City of Boston and TD Bank Launch Citywide Cycling Partnership

Aug. 19, 2009 - PRLog -- BOSTON, MA – Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the City of Boston and TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, today announced a unique marketing and community partnership to further enhance and promote Boston’s efforts towards becoming one of America’s top biking cities.  The multi-year agreement, which will integrate the TD Bank brand into the city’s year-round cycling and healthy living initiatives, will launch with the largest weekend cycling celebration on the East Coast, September 26-27, 2009 on City Hall Plaza.

The TD Bank Cycling Celebration Weekend will feature the city’s first pro cycling race in decades when more than 100 professional male and female cyclists ~ including Olympians and national champions ~ compete for one of the country’s largest prize purses in the inaugural TD Bank Mayor’s Cup on Saturday, September 26.  The criterium-style course route ~ a .7-mile loop course that circles City Hall Plaza ~ is expected to be lined with more than 20,000 spectators cheering for cyclists riding by at speeds up to 40mph.

On Sunday, September 27, fans will go from watching the action to being the action, as more than 6,000 riders, including Mayor Menino, will take to the streets of Boston for the fifth annual Hub On Wheels citywide bike ride.  Participants will have the opportunity to ride on car-free, family-friendly routes of various distances.  In addition to the pro and participatory rides, the weekend will also feature a two-day lifestyle festival and free Saturday evening concert on City Hall Plaza.

“We’ve made a lot of strides recently towards becoming a world-class cycling city and thanks to this exciting partnership with TD Bank we will be able to achieve our goal even faster,” said Mayor Menino. “Adding a major professional race to our list of annual events is a great way to celebrate our accomplishments.  This race will be among the best in the country in terms of talent and prize money.”

The citywide cycling celebration will serve as the signature element of the new partnership between   TD Bank and the City of Boston, which will also provide funding for various cycling and healthy lifestyle efforts.  Working in conjunction with Boston’s larger ‘Healthy City’ programs, the year-round activation initiatives will enhance existing events such as Bike Fridays and Bike Week, as well as provide for the installation of new convenient bike racks for cyclists throughout Boston. The agreement will also enhance TD Bank’s long-standing commitment to the communities it serves, offering an opportunity to connect with thousands of Bostonians as the company expands its presence and branch locations in the greater Boston area.

"We're thrilled to announce TD Bank's partnership with the Mayor’s Cup and its associated programs. And lucky for us, it just so happens that the weekend of the first annual Mayor's Cup, TD Banknorth will become TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank!" said Mark Crandall, Massachusetts Regional President, TD Banknorth. "The Mayor's Cup is both a great way for us to celebrate our name change with the community, and support the city's efforts to promote a healthy and environmentally-friendly lifestyle among Bostonians."

Proceeds from the TD Bank Cycling Celebration Weekend will benefit Boston Bikes and the Fund for Boston Neighborhoods to further support city cycling initiatives, as well as Technology Goes Home, which provides technology training and computer equipment to give local students the edge they need.