Bike Week 2013: What's going on across Missouri

The first I ever heard of Bike Month and Bike to Work Day in Missouri was back in the late 1990s when someone mentioned Bike to Work Day was coming up--anyone planning to ride to work that day?  There was one response, from someone who already biked to work every day and was planning to do it on Bike to Work Day as well.

So . . . Bike Month and Bike to Work Day has come a l-o-n-g way in Missouri in the years since then! 

In 2011, MoBikeFed worked with legislators--especially including bill sponsor Senator Will Kraus of Lee's Summit--and bicycle groups across Missouri to have Bike Month, Bike Week, and Bike to Work Day officially added to the Missouri State Holidays Calendar.

Many communities across Missouri have developed amazing bike month and bike week activities. Here are some of them:

• Columbia - Bike Walk and Wheel Week
  
  The 12 annual Mayor's Challenge is May 11-18, and activities include classes, Bike or Hike to Church, a Cyclofemme ride on Mother's Day, Breakfast Stations on Bike to Work Day (Friday), Trails Day, and much more.
   
• Cape Girardeau
  
  The Velo Girardeau BIcycle Club starts its monthly rides this month.
   
• Kansas City - Bike Week
  
  BikeWalkKC is organizing a slate of activities, including the Car Free Challenge, breakfasts, Handlebar Happy Hour, a Bike-in Movie, the Tour de Brew KC, and more.
   
• Springfield - Bike Bus and Walk Week
  
  Ozark Greenways organizes Bicycles & Brews, a new bike and bike film festival, and the Bike to Work Week Challenge. 
   
• St. Joseph
  
  The St. Joseph MPO is organizing Bike to Work Day events and the annual Bike Fest is scheduled for May 25-26.
   
• St. Louis
  
  Trailnet organizes a wide array of Bike Month and Bike Week activities, including rides, breakfast stations on Bike to Work Day, the May Bike Challenge, the Drive Your Bike Challenge, and more.
   
• Statewide and National:
  
  Ride of Silence, May 15th
  
  Several communities across Missouri, including Joplin, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Springfield, and St. Louis, are participating in the Ride of Silence May 15th.  Details here.
  
  The National Bike Challenge, May 1-Sept 30, 2013
  
  Many local, statewide, and national organizations are participating in this nationwide challenge--they are shooting for at least 50,000 participants nationwide and a number of Missourians are participating this year--though we'd like to see many more!

Is your community planning Bike Week or Bike Month activities?  Email director@mobikefed.org and we'll add them to our list.