Usually avoid El Cajon Boulevard and opt to take side streets when bicycling from University Heights to City Heights?

"Safety in numbers", the old adage goes, so hop on your steed and help Bike the Boulevard celebrate their 2-Year Anniversary this Saturday, December 8.

As Beryl Forman, marketing manager for the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association, puts it when she spoke to the Reader in February, “Bicycling has a way of bringing more vibrancy to a city.

“When you see a bunch of bikes in front of a business, it’s attractive and it draws people in."

The Boulevard journey kicks off at Live Wire (2103 El Cajon Blvd.) from noon-1:50pm with bike balloon ornaments, Happy Hour specials & free bike repair services.

From 2-2:50pm the excitement continues at Media Arts Center (2921 El Cajon Blvd) with a free Backyard BBQ and homebrew demo.

Then off to Soda Bar (3615 El Cajon Boulevard) from 3–3:50pm where you can choose to enter, or just watch, a Street Fighter II tournament.

College Billiards (5303 El Cajon Boulevard) is the last stop where you'll see Billiards for the Brave (a Wounded Warriors fundraiser) flaunting their trick shots, demo-style, from 4-4:50pm.

The Wounded Warriors folks will also be selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a completely custom, one-of-a-kind Military Tribute Bicycle built by Leon from Pedal Pushing Bike Shop valued at $500.

Custom-made Raffle Bike, Image from Pedal Pushing Bike Shop

Feel free to come out for all or part of the fun- which will adhere to the schedule for any late-comers hoping to hop on board.

Image from Bike the Boulevard IV, Feb 2012