Whitefish events celebrate Bike Month

May is National Bike Month and Connect Whitefish is planning events to inspire active transportation in and around Whitefish.

National Bike Month includes an ever-expanding diversity of events in communities nationwide. Forty percent of all trips in the U.S. are less than 2 miles, making bicycling a feasible, fun and healthy way to run errands and get to work or school.

Local events

Wednesday, May 9 — Bike or Walk to School Day. Students are encouraged to bike or walk to school. Free giveaways courtesy of Farm Hands, North Valley Hospital, Flathead County Health Department and the city of Whitefish will be given out to students who arrive biking or walking.

Friday, May 11, 7:45 to 9:15 a.m.— Bike or Walk to Work Day. Ride or walk and get a free cup of coffee on your way to work. Don’t forget your travel mug. Connect Whitefish will have a table set in front of the O’Shaughnessy Center with coffee and fruit and Glacier Cyclery will be on hand to help with basic bike maintenance.

Tuesday, May 29, 5 to 7:30 p.m. — Whitefish Open Streets. This is a community event that temporarily opens streets to people and closes them to cars. Portions of Railway Street and Central Avenue will be open to pedestrian and bike traffic only, in conjunction with the first farmer’s market of the season. Local organizations will have educational and interactive activities related to walking, biking, health and fitness for the public in the open streets area. Businesses in the open streets area will also be holding sidewalk sales.

Connect Whitefish is a community-based group whose vision is to ensure active transportation and healthy lifestyles for the Whitefish community through year-round biking and walking opportunities. For more information, visit FB.com/ConnectWhitefish.