2025 Year in review

Even though we kicked off 2025 with snow in Baton Rouge, we ended up with pretty good luck on the weather front. That historic winter storm in January dropped nearly 7.6 inches locally and set records for our region before melting back into the norm, and after that rare January blast, the rest of the year saw generally mild winter weather with manageable rain and lots of sunshine for December activities.

Once the snow melted, our summer wasn’t too bad either. We didn’t see too many rain days bogging down our ride plans, and plenty of great blue skies made for enjoyable trips around town.

Downtown Development, Plan III, and Big Wins for the City

On the civic front, voters passed the Downtown Development District tax, a huge win for Plan III and downtown revitalization efforts. We were honored to visit the Downtown Development District office this year, sit down with executive director Whitney Hoffman Sayal, and hear directly how they’re thinking about growth and connectivity. She and Assistant executive director Casey Tate rode with us for the rest of the night, and we even stopped for a photo at the rotary sculpture downtown.

Around the same time, the DDD also announced that the levee path is getting extended! This will connect the Industrial park area of downtown to the Central Business District and beyond!

Bike Infrastructure and the City’s Momentum

There were more great wins regarding infrastructure this year. In June, the EBR Metro Council passed the updated Complete Streets Oridinance.

Additionally, BREC, the city’s planning teams, and the Downtown Development District have stayed busy updating our Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, including ambitions for extended bike boulevards and paved multi-use trails that will weave across the parish and give riders more access to move around safely.

Lincoln Hotel + Lincoln Theater Updates

After years of delays, construction on the historic Lincoln Hotel began in October 2025, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting restoration projects we’ve seen in years. This iconic building in Downtown East is being renovated into mixed-use space with residential units and commercial spots. The project is expected to wrap up in late 2026, and developer Anthony Kimble and his team are at the heart of this transformation.

Meanwhile, the Lincoln Theater hosted an open house on December 20th to share progress with the community, and the renovation there is on track to be completed in early 2026. It’s been inspiring to watch both history and opportunity come together in these spaces.

What We Did Together in 2025

From educational tours to supporting neighbors, here’s a look back at the places we visited and people we met this year:

• We got a private tour of the Water Campus with Nancy Broussard

• Learned about backyard beekeeping from Allison Gianelloni and Jen Bernard

• Explored birdlife with Georgann Bourgeois and more species with Robert Sherman - District 10 Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman joined us for the hummingbird ride

• Joe Skaggs set up an awesome tour of the Firefighter’s Museum located downtown on Laurel Street

• Visited new local businesses — Trap Haus, Rad Dad, La Caretta (for Cinco de Mayo), and The Meltdown Snowballs

• Rolled through favorites like The Vintage, Phil Brady’s, La Divina, Gail’s Fine Ice Cream, and 1808 Sneaux

• Tasted goodies and toured the upstairs apartment at the new Spanish Town Market

• Enjoyed homemade pizza from Mika Torkkola

• Christian Avery treated us to his homemade ice cream

• Got a special private tour of the Old State Capitol with David Fitzgerald

• Helped stock the Community Fridge at the Red Shoes with a generous donation from Shoppers Value on Government Street

• Learned about trees and their stories with Alec Baxt

• Celebrated Bob Stuart’s 100th birthday (and saw it written up in Stroll Magazine)

• Stopped by WHYR community radio station

• Visited the new South Branch Library and learned how to make buttons

• Enjoyed performances by our friends in Butterr Improve at Boomerang Comedy Club

• Visited Mike The Tiger more than once — and yes, he was out sometimes!

• We learned Baton Rouge’s biking history from Mark Martin, Tina Ufford, and Mika Torkkola

• Went on a festive Easter egg hunt, including a stop at our friend Caroline’s house and we had our first-ever Halloween scavenger hunt

• Got a lesson in riding tandem bikes from Front Yard Bikes for Valentine's Day

• Learned how to play pickleball at the Electric Pickle

• Participated in the Mid City Gras parade, Cranksgiving fun, and the return of Critical Mass rides on Friday nights

  
  

And of course, the year wouldn’t be complete without our Light Up the Night campaign. Thanks to your support we raised enough to donate 50 lights to Front Yard Bikes, plus order a couple more rounds. We’re still waiting on our next shipment, and we can’t wait to distribute them!

Thank You for Riding Along

It's been a great year and I'm so grateful to everyone who shows up, as well as those of you who read the newsletter and engage on social media. Here’s to an even better 2026!