The second annual GLOBAL BIKE DAY, a celebration of bikes, music, art, culture and community, was last Sunday, June 22.

This year’s Baiku Poetry Contest was sponsored by SUNRISE CYCLERY.

Baiku, sometimes spelled “bike coup”, is an ancient form of Japanese poetry about bicycles.

Here are the results:

     First Place:           Weaving through streetlights
                                     the rush of darting raindrops
                                     push past the sunshine
                                       –Sarah M.

     Second Place:     A blue object
                                      faster than the wind
                                      It’s my bike
                                       –Nathan T.

NOTE:  This Baiku was submitted in Japanese and did follow the 5-7-5 pattern. This translation was provided by a native speaker of Japanese who coincidentally (magically?) appeared (on bike of course) to help the bewildered judges.

     Third Place:        Bicycles are nice
.                                  So nice I will say it twice
                                   Bicycles are nice
.                                    –Nathan W.

     Honorable Mention:

               My life has been changed,                                       My life in turmoil
.              My love and I bike each day,                                    where do I go to find peace
               Exercise my heart . . .                                                there you are sweet bike
                 –Greg                                                                           –Shelly I.

              Mi bicicleta                                                                   I celebrate life
.             Es muy económica                                                    by riding my bicycle
              No gasolina                                                                 life celebrates me
             –Andrea G.                                                                  –Stu C

              wheels go round and round                                    Todos los días
              they spin past me as I walk                                     Tengo ganas de andar
              love the spokes that spin                                         Por la ciudad
.               –Ella J.                                                                         –Pablo C.

Judges were Robert Lilligren, Scott Smedberg and Jamez Smith.

Also, a drawing was held for a Bianchi bicycle from Sunrise Cyclery.  Here is the randomly choosen Baiku:

        Yo llegué aqui
.       Sobre mi bicicleta
.       Y me divertí
        –Teresa M.

Midtown Global Market is an internationally-themed public market with nearly 50 independent vendors offering the finest selection of produce, meats, delicacies, prepared foods, grocery items and unique gifts and services from around the world, seven days a week.   For more information, visit www.midtownglobalmarket.org or call 612-872-4041.

Bike On is an organization working to promote and advocate for bicycling in Minneapolis. It is a community, family and youth-centered organization that also supports walking and public transit as components in creating a strong urban fabric. Bike On is presented this celebration to bring together diverse communities, strengthen the city and introduce people to the Midtown Global Market, Lake Street and the Midtown Greenway. The multi-lingual celebrationl embraced diversity while supporting and promoting the beneficial effects of bicycling. For more information explore this site, visit www.globalbikedays.org, or call 612-978-7878.

Bike On is proud to announce the launch of the Minnesota State Bike-to-School League, promoting fun and cycling through three bike-to-school competitions each school year.

In late October, league officials counted bikes parked outside the high schools. The fall 2007 champion in the Total Bikes Category is Minneapolis South with 79 bikes. Second and third place went to Southwest (68 bikes) and Richfield (58 bikes).

Richfield is champion in the Ridership League, with 4.76% of students biking to school, followed closely by South (4.70%) and Southwest (4.68%). The Ridership League calculates a school’s total bikes as a percentage of its student population.

The MN State Bike-to-School League currently includes the 31 public and private high schools with 350 or more students located within an 8-mile radius of the downtown Minneapolis Central Library.

TOP TEN  Ridership League1. Richfield 4.76%
2. South 4.70%
3. Southwest 4.67%
4. Wellstone/Uptown Academy 4.00%
5. St. Anthony 3.82%
6. Edison 2.12%
7. St. Louis Park 1.93%
8. Patrick Henry 1.78%
9. Roseville 1.44%
10.Washburn 1.41%TOP TEN  Total Bikes League
1. South 79
2. Southwest 68
3. Richfield 58
4. Roseville 29
5. St. Louis Park 24
6. St. Anthony 21
7. Edison 18
8. St. Paul Central 17
9. Patrick Henry 16
     Wellstone/Uptown Academy 16
     Park Center 16

 

Rules and Regulations of the MN State Bike-to-School League

Coming soon… Student Bike On

 

Get involved! Contact Scott@bikeon.org for more information, or call 612-874-6834.

On November 3, 2008, the first group of fifteen new cyclists graduated from the new Women Bike On class at Andersen Elementary. Bike on and program partners, The Midtown Greenway Coalition, and Community Education, wish to congratulate the women of Bike On for their efforts.

Women Bike On is a multilingual program that provides an opportunity for women to learn to ride bikes on the Midtown Greenway, use bicycles, learn about energy use, gain transportation options and build community.

We have received a one thousand dollar Minneapolis Mobilizing Citizens For Grassroots Climate Change Micro Grant from the city of Minneapolis.