Theresa Bowick BSN, RN
Cruise Captain

Conkey Cruisers is a grass root neighborhood bicycling program, inspired by Theresa Lou Bowick, a Registered Nurse who lives near Conkey Avenue. While out running one day she encountered a young boy, who yelled out to her, “Hey Lady, are you on probation?”  It appeared that the young boy thought she was running from the Police. As she continued her run, she stopped to chat with some neighbors, when another man approached the group.  The man pointed at Theresa and said, to the group, “Don’t talk to her she is the Police!” Theresa exclaimed that she was a Nurse, not the Police. However, the man was not convinced. He boldly stated to the group, “She is the Police, because nobody exercises in this neighborhood!”

Disturbed by these encounters, which she deemed a call to action, Theresa was determined to change the negative perception of exercise in her neighborhood. She developed the Conkey Cruisers Bicycling-to-Better-Health Voyage, in hopes that Neighbors will inspire Neighbors to stay active, make healthy food choices, decrease obesity rates, and create a positive image of their neighborhood.Theresa reached out to her neighbors, local businesses, bicycle experts, neighborhood group leaders, and City of Rochester Officials for support. 

 As Conkey Cruisers was coming into fruition, the final construction phases of the El Camino Trail were being completed.  The El Camino Trail is a 2.7 million dollar community investment designed to promote nature, hiking and biking in Northeast Rochester. As luck would have it, the trail runs along Conkey Avenue, providing a perfect route for The Conkey Cruisers Bicycling- to-Better-Health Voyage. Community Leaders are excited to have the program use the El Camino Trail.