What does it feel like to get around Northern Kentucky when walking or riding a bike?
On Saturday, Oct. 3, Tri-State Trails and community partners will invite local candidates to experience that question firsthand alongside the people who regularly walk and bike Northern Kentucky’s streets.
The 2026 NKY Meet the Candidates Ride will begin at noon at Reser Bicycle Outfitters in Newport. Before rolling out, participating candidates will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and share their perspectives on walking, biking, and transportation in Northern Kentucky. Candidates and community members will then ride together through Newport and Covington along portions of the proposed NKY Urban Loop Trail.
The route will highlight places where trails and bikeways are already creating safer, more comfortable connections, as well as gaps where additional infrastructure could better connect Northern Kentucky communities.
“Everyday people who walk and bike these streets are some of the best spokespeople for what’s working and where we can do better,” said Wade Johnston, Executive Director of Tri-State Trails. “This ride puts community members and the people seeking to represent them side by side. Candidates get to experience the network firsthand, and residents get an opportunity to share what safer, better-connected streets would mean for their communities.”
Tri-State Trails has helped lead efforts to create a more connected regional trail and bikeway network, including the Covington + Newport Bicycle Transportation Plan, the NKY Regional Trails Plan and ongoing work to advance the proposed NKY Urban Loop Trail. The Urban Loop would connect Northern Kentucky’s river cities and everyday destinations to one another and to the region’s growing trail network across the Ohio River, including the Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network (CROWN).
Tri-State Trails has hosted nonpartisan candidate rides across Greater Cincinnati since 2017, creating opportunities for candidates and residents to discuss transportation infrastructure outside of a traditional meeting room.
The Oct. 3 ride is free and open to the public. Participants should bring a bike, helmet, questions, and their perspective on getting around Northern Kentucky.
Candidates who would like to participate but do not have access to a bicycle may contact Tri-State Trails in advance to arrange for a complimentary Red Bike to be available for the ride.
More information is available at tristatetrails.org
Tri-State Trails