Keep This Going

The following are the cries of a city wanting recognition and the chronicles of a 2 wheel convert:

 These past 9 months have found me in America’s second most bike friendly commuter city. Thus, I’ve been daily riding my bike 6 miles to work along the Minneapolis Midtown Greenway since the month of August. There were some frigid months, two bouts with frost bite, but many months of riding into the sun to and from work. To be the city in second place sounds pretty good in retrospect; however it’s also the first loser. Portland, that bitch of a granola eating city on the west coast is first. There are perks to being second though. For example, when you’re in second you work the hardest to become first. Thus, $21.5 million dollars was spent this past winter into the spring in efforts to make the Twin Cities the first. Two exciting updates:

There is now a bike parking garage (one of several in the world) located on the Midtown Greenway complete with bicycle parking, showers, coffee shop, bike repair and sales, and yes, bike valet parking (a little over the top perhaps). It’s a hub of sorts in efforts to create a more 2 wheel commuter city with a community of riders year round. It’s also right by the main bus station that goes into downtown so they’re also hoping to suck the suburbs dry of drivers and convert them to bikers.

Also this week in the cities has been Bike Walk Week (www.bikewalkweek.org). This morning the mayor rode his bike into downtown for a large celebration and loads of free food. Also, there were a handful of cafes and restaurants throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul which put on a free breakfast for everyone that rode their bike, walked, or ran to work. I ate breakfast with a whole slew of experienced or first time riders at the Birchwood cafe in South Minneapolis.

Although you may not live in this city I hope you’re reminded you’ve been given two legs and they can be used for more than just pedals that pivot backwards and forwards but up and down as well. Plus you can take a bike off of sweet jumps on the way to work, ride through rain puddles, and meet new people who also ride to work.

Hoof it.