The fourth annual Firefly Trail Ticket to Ride, a mass participation bicycle event to promote creation of a 39-mile rail-trail from Athens to Union Point, will be held Saturday, March 21, starting at 9 a.m. at Jittery Joe’s Roasting Co., 425 Barber St., Athens. 

The fully supported ride, with distance options of 16 to 84 miles, will use scenic, low-traffic roads as close as possible to the route of the historic Athens Branch of the Georgia Railroad.  The event will highlight friendly towns, historic depots and beautiful countryside, and will demonstrate the potential for creating a nationally significant rail-trail along the former railroad corridor. 

More than 200 people rode in the 2014 event, and more are expected to join the ride this year. The event features fully stocked rest stops in Winterville, Crawford, Maxeys and Union Point, followed by an end-of-ride celebration at Jittery Joe’s Roasting Co.

Registration will open at 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. start. Riders are welcome to ride as much or as little of the route as they would like. Helmets are required. Free parking will be available. Registration is $30 and includes specialty cycling socks for those who sign up before March 9.  Firefly Trail T-shirts will be available for purchase at the event. 

All proceeds benefit Firefly Trail, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to promote and foster development of the trail. 

“The old Georgia Railroad corridor offers an outstanding opportunity to enhance health, recreation, tourism and economic development in our communities,” said Mike Hall, chair of the Firefly Trail Board of Directors. “It’s scenic, historic, and level. It links schools, businesses and town centers, and it’s within easy driving distance of more than 5 million Georgians. Like rail-trails all over the country, the Firefly Trail will bring much-needed opportunities for safe, off-road exercise and economic development to our area.”

The Ticket to Ride will be fully supported with cue sheets, marked turns and assistance for riders with mechanical problems. Rest stops with food, water, sports drinks and restrooms will be available at:

• Winterville depot – 16 miles round-trip
• Crawford depot – 40 miles round-trip
• Maxeys City Hall – 60 miles round-trip
• Union Point Theatre – 84 miles round-trip

From noon to 2 p.m., participants and the community are invited to a post-ride celebration featuring the North Georgia Bluegrass Band. Terrapin beer and Your Pie pizza will be available for purchase, with discounts for registered riders. Pizza, beer and post-ride snacks will continue to be available until supplies run out or 4:30 p.m., when the course closes.

Pre-registration is available now on Active.com at http://www.active.com/athens-ga/cycling/races/firefly-trail-ticket-to-ride-2015 (also accessible through the Firefly Trail website at www.fireflytrail.org) or by completing a paper registration form, available at bike shops and other locations across the area. Packet pick-up and registration will be available at Cycle Sport Concepts, 1029 Baxter St., on March 20, with a 10 percent discount on in-store purchases for participants. 

The fourth annual Ticket to Ride is hosted by The Firefly Trail, Inc., in conjunction with the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission and Ken’s Promotions. Sponsors are Fitness @ Five, Jittery Joe’s Roasting Co., GreenScapes Shrub and Turf, Cycle Sport Concepts and Terrapin Beer Co. Additional sponsors include BikeAthens, Georgia Bikes, Georgia Department of Transportation, , GRWC Maxeys Woman’s Club, Outdoor Specialty, and the Union Point Downtown Development Authority. Additional support is provided by Athens-Clarke County, Oglethorpe County, Greene County, and the cities of Winterville, Crawford, Maxeys and Union Point. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

For more information about the ride, email Ken’s Promotions at [email protected] or follow the Firefly Trail page on Facebook. For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Mary Cook at [email protected]. For more information about the proposed Firefly Trail, visit www.fireflytrail.com.