A More Bike Friendly Franklin Ave?

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The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition recently posted on their blog their desire to gain support from the community to help make Franklin Ave between Hennepin Ave and Minnehaha Ave more bike friendly and safe for bicyclists. There is currently about 500 commuters per day using Franklin to commute by bike, despite the fact that this roadway lacks any bike lanes or amenities that we are accustomed to seeing popping up all over the Twin Cities.

You can see the full article here, where you can find more info on how to get involved and help spread awareness in the neighborhoods along Franklin Ave.

The MBC will host an informational session on Thursday, May 3rd at The Nicollet to register and inform volunteers how to educate and increase awareness among cyclists and the community.

Transit for Livable Communities and Bike Walk Twin Cities is hosting a meeting on Monday, May 7, 7:30pm, at Philips Community Center (2323 11th Avenue S.) to discuss future bike and pedestrian improvements on Franklin Avenue.

You can find these meeting dates, and others, along with events, rides, and other bike-alicious stuff on the BikeMinneapolis Calendar.

Behind the Big Wheel

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A special demonstration event will take place Thursday, April 21st, from 12:15 to 1PM where bicyclists and general public are invited to get in the drivers seat of a bus or semi truck to see what a driver sees, or more importantly, DOES NOT see. This demonstration is taking place to help educate everyone on the blind spots of a large vehicle. As a bicyclist or pedestrian, understanding the way things look from the big rig driver’s vantage point is something that can increase safety for everyone… maybe even save your life.

The event is being put on by the University of Minnesota Bike Center and is open to the public. It will take place from 12:15 to 1PM at the street location of 6th St SE and SE 23rd Ave, on the NE side of TCF Bank Stadium on the U of M campus. See you there!

Cool Bike Blog of the Week

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Okay, we are going to start things up again with the Cool Bike Blog of the Week. Every week I will post a bike blog/website that I have come across which I feel deserves some attention. It might be any old blog where someone is posting their daily rides, a site promoting advocacy, or some zany event or video. It could be anything. But, I will always attempt to have it be relevant and important to some aspect of bicycling which makes a statement about the blogs particular motivation. Something that will be helpful, educational, or entertaining for BikeMinneapolis readers.

Doug from MnBicycleCommuterThis week I have selected Doug’s MnBicycleCommuter blog. Doug is from Duluth, MN and rides everyday, commuting to work, on errands, and weekend pleasure rides. He is also a winter cyclist. Currently, he is preparing for a summer trip on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.

I really have enjoyed reading Doug’s blog and actually feel like I know this guy. His passion for biking is definitely in his words. You know this guy pretty much lives to ride, whether on his Pugsley during a winter trek, touring/camping on his LHT, or cruising town on the Ellis… No real surprise there. But, I’d say he puts an equally passionate effort into his writing and blogging as he does riding. He is quite articulate and shares his experience from a realistic perspective. He posts a lot of photos, shares his opinions and ideas, and truly shares his experience in a way that others can relate and learn from. Sometimes I feel like I’ve been riding with him! Someday, I hope I can.

As I mentioned, Doug is preparing for the trip of a lifetime, crossing the US on the TransAmerica Bike Trail. He is training methodically to build his everyday endurance. He is sharing everything that he is dong to prepare–from meals, camping, mapping, mail drops, safety, maintenance–and anything else you can think of. I remember following along with Russ and Laura from The Path Less Pedaled, as they made their first journeys into bike touring, and that was so much fun! I only hope that Doug will be able to share his travels as well as he does as preparing for them. I will be definitely checking in on him. You should too! MnBicycleCommuter

If you have a suggestion for Cool Bike Blog of the week, send me an email with the link to the site and why you think it’s cool.

Three Rivers Seeks Public Comments About Intercity Regional Trail Master Plan

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The Intercity Regional Trail’s draft master plan has been approved and Three Rivers Park Board is seeking public feedback.

The Intercity Regional Trail will travel north-south from Lake Nokomis Parkway in Minneapolis through Richfield and to the Minnesota River in Bloomington. This is an important new trail as there is limited off-road pedestrian and biking access in this area.

If you haven’t had a chance to peruse all the particulars, you can do so at ThreeRiversParks.org. Either follow the links, or type “Intercity” in the search parameters field on the site. You can submit feedback and comments about the draft master plan until May 1, 2012 at ICRT@ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org.

Whittier Alliance Green Fair

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Saturday, Nov. 12th was the Green Fair, put on in the Whittier Neighborhood by Whittier Alliance to promote green ideas in our community. If you have been to the Green Expo at the Minnesota State Fair, you are already familiar with many of the organizations, and vendors that were on display. I was there as a volunteer with the Midtown Greenway Coalition. This was my first time volunteering with them and I am learning a lot. Things like the streetcar that is being proposed, and is in route to be installed to run along side of the greenway trail, as well as a streetcar that would run up Nicollet Ave.

At the fair, I met people like Kristy, who rides her bike to deliver honey for her business, Beez Kneez. I also met Julia with CERT, Clean Energy Resource Teams.

I also got to finally meet Margeret Shields with Gardening Matters who works with the planning of Community Gardens across Minnesota. Gardeningmatters.org The common thread that ran through that room, was the passion that people felt for what they were doing. It was really great to be a part of and feed off the energy and ideas that people are coming up with to live more sustainably and be better neighbors.

If you would like to get involved with the Greenway or would like more information, please go to Midtowngreenway.org

Center for Energy and Environment

Clean Energy Resource Teams, Eureka Recycling

Dale Howey, D & E Management
http://www.startribune.com/local/127069138.html

Gardening Matters

Greenstock USA

Hour Car

Master Gardeners of Hennepin County

Metro Tansit

Midtown Greenway Coalition

Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light

Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Our Power

Powerfully Green

Re-Go Electric Car Conversions

Slow Food MN

Sustainable Resource Center

Youth Farm and Market

Cool Bike Blog of the Week

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furry pink bike on venice beachI’ve come across a mess of awesome websites recently in my search for good online biking content. So much, in fact, that I’ve decided it would be fun to post a weekly cool blog of the week, here on BikeMinneapolis. When I started BikeMinneapolis a few years ago (rather feebly, I admit), it was my intent to put the bike community first, and foremost. I believe I can contribute to that goal, by sharing some fun sites that I find, from time to time.

So, for our first installment of Cool Bike Blog of the Week, I thought I would share with you DowntownFromBehind, a fun photographic series on Tumblr that captures people riding their bikes, from behind, all over the streets of NYC. The photos are well done (at least they are planned out and somewhat staged… and you can even but prints) and the editorial copy tells the story of the location of the shot, the people in the photo, and in more recent posts there are relevant links to the people and places in the photos. I found myself rummaging through many of the archives to get a sense of how these shots were produced and to learn more about the photographer and the subjects. I won’t spoil anymore for you… go check it out!

http://downtownfrombehind.tumblr.com/

If you know any cool bike sites you feel are worthy of sharing with your fellow bicycle buds, please email us a link and tell us why you dig the site.

Happy biking and surfing!

Nominations Open for Alliance 2012 Advocacy Awards

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Washington, DC – November 3, 2011 – The Alliance for Biking & Walking has opened the public nomination period for its 2012 Advocacy Awards. Now in its fourth year, the Alliance’s Advocacy Awards recognize excellence in bicycle and pedestrian advocacy.

Award categories include:
Advocate of the Year
Advocacy Organization of the Year
Business Advocate of the Year
Winning Campaign of the Year
Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award

Nominations will be accepted through December 18, 2011 on the Alliance website.


Anyone can make up to five nominations – one nomination per person, per award category. Nominations are not limited to Alliance members.

A selection committee composed of Alliance staff, board, and advocacy organization representatives will evaluate all nominees and the winners will be announced at a high-profile reception the first night of the 2012 National Bike Summit.

For more information and to nominate an individual, organization or business in your community visit: www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/Awards