Making Midland Bike Friendly
Kerry Irons rode his bicycle to work for 30 years – all year ’round. So when he retired in 2004 from a career in Process Research and Development at Dow, the nationwide non-profit Adventure Cycling Association was an easy choice for his volunteer commitment.
“I’ve been on one bicycle or another since I was five,” Kerry says. “But my first serious bike was a 1964 Schwinn Sierra 15-speed in 1964.” “When I retired, I was looking for worthwhile volunteer activities,” he adds. “Although Adventure Cycling offers many activities, that’s not why I joined. For me it’s more about contributing than participating.”
It wasn’t long before Kerry was asked to serve on the City of Midland’s Non-Motorized Transportation Committee to help design and implement a plan to develop more non-motorized transportation routes bike/walking paths and connectors between existing pathways) throughout the City.
“We’re really starting to see the fruits of our work,” Kerry says. “In April, Midland received national recognition as a bike-friendly community – one of just 35 newly reorganized communities from around the U.S. to receive this special designation.”
In addition to designing plans for Midland, Kerry has been involved as a researcher for the development of the U.S. Bicycle Route Corridor Plan, and is working with various state-level organizations in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin to define and designate bicycle routes. Adventure Cycling honored him with its inaugural Volunteer of the Year Award in 2005.
Kerry gives back in other ways as well. He is a 10-Gallon Blood Donor, giving blood four times a year since 1984, and he’s volunteered time for United Way. And, no surprise, he and his wife, Mary, lead an active life, enjoying downhill and cross country skiing, hiking and walking.