MOVE Santa Barbara County will lead a community bike ride to the opening of the Pacific Pride Festival, Saturday, Aug. 22, starting at Bice Centro, 434 Olive St., Santa Barbara.

Riders will meet at 9:30 a.m. then roll out at 10:15 a.m. for a 1.5-mile route, arriving at the Pacific Pride Festival at Chase Palm Park near the Family Stage in time for the Pride Pet Parade at 11 a.m.

The ride will feature local drag performer Dr. Linda, PhD, riding in a trishaw provided by Cycling Without Age.

MOVE will host a bike decorating station and provide light refreshments before the ride.

The event is open to all ages and abilities and is a no-drop ride, meaning the group will travel together at a gentle pace, ensuring no one is left behind.

Dr. Linda, PhD, is a UCSB-trained quantitative biologist, drag performer, host of the monthly BARBARA drag show, and co-founder and former president of UCSB’s Drag Club.

She said she is honored to serve as Queen of Honor for the inaugural event, helping launch a new queer tradition with a community bike ride before taking the stage at the Pacific Pride Festival at 2 p.m.

“This ride is a party, but it’s also making an important point,” said Sarah Iannarone, executive director of MOVE Santa Barbara County. “Trans and queer folks are often forced to change how they get around because conditions feel unsafe: taking different routes, traveling at different hours or sometimes not going at all.

“That’s a serious transportation problem that we don’t talk about enough. So we’re going to ride in sequins on bikes and have a great time showing what it looks like when everyone can feel safe and travel together.”

Riders without a bike can receive a free BCycle access code that day through the Santa Barbara Office of Sustainability’s BCycle For All program.

The ride is presented in partnership with Pacific Pride Foundation, BCycle Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Sustainability & Resilience Department, and Cycling Without Age.