Merchants in Jack London Square tell Hoodline that they're excited about Saturday's Pedalfest event, which many expect will draw attention to their businesses and bring new customers to their doors.
Starting at 11am tomorrow, the free, bicycle-centered festival commences on the waterfront, continuing until 6pm.
Organizers expect 25,000 visitors to attend the daylong event with diversions like bike races, stunt shows and unicycle lessons, along with food, live music and DJs.
One of tomorrow's highlights is an amphibious bike race that will take contestants through Jack London Square and into the Oakland estuary.
Ginger Jui, Communications Director of Bike East Bay, said amphibious bikes can bridge the gap between Oakland and Alameda.
"Alameda is just across the water, but you really have to go out of your way to walk and bike off the island," Jui said. "Bike East Bay is working with Bike Walk Alameda to think up creative solutions for how we can bridge this gap like bike ferries and a bike bridge. If we can figure that out, it would benefit businesses on both sides of the water."
Angela Tsay, CEO of Oakland Supply Company, which recently moved to Jack London Square, said she's happy to see Pedalfest come to the square.
"We’ve supported Pedalfest and Bike East Bay for many years now, and are excited to have relocated our Oakland Supply Co. store to the heart of Jack London Square in time for this year’s event," Tsay said.
"Great mid-sized events like Pedalfest are crucial to activating the Square, bringing in a mix of locals and tourists eager to have fun and spend money with neighboring businesses," she added.
Plank, a beer garden that offers bocce, video games and fine dining, is looking forward to Pedalfest's arrival. "We think it will positively affect our business by bringing more exposure to the Square and to Plank," said a representative via email.
Forge, an artisan wood-fired pizzeria, also spoke to Hoodline about the benefits to be gained from the crowds that would be attending Pedalfest.
"We are happy to support an event that encourages the biking community to grow in the East Bay area," said Jeff Fowler, general manager of Forge Pizzeria.
"For bikers, it’s hard to beat a place that’s flat, has a bay and sailboats to look at, and has multiple eating and drinking establishments close by."
