Columbia advocacy organization celebrates 20th anniversary of Bike, Walk & Wheel Week

Lauren Tronstad, Columbia Daily Tribune
·4 min read
Families take off on a two-mile bike ride as part of Local Motion's Mother's Day event Sunday in Stephens Lake Park.
Families take off on a two-mile bike ride as part of Local Motion's Mother's Day event Sunday in Stephens Lake Park.

Over the past two decades, a Columbia transportation advocacy organization has worked to put its mission — and people in general — into action.

Local Motion, formerly PedNet, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Bike, Walk & Wheel Week, created in partnership with former Mayor Darwin Hindman in 2002.

The week-long event, which typically draws a few hundred people, encourages residents to be more active by walking, biking, using a wheelchair or riding the bus.

The presence of COVID-19 canceled the event in 2020. Last year, the proceedings were shortened and hosted in the fall rather than the spring.

The event makes its official return this week after three years.

It kicked off Sunday afternoon with a Mother's Day bike ride at Stephens Lake Park, helping the organization continue to get the word out on its mission of working toward transportation equity.

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe speaks to a crowd before participating in a bike ride during a Mother’s Day event Sunday at Stephens Lake Park.
Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe speaks to a crowd before participating in a bike ride during a Mother’s Day event Sunday at Stephens Lake Park.

"We are trying to provide walking, biking and transit solutions to meet people's everyday transportation needs," development director Michaela Marshall Dungey said. "We are really focusing on transportation systems being built for people and not for cars. ...(Equity) is a really important piece of the puzzle when looking at transportation because not all systems are built with everyone in mind."

The anniversary marks an exciting milestone for the organization, which highlights accessible ways individuals can seek transportation other than vehicles, she said.

"As someone who's lived in Columbia for a while, I think it's exciting and a big deal," Marshall Dungey said. "This has been going on for 20 years; a lot of things don't last that long. I think it is an indicator that this work is important to the community, and we're putting on events that people are excited about."

The group is hosting events every day this week through Saturday.

A child rides his bike between the hills of Stephens Lake Park before a Mother’s Day bike ride event on Sunday.
A child rides his bike between the hills of Stephens Lake Park before a Mother’s Day bike ride event on Sunday.

On Monday, the group hosted Hinkson Happy Hour in partnership with Greenbelt Land Trust. The event was a self-guided walk and beer-tasting tour along Hinkson Creek Trail.

On Tuesday, guests can stop by Logboat Brewing Co. to have their bike or wheelchair cleaned. Donations received for the wash, sponsored by Passions Adult Boutique, are given to The Center Project. The community center focuses on serving the needs of LGBTQ+ people in mid-Missouri.

Pizza Tree will be on site for the event and will donate 25% of proceeds to The Center Project. Ten percent of sales of beer at Logboat will be donated as well. There is no fee or advance registration required.

The week's signature event, Bikes & Brews, will be Wednesday. Participants will check in at CycleX Bicycles before rolling out at 6 p.m. The route is also walkable for those not wanting to ride. Tickets for the event are $40 and include registration, microbrew samples and a reusable cup. While there is no set route, the organization asks that groups gather back at Gunter Hans by 8 p.m. Registration closes Tuesday night.

New this year, Gears, Games & Grub, sponsored by D&H Drugstore, kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Worley Street Park. The neighborhood-based event offers a bike maintenance workshop by Walt's Bike Shop, games for kids and food and drinks.

"The whole idea is engaging in the community and getting kids on bikes, giving them the chance to learn how to take care of a bike and how to have fun on bikes," Marshall Dungey said.

Another of the most popular events is Breakfast Station Day. This year, the event is sponsored by Simple Solutions Fitness and runs from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday. Individuals who walk, bike or use public transit that morning will be provided with free breakfast at one of seven stations. Guests are welcome to try and visit as many stations as possible within the two-hour window.

Stations include:

  • Ash/Aldeah Intersection: 121 Aldeah Ave.

  • Flat Branch Park: 101 S. Fourth St.

  • Activity and Recreation Center (ARC): 1701 W. Ash St.

  • One to One Print Shop: 1610 Paris Road

  • Lions-Stephens Park: 104 N. William St.

  • MKT Trail: Forum Boulevard access, 2701 Forum Blvd.

  • Wabash Bus Station: 126 N. Tenth St.

A child steadies his helmet as bikers listen to instructions during a bike ride event Sunday on Mother’s Day in Stephens Lake Park.
A child steadies his helmet as bikers listen to instructions during a bike ride event Sunday on Mother’s Day in Stephens Lake Park.

The final event of the week, Family Bike Demo, takes place Saturday at the Columbia Farmer's Market. Starting at 8 a.m., CycleX Bicycles and Walt's Bike Shop will be available for quick repairs and to discuss bike-commuting options.

Local Motion will also be outside of the pavilion with electric bikes, cargo bikes and Strider bikes for kids and families to try.

"I think it's pretty remarkable that it's been going on for 20 years," Marshall Dungey said. "... I think the essence is still the same, celebrating being outside, celebrating the community and prioritizing alternate methods of transportation."

While not all events require registration, the organization asks that guests planning to attend any of the events RSVP ahead of time.

Lauren Tronstad covers local government and politics for the Tribune. Contact her at LTronstad@gannett.com or on Twitter @LaurenTronstad.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Local Motion celebrates 20th anniversary of Bike, Walk & Wheel Week