On Thursday, February 28, 2019, bicycle and active transportation advocates from throughout the state will gather in Saint Paul for the annual Minnesota Bike Summit on Capitol Hill.

Click here to register.

The day will focus on funding for the state-level Active Transportation Grant Program; including biking and walking in updated climate, energy, and greenhouse gas goals; as well as the hands-free cell phone bill; making state policies more bicycle friendly; and more. Attendees will hear from leaders in state and local government (including members of the Minnesota Mayoral Active Transportation Caucus), legislators, and other experts in the morning. After lunch, attendees will cross the street and meet directly with their legislators.

BikeMN will schedule appointments for attendees to meet with their legislators. Morning sessions will include training and coaching on talking with your legislators. Appointment times with specific legislators will be posted the morning of the Bike Summit to assist you in mapping your day. Please plan to attend a meeting with your legislator even if you are not able to attend the full Summit.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP OR TRAVEL STIPEND

BikeMN is striving to engage advocates within both urban and rural communities in the 2019 Minnesota Bike Summit. Our goal is to make the cost of attending and travel less of a barrier. Youth, women, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, immigrants, people of color and those traveling from Greater Minnesota are encouraged to apply. All are welcome. Apply here.

SUMMIT SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

• 9:15 a.m. – Registration and check-in; networking; and continental breakfast at Christ Lutheran Church.
• 10:00 a.m. – Morning sessions and speakers (Program details coming soon.)
• Noon – Lunch provided (included in the registration fee). Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options will be available.
• 1 – 3:30 p.m. – Meet with legislators to discuss the BikeMN Legislative Agenda. Scheduling varies for each participant depending upon legislator availability.

Safe Routes to School: Dave Cowan will answer your burning questions about safely walking and bicycling to school. Learn more about what SRTS looks like across Minnesota and resources easily available for your community to support Safe Routes today.

Pedestrian & Bicycle Counts: How does counting people walking and bicycling build support for changes in your community? Michael Petesch will answer questions about automated people counting as well as share available methodology and resources for collecting and using active transportation data.

Placemaking 101: Do you wonder what a parklet or a demonstration project is? Bring your questions and comments to learn more from Jake Rueter and Kelly Corbin about how MnDOT and MDH are supporting placemaking efforts to build support and engage communities in conversations about walking and bicycling.

MDH Statewide Health Improvement Partnership: Ellen Pillsbury, MDH will share how the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) supports community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for biking and walking as a strategy to help all people in Minnesota prevent chronic disease. Learn about how local public health works on SHIP in communities and ways to get involved.

Walk! Bike! Fun! Adaptive Curriculum: Caito Bowles-Roth from Twin Cities Adaptive Cycling and Michelle Kiefer from BikeMN will share how Minnesota is becoming a leader in making bicycling accessible regardless of age or ability. Learn about MDH and BikeMN’s future adapted Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum for students with disabilities as well as Twin Cities Adaptive Cycling, a nonprofit providing adaptive bicycles for people with disabilities in the Twin Cities.

• 2:30-5:00 p.m. – Informal get-together at Sweeney’s Saloon after legislator meetings. Attendees will be responsible for purchasing their own refreshments.