May might be Bike Month, but April is sending old man winter packing with a month full of great bike events.
Membership has its privileges
BikeWalkKC members get great discounts at local businesses and at several of our events during the year. These include annual membership to Kansas City B-cycle, Bike Prom, and extended early registration for Tour de Brew KC. Current members, look for a second email today with details on claiming your discounts.
Not a member yet? Need to renew? Join or renew online at https://bikewalkkc.org/join today and you take advantage of these and other discounts.
Smart Cycling spring classes
Brush up on your bike skills or help a friend or loved one learn to bike more safely and confidently for transportation, recreation, and fun. Our Smart Cycling class recurs every 2nd Tuesday evening with a different topic like traffic skills, bike maintenance, fix-a-flat, etc.
Ladies Night at Smart Cycling – Tuesday, May 14th, 5:30 p.m.
Do you want to be a bike commuter, but have some questions that need answered? Do you want to learn how to fix up your bike? How to wear bike shorts or a dress when riding? This clinic, designed and taught by women, will encourage women to bike for transportation while still maintaining a sense of individual style.
https://bikewalkkc.org/events/16760
BLAST fifth grade bike education program expands to four new schools
Our popular Bicycle Lesson And Safety Training (BLAST) curriculum is expanding to Northview, Maplewood, and Fox Hill schools in the North Kansas City District. We are also excited to be able to expand BLAST to the Kansas side! Thanks to a partnership with Children’s Mercy Hospital and Freewheels for Kids, BLAST is now serving kids at Frank Rushton School in KCK’s Rosedale neighborhood.
https://bikewalkkc.org/content/blast-school-based-bike-education-expands-northland-and-kck
April events
April 4th: Downtown Transit study
Help the KCATA plan improvements to Downtown bus routes, and encourage them to think about opportunities to include bike lanes.
https://bikewalkkc.org/events/16011
April 17th: Handlebar Happy Hour at the Kansas City Club
Did you know Kansas City Club hosts some great home brewers? This installment of BikeWalkKC’s Handlebar Happy Hour is your chance to peek the inside this unique institution and taste some great brews. Stop by and see if we can top last month’s huge turnout at Bier Station with the Women’s Intersport Network.
https://bikewalkkc.org/events/15996
April 18th-19th: The Forum at Ink’s Middle of the Map Fest
BikeWalkKC Education Director Eric Bunch will be a featured panelist on Creative Placemaking, sharing our work to improve livability and public places by improving walking and bicycling. He will be joined by Grown in Ivanhoe, BNIM Architects, Anton’s Taproom, Arnold Image, InterUrban Arthouse.
http://www.middleofthemapfest.com/panel/creative-placemaking/
April 20th: CityCampKC
BikeWalkKC is a proud sponsor of the 2nd Annual CityCampKC, bringing together civic-minded hackers, makers, and doers to imagine new ways to use public data and various technologies to improve the lives of local residents. For example, BikeWalkKC uses crash mapping data to focus our advocacy for better crosswalks and new bike lanes. Learn more at http://citycampkc.org
April 20th: Pub & Pedal for Earth Day
A group of awesome BikeWalkKC members are back for a third year with a fun bike ride touring local establishments and ending with a great party at the Riot Room, all benefiting BikeWalkKC’s work to promote green transportation.
https://bikewalkkc.org/pubpedal
April 21st: KC Metro Bike Club Spring Picnic Ride
Our friends at KCMBC are hosting their annual Spring Picnic and Ride on the scenic Little Blue Trace Trail in Independence. Meet new bike friends and find out about club rides in your neighborhood.
http://www.kcmbc.org/content.aspx?page_id=87&club_id=368691&item_id=255788
May is Bike Month
Our annual celebration of the local bike community is just around the corner. Our partners around the region are organizing a vast array of events to celebrate cycling. Mark your calendar for a few of the highlights:
- Bike Prom on May 11th – Fun for adults of all ages. Dress up your bike and yourself. Bring a date or try Bike Speed Dating. DJ Miles Bonny provides the tunes and Wilma’s Fine Foods will bring their awesome food truck.
- Tour de Brew KC is back for a 3rd year on May 19th. Tour KC’s brewery heritage, discover new breweries, and celebrate the end of Bike Week. We also need volunteers!
News and updates from the blog
County transit plan and Katy Trail expansion hits railroad obstacle
Between last month’s blizzard, we also received the news that Jackson County’s ambitious transit plan has been delayed due to resistance from the railroads that would host new commuter trains. The plan would also invest in new trails and bike lanes, including the final piece of the Katy Trail Kansas City connection.
https://bikewalkkc.org/content/modot-listening-sessions-send-loud-and-clear-message-more-transportation-options
Congress’s most famous cyclist visits KC to ride local trail
Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon visited KC and hopped on a KC B-cycle to ride the Van Brunt trail with our own Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.
https://bikewalkkc.org/content/congressmen-cleaver-and-blumenauer-ride-van-brunt-trail
MoDOT listening sessions recap
Citizens at last month’s MoDOT public meetings expressed a strong consensus for the state to spend less on highways and make meaningful investments in transit, rail, walking, and biking.
https://bikewalkkc.org/content/modot-listening-sessions-send-loud-and-clear-message-more-transportation-options
New bike route signs popping up all over KCMO
A new kind of green is blooming this spring with bike route signs being installed on 200 miles of streets all over KCMO. These new signs are latest phase of the City’s bike master plan, and a much needed addition to local neighborhoods.
https://bikewalkkc.org/content/city-installs-200-miles-bike-route-signs