WESTPORT–Westporters are invited to join a leisurely, family-friendly bike ride tomorrow afternoon connecting downtown and Saugatuck, a route designed to show the benefits of a more bike-friendly town.

Walk Bike Westport, which seeks to improve walkability and opportunities for cycling in town, will run its first Bridge-to-Bridge Ride. The three-mile event starts at Jesup Green, cycles south on Imperial Ave., across the William F. Cribari Bridge, north on Riverside Ave. and across the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial bridge before returning to the starting point.

It follows a bridge-to-bridge walk the group held last year.

“The whole point is to highlight that the streets of Westport don’t just belong to big cars,” said Markus Marty, who founded the organization three years ago. “Our kids should be able to ride their bikes to school. We should be able to walk downtown and use the town’s infrastructure.”

The ride starts at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the Jesup Green parking lot at the Westport Library. Marty said earlier this week that 75 cyclists had signed up to take part. He was planning on capping participation at about 100 riders.

“This is a community event designed for families, neighbors, town officials, and anyone who wants to feel more confident and enjoy Westport by bike,” says the event page on the Walk Bike Westport website.

The Westport Town Police issued a traffic advisory for motorists about the event.

“Motorists should anticipate minor traffic delays along the route and are encouraged to use caution when traveling in the area during this time,” the advisory says.

The event will start and end with talks on bicycle safety, Marty said.

Participants must be eight years old or older, and be able to ride three miles without training wheels or assistance. Cyclists are expected to ride at an easy pace in a “bike bus,” or a group formation.

Participants must wear a helmet in good condition.

Marty said it may be a little slow for anyone expecting a rigorous ride.

“It’s the furthest away from a race that you could be,” he said. “The pace for most people might be on the slower side.”

Register and find more information here.