Contributed Photos.
Bicyclists gathered under the pavilion in College Woods as early as 7 a.m., braving the rain to participate in the 68-mile “metric century” group ride. Signs demanding climate action created by New Haven Climate Movement were stapled to the pavilion’s wooden pillars.
Just past the check-in and t-shirt tables, coffee, bagels, fruit, and granola bars greeted attendees inside the Trowbridge Environmental Center. Bradley Street Bike Co-op members also set up shop under a tent to offer free on-the-spot bike repairs.
This wasn’t the first year it has rained during the annual Rock to Rock Ride—New Haven’s largest Earth Day event—and the weather couldn’t wash out the spirit of determined bikers and hikers, tabling organizations,and fundraisers.
Drawing 450 registrants of various ages, the event offered activities for every skill level, including a one-mile, five-mile, 12-mile, 20-mile, 40-mile, and 68-mile bike ride and a Kids Bike Rodeo hosted by the New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation.
Since its launch in 2008, the ride has raised over $2.6 million for local environmental or social impact nonprofits through peer-to-peer fundraising efforts and rider registration fees. A final count of funds raised by this year’s event was just shy of $182,000, benefitting 19 organizational partners from CPEN to Save the Sound.
The coalition’s lead organizers are Chris Schweitzer of the New Haven/Leon Sister City Project and New Haven Climate Movement and Anna Ruth Pickett of the Urban Resources Initiative (URI).
Riders took off at staggered times after Paul Proulx of Elm City Cycling provided them with safety instructions and led them into the streets. As riders ventured back to College Woods, Schweitzer cheered them on by waving signs at the corner of Orange and Cold Spring Streets.
Meanwhile, others stayed dry while enjoying the event’s Green Fair, featuring food trucks, live music by The Hooch and Gammy Moses, and a dozen tabling organizations spanning nonprofits, businesses, and even Wilbur Cross High School’s Environmental Club. Food vendors included Cinco de Mayo, Crispy Melty, Rogue Coffee, and Pedals Smoothie and Juice Bar, which brought along their stationary bike for attendees to test out.
Top: Sunrise New Haven and NHCM members tabling. Left to right: Clara Dewey, Sydney Collins, Takeira Bell, Alaia Aquino, and Camila Ibarra. Bottom: Gammy Moses.
Co Campbell, who has been involved with Rock to Rock for 12 years, organizes the Green Fair and the annual Day of Service ahead of the ride in collaboration with Quinnipiac University, which brings over 100 community volunteers together in contributing to service projects for partner organizations.
“I really look forward to working with a diverse community and different age groups and people with like minds,” Campbell said about being on the organizing team. “It feels really good to create something with them.”
Mayor Justin Elicker, who has been attending Rock to Rock since it began, also made an appearance. He recalled meetings that would, several years back, take place in the apartment of Joel Tolman, director of community impact and engagement at Common Ground High School.
“To think about how many years and how much money this has raised for nonprofits and how many people that have been brought together by this event is just inspiring,” he said.
Top: Sarah Trejo, winner of the Spirit Prize for this B'Rock to B'Rock get-up. Bottom: Miche Palmer.
A rider on the 20-mile route, Miche Palmer, voiced their support for the event as a four-time attendee. “I came out this year to support URI, but also all the other amazing environmental organizations that are here. It’s such a cool community event--everyone comes out and is so positive.”
Several volunteers were present at the event, including Xavier Smith, a senior at Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School who decided to help out to earn community service hours.
“I’ve been thinking about getting into bike riding, and especially from seeing it today, the community of it… I think it’s very productive what I saw today, and something I think I want to be a part of,” Smith said.
Schweitzer cited “a lot of good community energy” despite the rain.
“This event is special because of the people who participate: the riders, the fundraisers, the participating partners, the sponsors, and all the City staff who support it,” Pickett wrote over email. “We’re so proud of this grassroots event.”
The 18th annual ride will take place on Saturday, April 25th, 2026 following Earth Day.
Learn more about Rock to Rock via their website and see event recaps on Instagram and Facebook. If you missed your chance to donate to a Rock to Rock partner organization, many are also partaking in the Great Give. In the interest of full transparency, this writer helped organize Rock to Rock this year as an intern for URI.