BikeWalkKC February 2017 Newsletter

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Mark Your Calendars: BikeWalkKC Event Season Has Begun

Looking for new learning opportunities? Networking events? We’ve got something for everyone this spring, and hope you’ll join us for any and all of these upcoming activities!

Friday, February 24, 5:30-7:30pm: We’ve teamed up with OneLife Fitness to offer a new Handlebar Happy Hour format! “Workout & Wine for Wheels & Wellness” will include a FREE one-hour fitness bootcamp, followed by a wine social hour at OneLife’s beautiful facility in the Power & Light District. We’ll have a great raffle with lots of fun prizes, including grand prize options of a OneLife membership or a new Garmin smart watch. Proceeds will benefit the Women Bike KC Initiative. Bring your friends for a fun night out in downtown KC!

Tuesday, February 28, 6:00-8:30pm: Bring your bike to the BikeWalkKC shop for our “Maintain Your Ride: Winter Tune-Up Clinic” will get your bike in shape as you ride it through the rest of the winter and prepare it to start pedaling regularly again in the spring. We will work through flat repair, bike care and cleaning, brake adjustment, derailleur adjustment, and hub overhauls. FREE for BikeWalkKC members; suggested $25 donation. Register online today!

Wednesdays in March, 6:00-8:30pm: the always-popular Confident City Cycling series returns! If you’re “interested but concerned” about riding in the city, no matter your skill level, this class is for you. We’ll provide a safe, supportive place for you to improve your skills, share tips and tricks, and enjoy a group ride. March 8, 15, and 22 at BikeWalkKC; suggested donation of $10 for all three sessions. Classes fill up fast so register online today!

Sunday, April 2: we are honored to be the recipient of proceeds from Kansas City’s newest organized bike ride, hosted by the Head for the Cure Foundation. This charity ride includes two routes (15- and 35-miles), and will start and finish at Browne’s Irish Marketplace. Help to defeat brain cancer, “pedal by pedal!” Head for the Cure will donate $1 for each registration to BikeWalkKC to advance our advocacy efforts. Click here to learn more!

Kansas City’s Bike Plan: What’s Next?

The recent performance audit of Kansas City, MO’s 2001 bike plan has been followed up by swift action at City Hall to implement the auditor’s recommendations and begin an overall reboot of the bike and pedestrian program. BikeWalkKC has meeting with the City Manager, Councilmembers, and city staff to learn about how City Hall is moving forward and to provide our strategic advice on how they can quickly meet the public’s pent up demand for better walking and biking. We recently updated our blog with information about what we know now, and will continue to provide updates as they become available.

BikeWalkKC Welcomes Its First Apprentice

Our adult education partnership with the Hope Faith Ministries (HFM) homeless services organization continues to blossom. After holding adult Earn-A-Bike classes at their facility in 2016, HFM created their own on-site bike repair center, Hope Faith Bike+Works, to service homeless individuals now using bikes to get to work and school opportunities.

HFM now wants to train some of their clients as bike mechanics so they can work in the new shop. This spring that training will occur as apprenticeships at BikeWalkKC, shadowing our bike share and BLAST maintenance staff. We are excited to welcome our first apprentice, Kevin, to our shop this month!

 

New Year = New Schools Participating in BikeWalkKC Education Programs

School is back in session, and we are proud to partner with seven new schools this semester!

We have now served nearly 10,000 in 65 schools across 11 districts through our BLAST, Earn-A-Bike, and Bike Club youth development programs, and have a growing wait-list of schools. If you are interested in bringing BikeWalkKC programs to your school, after-school program, or community group, please contact education@bikewalkkc.org or visit our website to learn more!

Tour de Bier KC Rolls On

We are getting excited for the 2017 Tour de Bier! We had record sign-ups in January, and registration remains open – your registration fee covers the cost of the ride, 2017 Tour t-shirt, snacks and samples from breweries along the route, and your meal and two drink tickets at the post-ride party at Knuckleheads.

Breaking News: Kansas City’s newest brewery, Brewery Emperial, joins us as a stop this year! Located at 1829 Oak, Brewery Emperial offers locally sourced fresh food and hand-crafted beers, and just celebrated their grand opening last week. We are excited to welcome them to the Tour, and thank them for their support of Kansas City’s cycling scene.

We send a huge THANK YOU to our other sponsors and partners thus far, including:

If you or your business are interested in sponsoring the Tour de Bier, please contact us at info@bikewalkkc.org or visit our website to learn more!

Prefer to volunteer for the Tour instead? We want to hear from you! Volunteers get a t-shirt, lunch, two beers, and complimentary ride registration. Click here for more information.

 

Begin or Renew Your BikeWalkKC Membership

BikeWalkKC is a member-supported nonprofit and we rely on individuals like you to help us fight for your rights at City Hall, raise motorists’ awareness, educate the next generation, and make KC a better place to walk, bike, live, work, and play. Please join, renew, or make a donation today.

 

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