The West Windsor Recreation Department will present its 20th annual West Windsor BikeFest this month.
The event, set for Sunday, September 8, is being held with the support of the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance, the Historical Society of West Windsor, and the West Windsor Arts Council
After the rides, participants will enjoy a catered lunch at the park pavilion.
The event launches from West Windsor’s Community Park, where riders will embark on the ride of their choice, exploring West Windsor and neighboring towns. Included are 8, 20, and 40 mile routes as well as an in-park ride for young children. Every one of these features historical and cultural highlights along the way.
Road Maestro, bicycle mechanics, will be on hand to help bicycles get the last-minute attention they may need. Staggered starts allow all participants to finish in time for a full lunch at the park pavilion with hoagies by Aljon’s and Indian fare by Tript Foods.
As a special treat this year, the Historical Society of West Windsor is offering the Schenck Farmstead/West Windsor History Museum as a mid-ride restroom, water, and snack location. Participants can also grab a copy of the West Windsor Then and Now history book
The 1700s-era farm is a time machine to a quieter age, with an 18th century house and barn, mid-1800s schoolhouse, early-1900s wagon house, and other structures. The schoolhouse will be open during Bik Fest, and the entire museum property will open for tours the same day from 1 to 4 p.m.
The West Windsor Arts Council is providing support for some of the in-park events especially geared to children. Offerings may include bike decorating, face painting, beading, or other activities designed to keep every participant engaged.
The Arts Council is headquartered in the historic 1931 Berrien City firehouse on Alexander Road in Princeton Junction and offers a full range of community arts programs year-round.
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance if providing logistical, financial and public relations assistance.
Although the WWBPA had not yet been organized in 2004 when BikeFest started, pictures from early rides show Jerry Foster, Daryl McMillan and Silvia Ascarelli—advocates who sit on the WWBPA’s board today.
Many West Windsor members of the local bicycle club, the Princeton Freewheelers, have not only assisted in planning the route, but are providing ride leaders and volunteers to help guide the group of experienced cyclists.
Two Decades of Tradition
Now in its 20th year, West Windsor BikeFest has a long history. Longtime residents might recall the Recreational Trails and Bikeways Committee of the nonprofit Friends of West Windsor Open Space and the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force.
These early groups, with such community leaders as Ken Carlson and Susan Conlon (who later founded the Bike-Ped Alliance), were instrumental in launching BikeFest.
Those two founders, along with Ken Naglak and others, also helped convince PES&G to allow for the use of the Trolley Line Trail right-of-way—a pathway that many riders will utilize for this year’s BikeFest.
Meanwhile, Dan Gerstenhaber was the chairman of the first BikeFest committee, and his leadership skills and fundraising prowess allowed a first-class event at a family-friendly price.
A promotional piece written by Heather Achenbach in 2006 stated, “Our goal was to promote cycling, family, and fun in the township by encouraging people to meet others of like minds while building biking skills in a family atmosphere.
“I’m thrilled to say that our event has grown from a participation level of 260 riders the first year (2004) to over 500 riders last year (2005).”
The ride sustained that kind of participation until COVID-19 struck. The pandemic changed many lives and disrupted many long-standing traditions. However, the popular event has been resurrected, with more than 100 participants in 2023 and twice that number expected this year.
In earlier days, the various groups often sprung from FOWWOS, itself founded in 1996. Two founders, Robert Murray and Alison Miller, are still officers of FOWWOS 28 years later.
Michael Schuit, president of FOWWOS during its most active years, remains a stalwart leader as well. Many of the bike-friendly routes possible in the West Windsor area are a direct result of this group’s work. FOWWOS remains active, with an eye on a number of parcels that they hope to add to the over 50% of the land area of West Windsor that is already preserved open space.
Route Highlights
For young children, a 1.5-mile “in-park” option is planned. A scavenger hunt will stop at various points to teach about local history. For example, the indigenous Leni Lenape once lived in the area, and artifacts are often found along local waterways like the Bear Brook that runs just north of the park.
Also, most of the original buildings of a mid-1800s community called “Vanhiseville” still stand at the intersection of Hendrickson Drive and North Mill Road. This tiny hamlet is also called “Pig Town”—a century-old moniker from back when the town was nothing but farmland. The footbridge over the Bear Brook is even called “Pig Town Bridge.”
Kids and their parents can also learn about the early-1900s “Fast Line”—an actual trolley route that once cut through West Windsor exactly where the Trolley Line Trail exists today.
This was recently memorialized by an Eagle Scout project by Siddharth Belahal, who restored and reinstalled an original section of track in Community Park, next to a new informational display.
Finally, the park itself was once a farm owned by Howard Cox, the publisher of the publisher of the Raggedy Ann and Andy series of books. He even published the books out of the farm in the 1950.
All of the above, and more, will be highlighted along the in-park route.
Meanwhile, the shortest route for older children and adults will be the 8-mile ride—starting on the Trolley Line Trail. Later, riders can take a bathroom break at the West Windsor History Museum where they can also wander the historic farmstead grounds. They will then ride into the 1700s-era community of Dutch Neck in the heart of town before heading back to Community Park.
More experienced riders might enjoy the 20-mile route. Riders will start by heading out of the park and north through the historic 1700s-era Grovers Mill neighborhood. They will then cross into Plainsboro and ride through hundreds of acres of farmland before turning onto Old Trenton Road. They will also be able to stop the West Windsor History Museum before meandering through more of West Windsor before returning to the park.
As for the longest route, the 40-mile riders will explore Princeton, Plainsboro, Cranbury, East Windsor, Hightstown and Robbinsville. They will first head northwest through Penns Neck, cross Carnegie Lake and explore the heart of Princeton. After, they will ride back through Dutch Neck and then stop at the West Windsor History Museum. They will then head to Robbinsville to the massive BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple—the second-largest Hindu mandir in the world—before returning to the park.
To preregister for the event (with discounted fares) of for more information, go to wwbikefest.weebly.com.
