We at the Minneapolis Bike Walk Ambassadors program are a busy bunch! In our two years so far, the Bike Walk Ambassadors have worked with nearly 2000 students and nearly 1000 adults to help them start bicycling and walking more often—with safety and style. And when we show up, it’s not some stuffy lecture in a cramped conference room. We get outside and we move around.

In the past month we have sponsored some highly creative activities for kids. For the elementary school kids, we hosted a Bike Rodeo. This included stations set up for kids that demonstrated safety and skills that they need to be able to bike walk to school, including help with helmet fittings, how to cross at intersections, and especially being aware of others around them while on their bikes and on foot. For the older students we hosted a fieldtrip by bike to Fort Snelling. Approximately 30 kids rode from Anthony Junior High School to their day’s activities at Fort Snelling.

For families, we held our first Family Gear Demo event Midtown YWCA. Think of it as an expo for all sorts of family-friendly bike gear: bikes with baskets for kids, trailers, child seats. Families were able to learn about and even try these different and innovative products. In June we also supported several “Blessing of the Bikes” events and a walking event at Camphor United Methodist.