Walk the Talk: Biking for Change

Editor’s note: Walk the Talk is Streets.mn’s carefully curated, highly partisan collection of both serious and fun-loving events, community meetings and opportunities for engagement that we think will interest our readers. Email your ideas to Hawken Habig, one of our daily editors, at [email protected].

In case you missed it: On August 21 Streets.mn published Bring Bike Love to 42nd and Cedar, encouraging readers to join a group bike ride in support of recently implemented improvements at 42nd and Cedar in Minneapolis. As a show of support for the new design in the face of hostilities, and for local businesses accommodating the change, head to Powderhorn Park Recreation Center at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday for a group ride. The ride will last approximately 10 miles and will conclude at Cedar Inn Bar and Grill (at 42nd and Cedar), followed by group trivia at 7:30 and 8:30. Take the opportunity to gather with community members, celebrate the improvements and demonstrate the viability of safe, climate-friendly and inclusive streets!

Continue to show support for the improvements at 42nd and Cedar by contacting the office of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, the Minneapolis City Council and, most importantly, your Hennepin County Commissioner about the intersection.

County and city officials are in meetings now to discuss whether to modify the intersection in a way that could sacrifice air quality, carbon pollution reduction and public safety for the sake of bringing back parking. Let them know what your priorities are and that you intend to support the business owners at this intersection because of the infrastructure improvements. Share with them any experiences, stories or hard data about how business owners thrive after cities become more bike and pedestrian-friendly.

Following last year’s success, Car-Free MSP, a month-long effort to highlight alternative modes of transportation, returns this September. Five regional partners — Move Minneapolis, Move Minnesota, Metro Transit, Anoka County Commute Solutions and Commuter Services (part of the I-494 Corridor Commission) — are teaming up to celebrate World Car-Free day on September 22 by promoting opportunities to go car-free throughout the month of September. Additionally, those who pledge to take at least one car-free trip during September will be entered into a drawing to win an ebike, bike light or gift basket! Check out the list of relevant events and opportunities to go car-free here — including Car-Free MSP’s World Car-Free Day celebration at the Wabun Picnic Area on September 22 at 5 p.m.

The Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour returns this September for its 29th annual run! Hosted by BikeMN, the St. Paul Classic takes thousands of participants on a tour through the capital city, with proceeds going toward bicycle advocacy causes. The Classic will begin and end at Como Lakeside Pavilion on the morning of September 10, with rest stops along the way to provide refreshments and entertainment. Note that registration is required — you can do here — and is capped at 2,500 riders. (No day-of registration!) Get more details on the tour and its route through the event page and FAQ.

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Hawken is a student of Urban Studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a copy editor at Streets.mn. He also composes Streets.mn's bi-weekly event listing "Walk the Talk;" email any ideas for events or opportunities to [email protected]!