Know before you go

• While the routes are open to all, most are designed for cyclists 16 or older who have at least a few years of bicycling experience. In other words, this isn’t where you should teach little Sally to ride a bike. Stick to local parks for that.
• Not all routes are marked with signs, and route conditions can vary.
• A red line on an individual route map indicates a shared roadway, while a green line indicates an off-road path.

Route this way

• Connects: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and downtown Atlanta.
• Where they can take you: Nashville, TN; Knoxville, TN; Cincinnati, OH; and more via connecting routes.
• Short ride: Did you know that the Tennessee Riverwalk is included in USBR 21? For a fun, ~11-mile outing, take it from the Tennessee Riverpark Wheland Foundry Trailhead to the TVA Chickamauga Dam — briefly hopping on Riverfront Parkway ~2 miles in to get back on the Riverwalk at Bluff View Art District. Pro tip: Make a pit stop at Rembrandt’s while in Bluff View for a caffeine boost.
• Long ride: Avoid Atlanta traffic and set out on a weekend trip via bike (although a “weekend trip” may not be long enough — it’s a ~160-mile ride) by taking USBR 21 TN southbound and switching onto the Georgia section of the route just past St. Elmo. Pro tip: Take a detour on USBR 621 GA to rest up in Rome, GA around the halfway point.

• National Bike to Work Day Celebration | Friday, May 17 | 7-10:30 a.m. | Miller Park, 928 Market St., Chattanooga | Free | Pick up a free 24-hour pass from Bike Chattanooga + enjoy coffee while meeting local bicycle organizations.

• Bloom Creative Summit | Saturday, May 18 | 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Cabana’s, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $49.87-$107.48 | This conference, designed to hold space for Black women + non-binary entrepreneurs, will feature keynote speakers and workshops.
• Supporting Wildlife in Our Yards | Saturday, May 18 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | UT Hamilton County Extension, 6183 Adamson Cir., Chattanooga | Free, RSVP | Learn how bats, bluebirds, and other native nesting birds are an essential part of our local ecosystem.
• Ciao, Summer | Saturday, May 18 | 2-6 p.m. | The Common House, 1517 Mitchell Ave., Chattanooga | $0-$30 | Check out this social club’s first pool party of the season + sip on frozen Aperol spritzes.
• Spirits in the Wild | Saturday, May 18 | 6-9 p.m. | Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave., Chattanooga | $70-$85 | Enjoy the zoo after hours for this 21+ fundraiser with an open bar, appetizers, animal meet-and-greets, and more.
• Imploding Natural Uncertainty | Saturday, May 18 | 8-11 p.m. | The Seed Theatre, 1100 Market St., Chattanooga | $15 | This variety show fuses “new sounds with old school visuals” — all to benefit The Seed Theatre.

• Restorative Yoga & Reiki Healing | Sunday, May 19 | 7-8:45 p.m. | Yogaaah, 525 Cherokee Blvd., Chattanooga | $45 | Experience a calming + healing 75-minute flow to restore your body, mind, and spirit.

• Chattanooga’s Neighborhood Services + Office of Community Safety and Gun Violence Prevention will host a roundtable on Monday, May 20 at the Carver Community Center. From 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., folks can learn about the new 423 Chain Breakers program. RSVP online.

• Riverside Development is working on plans to bring residential + commercial spaces to the former Eureka Foundry area. Pending rezoning requests, structures up to 20 stories could be developed on the 11-acre site — between Reggie White Boulevard and US 27. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

• Officials from Hamilton County Schools have put in a request for a $20 million increase in allocated funds for the 2025 fiscal year. The funds, which come from the county government, would go toward implementing “a 5% raise or a $2,800 flat raise next fiscal year for employees.” (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

• In case you missed it, the deadline to purchase a customizable brick — think: personalized and “in memory of” messages — for the Chattanooga Zoo’s Cape of Africa expansion is Saturday, June 1. Check out the zoo’s progress on the development + stay tuned for a full look into the exhibit in a future newsletter.

• $25,000. That’s how much ArtsBuild has received through the National Endowment for the Arts’ Grants for Arts Projects award. The money will expand the nonprofit’s Community Cultural Connections grants — a program that works to make art accessible and inclusive to underserved populations.

• Erlanger will host a two-day Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Symposium at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Attendees can attend lectures on Thursday, May 30 + participate in a skills lab on Friday, May 31. Bonus: Healthcare providers can earn up to 12 CME credits. Register online.

• Girls Inc. of Chattanooga is seeking a communications and development specialist to join its team. The position will provide “advanced administrative support in all areas of communications and development.” See the qualifications + how to apply.

• Looking for a music festival just as cool but a lot closer to home than Coachella? GAZEBO Festival is headed to the 85+ acre Waterfront Park in Louisville, KY next weekend, featuring 26 artists across two stages. Check out the full lineup and ticket options.*

• Pop quiz: How many devices do you have connected in your household? If you guessed 10, count again: The average American household has 21 phones, TVs, tablets, smart home devices + more. See how EPB’s newest internet service will keep your devices running smooth and hiccup-free.*

• Healthcare continues to be one of the nation’s top career industries. See how UTC’s Pre-Health Professions Advising can help you become a doctor, dentist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, veterinarian, and more.*

• Ah, the art of the balance transfer. This card offers not one, not six, but 18 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers, giving you nearly two years to save big. (Plus, you can earn 2% cash back on purchases with no annual fee.) Learn more and apply.*