Minneapolis Bike Week Kicks Off

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's time to get out and get pedaling. Minneapolis Bike Week is kicking off with activities everyone can enjoy.

This year's event has been re-branded. Now, it's not just about commuting to work on your bike, it's about making biking a part of your everyday life.

It's a celebration of what makes us Minnesotans. In fact, more than half of all Minnesotans rode a bike last year. The League of American Bicyclists noticed, naming us the second most bike-friendly state in the nation.

"Bicycling plays such an important part in Minneapolis and Minneapolis culture," said Nick Ray Olson, organizer of Minneapolis Bike Week. 'If you're riding to the lake, riding with your kids, if you're riding to the grocery store all forms of cycling we want to engage and we want to encourage that,"

Biking is not just about getting to and from work, it's a lifestyle the Minnesota Bicycle Coalition would like to promote.

It also helps that Minneapolis has more than 90 miles of on-street bikeways and bike lanes and 85 miles of off street bike ways, a city park is within a bike ride of every resident in the city.

"Your bike, your city, your adventure," Olson said.

Bike week will highlight all the adventures one can find while riding, more than 50 events throughout the week for everyone to enjoy.

Die-hard bikers like Ellen, says it's not hard to get friends to come along for the ride.

"I say let's go this place, I'm biking, come with me and you'll get there faster," Ellen said.

Something Bike Week sponsors hope will be infectious, this week and beyond.

You can find information about this week's cycling events right here.