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A family enjoys Gables Bike Day and a taste of fall weather. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Sebastian, the UM mascot, poses with two Gables Bike Day participants. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

VIPs, including the Sebastian, the UM mascot, kick off Bike Day festivities. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Gables Bike Day participants at Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Vibrant Dutch orange shirts symbolize the Netherlands and its bike-friendly ways. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

A pedal-powered vehicle cruises the street. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Moms, dads & kids enjoy Gables Bike Day 2012. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Bike Day participants strike a pose. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Gables Bike Day offers something for all ages. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Families join the fun at Gables Bike Day. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Climbing wall is among kids' activities. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Gables Bike Day is a family affair. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Visitors enjoy Gables Bike Day festivities. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

Bike Day 2012 participants in bright festival T-shirts. Photo by Carlos A. Fernandez

The second annual Gables Bike Day brought an assortment of people-powered transit Sunday, Oct. 28, to downtown Coral Gables, where visitors celebrated healthy activities and green means of transportation.

Arriving on bicycles, skates and on foot, participants found numerous activities to enjoy, such as bike tours of Coral Gables, kids’ bounce houses, a climbing wall, live bands, bike polo, local restaurants and many of Miami’s bike shops.

Guests of all ages, many wearing the vibrant Dutch orange shirts symbolizing the Netherlands and its bike-friendly ways, took a break from car fumes and honking horns under South Florida’s first hint of fall’s clear skies and breezy temperatures.

The event route along Miracle Mile and portions of Ponce de Leon Boulevard was free of auto traffic with plenty of stops for the entire family to enjoy, including skate park demonstrations, roller derby and a Halloween costume contest. Nil Lara and Afro Kumbe performed at Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park.

Presented by Miracle Mile and Downtown Coral Gables, Gables Bike Day 2012 celebrated healthy activities and green means of transportation within the limits of the “City Beautiful.”

The ultimate goal of the event was to promote and teach safe cycling but to also send a message to elected leaders and others that cyclists deserve more. Be it more bike lanes, dedicated cycle tracks, more education or simply awareness of cycling, this event and others help drive home the message of cycling as a means of fun and transportation.

Special guests who promoted the cycling message were Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason; Commissioner (and Gables Bike Day co-founder) Ralph Cabrera; Simone Filippini, consul general of the Netherlands; and Mari Gallet, executive director of the Business Improvement District. Sebastian the Ibis, the colorful mascot from the University of Miami, also participated.

Sponsors included Miracle Mile and Downtown Coral Gables, City of Coral Gables, University of Miami, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Xavier Suarez, Vessel Designs, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, No Boundaries, Mack Cycle, TD Bank, Don and Jeannett Slesnick, DecoBike, Sun Revolution for the Planet, Cabrera Benefits Group, Coral Gables Police Benevolent Association, Forte Properties, 42 Below Vodka, BOLS Genever DAMRAK Original Gin and Yelp.com.

For more information, visit www.gablesbikeday.com.

Photos by Carlos A. Fernandez / Carlos Fernandez Photography