Happy Bike Month!
May is National Bike Month and the week of May 14th is Bike Week. BikeWalkKC has worked with partners all over the metro area to plan a diverse schedule of events showcasing all parts of our vibrant and growing bike community. Check out the Bike Week web site (http://bikeweek.bikewalkkc.org) for the full list of May events, including rides, classes, a Bike-In Movie, parties, and much more.
Bike Month and Bike Week Highlights
National Bike School Day on May 9th
Kids that bike (or walk) to school burn off energy and arrive ready to learn. Schools around the metro area are organizing Bike to School events, and you can do it yourself with your own kids!
Start a Bike Train
Organize a DIY bike ride in your neighborhood. Meet your neighbors, support a local business, or forgo the kids’ carpool for a Bike Train to School.
Bike Prom on May 12th
Dress up your bike, yourself, and your date. Or join KC’s first ever Bike Speed Dating and take a ride around the block with someone new. Bike Prom is a fun evening of music, food, dancing, and paparazzi. DJ/cyclist Miles Bonny will be spinning tunes from the 1980s to today. New Belgium brews will be on tap. At the end of the night we’ll crown Prom Queen & King, Queen & Queen, and King & King.
Buy advance tickets online to save money - http://bikewalkkc.org/bikeprom
Car Free Challenge, May 12th - 18th
Save money, burn calories, and save the planet by joining the Car Free Challenge during Bike Week. Log your bike/walk/bus/carpool trips at carfreekc.com. Win fame and fortune for burning the most calories or saving the most CO2.
In the last year we’ve burned over 3.8 million calories and kept over 86,000 pounds of carbon out of our air.
Confident City Cycling on May 12th
Learn to ride on city streets safely and confidently for transportation, recreation, fitness, and fun. Our free class will teach you the basics of traffic laws, riding with traffic, and bike handling skills.
Sign up at http://bikewalkkc.org/events/94
Upcoming Special Events
Tour de Brew KC on May 20th
KC’s newest bike ride is back with more history, more food, more beer, and teams. Tour Kansas City’s amazing brewery heritage, explore historic neighborhoods, and join a fun charity bike ride where bicycling itself is the charity. Tour de Brew KC is BikeWalkKC’s biggest fundraiser for our work to bring you more trails and bike lanes across the metro area.
May 13th is the last day to register online, and the ride is on track to sell out! - learn more and register at http://www.tourdebrewkc.com
New Belgium Brewery’s Clips of Faith Film and Beer Tour on May 31st
The 3rd Annual Clips of Faith returns for another beautiful evening under stars with microbrews, short films, local food, and great company. Bring the family and bring a blanket or chairs to relax and hang out in Theis Park on Brush Creek. Get all the details at http://bikewalkkc.org/clips
Win the famous New Belgium Crusier Bike
Someone will ride home from Clips of Faith on this bike! Buy tickets for the drawing online today or at the event.
BikeWalkKC members get extra tickets, so join today to increase your chances! http://bikewalkkc.org/newbelgiumbike
CLIF Bar 2 Mile Challenge
40% of urban travel is within 2 miles of home, but 90% of those trips are by car. The CLIF Bar 2 Mile Challengeis a fun game for converting some of those short car trips to bike trips. Each month CLIF Bar donates $1 for each trip logged in the Challenge, and in May BikeWalkKC is honored to be the beneficiary!
Advocacy Update
This spring the KC region is making great progress on improving walking and bicycling.
Downtown Streetcar - Upcoming public meetings are your chance to learn more and make sure planners include great walking and bicycling connections with the city’s first streetcar line.
http://bikewalkkc.org/content/streetcar-public-meetings-are-opportunities-speak-walking-and-bicycling
Overland Park approves Complete Streets policy - Last month OP became the latest local city to create a policy to better include walking and bicycling in new road projects.
http://bikewalkkc.org/completestreets
Bicycle Friendly Businesses - Congrats to several local businesses getting national recognition for going above and beyond to welcome cyclists!
http://bikewalkkc.org/content/more-bike-friendly-businesses-announced
Blue River Trail progress in South KC - A new trail between Bannister Road and Red Bridge Road is picking up where the newly-finished Indian Creek Trail ends.
http://bikewalkkc.org/content/blue-river-trail-construction-progressing-very-nicely-south-kc
NW 64th Street Trail connection - Construction under I-29 will soon link Northland trails on either side the highway, a much needed connection in this growing trail system.
http://bikewalkkc.org/content/key-northland-trail-connection-under-construction-i-29-and-nw-64th-street
Take our Education Survey
We are updating our education program and need your feedback on classes and clinics. Let us know what would help you walk and bike more in Kansas City. Take the survey to get a chance at some great prizes and help us improve our educaiton program.
Take the survey now at http://bikewalkkc.org/content/bikewalkkc-education-survey
Please join BikeWalkKC today
We need your help to keep the region moving forward in 2012 with better walking and bicycling. Your membership helps us deliver great projects and programs like Bike Week, advocacy for funding sidewalks and trails, and low-cost bike education classes.
We have membership levels to fit any budget, and they all include discounts at great local businesses. Join today at http://bikewalkkc.org/join.
