The 44th Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska, popularly known as BRAN, is bringing between 190-250 total bike riders to Crofton for an overnight stop this summer.
Every year, Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN), a non-profit, hosts a bike ride in the month of June where hundreds of bike riders from around 28-35 states and foreign countries travel to different towns in Nebraska.
It’s an event that takes everyone to help things run smoothly, including the members of the community. The event, with a theme of Outlaw Trail Adventure this year, will be stopping in Crofton on Wednesday, June 10. This means the community of Crofton and scores of volunteers are going to be all hands on deck with this year’s event, according to Joyce Stevens, one of the local organizers.
Lee Lazure, a state BRAN leader, along with several other BRAN organization staff, met last week with the local BRAN committee to explain how BRAN works, what it will mean for the community, the needs for volunteers and what local organizers can expect during the event. Stevens said that local efforts will work to ensure riders are able to cool off, have fun, and enjoy their time in Crofton. City council member, Bryce Rossman, brought up questions to ensure that the community was best prepared to host the large number of riders expected, although numbers are not yet finalized.
Host towns that are deemed successful for BRAN typically show hospitality and the community’s charm to riders from all over the country and world, Lazure said.
This year’s ride will take place June 7-13, beginning in Valentine and ending at Arlington, stopping in Verdigre on June 9 and Crofton on June 10.
The riders will leave Verdigre in the early morning and arrive in Crofton, starting at around 9 a.m. with riders continuing to come into town from over a two to three hour period. The community was asked to provide welcome gifts for riders, among other things, including extra places to sleep, storm shelters in case of a weather event, and a guide or list of places to stop for groceries and food and other services for riders to enjoy their time in Crofton.
According to the BRAN brochure, “The average BRAN rider is over 50 years old, with disposable income and a strong tendency to support the towns that support BRAN. Riders frequently share their experiences through social media, blogs, and conversations with family and friends—creating lasting, positive impressions of your community.”
The local committee plans to utilize the Crofton City South Park as home base for activities for riders, because of its central location and proximity to the city auditorium.
The community was not short of ideas when it came to providing information to BRAN volunteers. The tanning salon, for instance, offered to provide a washer/dryer for riders who need to wash their clothing and the auditorium will provide WiFi.
Members of the community also want to provide an early breakfast before riders head out the following day. Since Crofton doesn’t have a local sheriff, there will need to be extra help recruited from the county for security purposes for the event. Solid plans were being made for food and entertainment.
Businesses can also put ads in a rider directory that’ll be given to all participants. Ads are due by April 24.
A handout from the meeting included a list of key aspects involved in hosting BRAN including a welcome tent, campground details, Severe Weather Shelter, restrooms, water access, signage, local host committee interaction, trash and recycling, security, medical coordination, charging trailer, WiFi/internet access, laundry support, host a cyclist/group, gear/baggage assistance, shuttle service, entertainment, parking, and food planning.
With support from riders and BRAN, a $1,500 BRAN scholarship is awarded to students from overnight host towns. Towns can choose to split up this scholarship to smaller amounts to offer to more students. When the BRAN ride comes to a conclusion, rider participants can vote on the best community host and the winner will receive another $1,500 scholarship.
Host towns also receive one complimentary BRAN registration for a local community member to participate in the ride, so coordinators of the town will notify BRAN with the benefit being available once per person.
The Crofton community was eager for the BRAN event to take place, according to Stevens, with a walk around the community following the meeting. Volunteers who are interested can contact Joyce Stevens or Jolene Steffen for interest in volunteering.