This morning the League of American Bicyclists awarded EcoMetro city Portland with platinum level recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Community, rising from the previous gold level status. The only other city in the US with platinum level recognition is Davis, California. No cities in Minnesota have applied for the Bicycle Friendly Community ranking, you can start the application process for your community here. Keep reading for our local biking resources and coupons.

EcoMetro April Calendar

The Commuter Challenge Begins!

Take the Commuter Challenge! Between April 1 and June 30, pledge to take the bus or train, carpool, vanpool, telework, bike or walk — anything except drive alone on trips to work, school or for errands.  See www.metrotransit.org for more information!

April 1- June 30

Green Drinks

Special Guests are the always-fun Ryan & Tina North of TC Green and Re-Gifts! Join our Blue Sky Guide staff for an eco-friendly social gathering at Red Stag Supper Club (Minnesota's first LEED certified restaurant). Charge your eco-spirit, make some new connections,a nd learn a thing or two. Red Stag offers a wide variety of organic/locally-sourced dishes, fine wines and local brews. ALL ages are welcome.
April 9th, 6-7:30ish

Red Stag Supper Club, 509 1st Ave NE, Minneapolis

*Use your Blue Sky Guide coupon at Red Stag for buy 1 get 1 free lunch specials.

Google Maps has a driving directions page that already tops all the others. After all, after you enter your starting and ending addresses, you already can click the option: "Take Public Transit," and it will give you several options--even calculating the price of driving vs. the price of riding!

What are you missing? Click to watch the video for the surprising results. Watch the video while tired, talking on your cell phone, at night...well, you'll get the idea.



Do the Test

How was your ride? Write about it in a short message and compare notes at Velog Minneapolis and Velog St Paul.  Like a bike computer meets a text message (in the 140 word limit familiar to users of Twitter.com), Velog capitalizes on the urge to tell your pals about your bike ride and the need to keep it short and sweet. Calling itself "the worlds simplest cycling log" Velog allows users to post on a message board open to "bike commuters, roadies, mountain bikers, cyclocrossers, randonneurs, weekend warriors, and anyone and everyone with a bicycle under their butt." If you had to google randonneur (long distance cycling) or haven't seen your bike since the leaves hit the ground, use the Velog ride descriptions as encouragement.

The encouragement from a community of bikers can make any trip easy, so join a chain gang like The League of American Bicyclists.

E85, made from 15% petroleum and 85% ethanol, can be used in flexible fuel vehicles and is abundant in our area.

It's bike commute month nation wide, and this week is Bike Walk Week for us! Win prizes, group together with colleagues, and spread the word. If you've been thinking about biking or walking to work, this is the month to do it. You can also register for Metro's Commuter Challenge, which has another slew of prizes and local goodies. Sign up now and read on for our local biking resources from the 2008 Blue Sky Guide.

Bike commuting is a mental and physical challenge, and it’s also a great way to work exercise into your day and avoid the cost of commuting.

If you bike or bus three times per week, you are eligible for the Guaranteed Ride Home program, which sends you two coupons for $25 each for cabs, buses or trains. Use them for bad weather, emergencies, or if you work late.

If you need a car to run an errand, in an emergency, or to pick something up, there is a carshare option around town.