The 8th Annual Neighborhood Bike Ride is set for Saturday, September 27, beginning at 10 a.m. in Market Square.

The theme of this year's event is "Bike Historic Downtown North" and riders will journey through several great North Knox neighborhoods including the Emory Place, Fourth & Gill, Edgewood Park, Fairmont & Emoriland and Oakwood/Lincoln Park neighborhoods among others.

The route will also travel through the Central Street Redevelopment Area and by Old Gray Cemetery before it eventually ends back at Market Square.

The ride is sponsored by the City of Knoxville and the Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program.

"We started the rides eight years ago to show that Knoxville's downtown neighborhoods are great places to live particularly if you like riding bicycles" said Bob Whetsel, the city's director of redevelopment. "This year, as in past years, we will be showing wonderful communities, houses and bike routes to get you from historic neighborhoods to downtown."

Riders are invited to enjoy free pizza after the trip and this is a ride for all ages and skill levels, though this ride is not recommended for young children. There will also be free bicycle safety checks beginning at 9 a.m. on the square.

As always on the Neighborhood Bike Ride, helmets are required.

The 10-mile course is relatively flat but there are some hilly sections. Rest stops will be provided at Edgewood and Christenberry Parks. Riders need to bring their own water.

Past rides with names like "East Side Story" and "North by Northwest" have traveled through numerous Knoxville neighborhoods giving some participants a bicyclist's eye view of great places they may not be familiar with.

"This ride is always a lot of fun and will take you to and through places you won't see on your daily routines," Whetsel said. "We'll have free Tomato Head pizza on Market Square at the end of the ride. It's a great way to spend a Saturday morning in the fall."

For more information about the 8th Annual Neighborhood Bike Ride please see www.knoxtrans.org/bikeride or call 865-215-3818.