April 1, 2026
by Tom Ewing
On April 30, 1926, one hundred years ago, the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, organized a Bicycle Parade. As indicated in the full page advertisement and articles in the Portsmouth Star, the event included a “safety first” demonstration, numerous contests, and demonstrations from the renowned cyclist, Mr. Fred St. Onge. All were invited to attend, with a special invitation: “Bring the children.” An article in the same April 29, 1926 issue of the Portsmouth Star offered this enthusiastic endorsement: “Never before has Portsmouth had an opportunity to witness such activity in the bicycle world. Old wheels and new wheels have been taken out of basements and store rooms and oiled up for the big Friday afternoon sociability bike ride and decorated wheel parade starting from the Y.M.C.A. building. Are you going to be with them? Old and young boys and girls are going to be in line. Experienced riders, who rode in the days when the bike was supreme and boys who have just received their first wheel will be found together in the parade.” Mr. St Onge appeared in a photograph captioned “bicycle of other days” scheduled to appear in the parade.
On May 2, the Portsmouth Star declared that the the Safety First bicycle parade was an “instantaneous success,” with many bicyclists riding and big crowds observing along the way. The parade was led by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, with many following, including older cyclists riding period bikes from their youth. The article listed forty people who won prizes, including many children lisrted by name, age, and school.
Advertisements from the same month illustrate the kinds of bicycles popular at the time. An illustration showing a boy and girl standing by bicycles included text encouraging this alternative mode of transportation: “On Time to Schools. Don’t let that youngster of yours get into a crowded, stuffy trolley and worry about being late. Let a good bicycle be his locomotion–exercise, health, strength, fun with the pals who are living clean, wholesome lives and growing up as they should. The cost is little–the benefits big. Bring him in and select a model today. Ride a Bicycle.” Another advertisement showed three friends, two male and one female, flying away on bicycles while leaving behind a boy who “has no bicycle!”
The themes of this parade — the celebration of cycling, the need for safety, and the appeal across generations — also shaped the Bikecentennial in 1976 and continue to guide cycling today.
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