Kansas Cyclist - Kansas Bicycle Guide and Reference

Each year, the League of American Bicyclists designates May as National Bike Month as a way to promote bicycling as a fun and practical way to get around. They have selected Bike-to-Work Week from May 12-16 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 16.

In addition, communities throughout the nation sponsor activities and events to celebrate bicycling and get people riding. The following are some of the events in Kansas and surrounding states:

Kansas:

• The city of Lawrence proclaimed the month of May as Bicycle Safety Month and the week of May 12-16 as Bike-To-Work Week.

Arkansas:

• Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas sponsors an annual Bike to Work Day event on May 16th in Little Rock, showcasing the utility of the bicycle and its usefulness to run errands, get to work and get physically fit.

Colorado:

• Just to be different, Colorado Bike Month is celebrated in June, rather than May…

Iowa:

• Bike to Work Week in Des Moines
• Bike to Work Week in Iowa City and Coralville Events are planned locally throughout the week culminating with a party and prize drawing Friday. Participants can get entries for the drawing by attending events or riding to work and logging the trip with their employer. Read press coverage.

Missouri:
From the Missouri Bicycle Federation:

• Columbia: Columbia’s Bike Walk and Wheel Week attracted around 5000 participants and wraps up May 10th. It has received a lot of great press coverage.
• Kansas City: The Kansas City metro area will have over 60 events in this year’s Bike Week. The flagship event is the Car-Free Challenge, which challenges participants to take more trips by walking, bicycling, transit, or carpooling.
• Kansas City: Cyclists Gear Up for a Week of Festivities on KC Streets from The Pitch.
• Springfield: Ozark Greenways invites participants to join Bike, Bus, and Walk Week May 12-16 (Springfield News-Leader coverage).
• St. Louis: TrailNet is delivering a full slate of Bike Month activities, including Bike to Work Day May 16th with twenty refueling stations, a Bike to Work Day proclamation from the Mayor, Bike Mentors, and the Drive Your Bike Challenge.
• St. Louis: Gear up and pedal to the office.

Nebraska:

• Omaha: The 3rd Annual Omaha Metro Bicycle Commuter Challenge starts May 12th.
• Omaha: May 16th is Omaha’s Ride of Silence in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on America’s public roadways.
• Elkhorn Valley

Oklahoma:

• Tulsa: Local site Green Traveler promotes bicycle commuting to improve air quality and save money, with a kick-off on May 16th at Maple Park on the newly-extended Midland Valley Trail. Green Traveler staff members are available to help commuters plan their Bike to Work trip with personalized routes and other tips, including how to use the new Tulsa Transit buses with bike racks.

Image courtesy kcbike.info

Residents of Omaha, Kansas City and St. Louis are invited to participate in the Go By Bike Challenge sponsored by Midwest Cycling and Trek Bicycle Corporation. A man and a woman from each city will be selected to receive a free Trek FX bike and cycling accessories, which they can keep if they complete the challenge.

For the Challenge, each of six winners will ride bikes on six short trips (under two miles) per week during the month of May, National Bike Month. Winners will post weekly online entries about the Challenge to share their experience with others in the community. Organizers are hoping to promote lifestyles that integrate bicycle use into daily life. Trips under two miles are targeted since they comprise 50% of car trips in the US.

One World, Two Wheels is a part of Trek’s global commitment to helping the world become a more bicycle-friendly place. With the world facing skyrocketing obesity rates, escalating traffic congestion and the concerns of global climate change, the bicycle is an ideal solution.

The deadline for entries is midnight March 24, 2008. Visit trekbicyclestores.com for more info or to register.