Bike Walk to Work Day was marked by a downtown Minneapolis celebration at the Hennepin County Government Center Plaza on June 9. The event was part of the fourth annual Bike Walk Week initiative to encourage transportation without vehicles taking place from June 4-12 this year.
“It’s a chance to say, here’s some things to make your commute easier, sometimes even faster,” Amber Collett, Bike Walk Week Communications Associate, said of the morning’s event. “We’re making sure folks know the resources are here.”
| More Bike/Walk Week fun!
Saturday, June 11 Yoga on the Greenway! Sunday, June 12 Bike Walk to the Ballgame! More information or where to register for events can be found on the Bike Walk Week website. |
Sixteen alternative transportation-oriented organizations hosted tables and tents at the event, such as the Nice Ride MN shared bicycle program and the Hub Bicycle Co-op. Welcomed by transit-y tunes like Queen’s Bicycle Race, attendees ranging from curious passers by and devoted cyclists to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak indulged in Peace Coffee and healthy snacks provided by Whole Foods from 6:30 to 9 a.m.
“It’s a really good event,” said Hub employee David Meyer. “It’s a huge positive thing for commuters, to get people thinking about modes of transportation, and how many alternatives you really have.”
Donning her folding bicycle—a newfangled contraption consisting of smaller wheels and that can be folded for convenience, such as storage in a car trunk—attendee Mary Arneson demonstrated her passion for biking.
“I’ve been biking in the Cities for 50 years,” Arneson said. And with experience biking in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary and the Netherlands under her belt, Minneapolis reigns still as her favorite city to bike in.
Other events on June 9 included a downtown St. Paul celebration, a Silver Bicycle Friendly State Award Celebration Ride, and a Bloomington celebration.
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