offers six different routes, ranging from five to 66 miles.

An event as widespread as this takes great amounts of planning and skill to coordinate. From mapping the routes to organizing participants, activities and the multitude of supplies needed, it is a process that never truly ends after the riders go home.

"We start really planning the next ride the day after the last ride starts...so it's a very long process. But no matter how far in advance you plan, it always eats up those last few days," says UPAF's chief marketing officer Leigh Lane-Peine.

Lane-Peine and route coordinator Steve Halmo explain what happens behind the scenes leading up to the annual ride:

The UPAF Ride for the Arts takes place Sunday, May 31st. Registration is still open and available the morning of the event.  

Audrey is a WUWM host and producer for Lake Effect.