Minneapolis bicyclists looking for a bike route across Minnehaha Creek no longer have the option to cross on the Bryant Ave. Pedestrian Bridge. The bridge was closed a couple of days ago for safety reasons.

After reports that the bridge swayed as much as 12 inches when people crossed it, Minneapolis Parks & Rec inspected the bridge and closed it immediately after the inspection report.

At this point there is no information available about when, or even if, the bridge will open again. The parks and Rec does not have engineers on staff, so a consultant has to be hired to evaluate whether the bridge can be repaired or has to be replaced. Hiring a consultant requires a bid process that could take several months.

If the bridge can be repaired, Parks & Rec may do the work themselves. If it has to be replaced, a contractor will be hired, requiring another bid process. Reconstruction could take even longer if Minneapolis parks & Rec has to find additional funds in its budget.

Local residents reported that kids intentionally rocked the bridge back and forth for entertainment prior to the bridge closing.

Cyclists can cross Minnehaha Creek at Lyndale Ave or Pleasant Ave downstream or on the creek level bike bridge upstream.

This is a fund raiser for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin presented by Trek Bicycle Stores of Madison. The evening starts with a bike ride from the Trek Bicycle Store East to the Eastgate Cinema to see Klunkerz, a movie about the rise of mountain biking from its Marin County roots. Fischer bike founder Gary Fischer will be in attendance and will ride with the group to the cinema. Considering the size of Mr. Fischer’s ego, and his relentless efforts to establish himself as THE founder of mountain biking, expect the movie to feature him prominently.

After the movie, a drawing will be held for a Gary Fischer Monona bike. All proceeds go to the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.

One On One Bikes continues its unique blend of bikes, coffee and art gallery with a new show starting Saturday night, April 5. ARTCRANK, a poster party for bike people, will feature bike related posters from 34 artists, music by Keston Westdal, Beer by Rush River Brewing Company and a photo booth by Scott Haraldson. One on One always puts on a good party and it’s readily accessible by bike. The show runs through May 3.

The Metro Council will offer an expanded Bike-2-Benefits program this year to cyclists interested in trying bike commuting. The program, still in the planning stages, will include custom route planning between your home and job, a copy of the 2005 Twin Cities Bike Map and incentives for cyclists who commit to ride at least 8 times during the 2008 season. In 2007, the 494 Corridor Services offered a similar program to employees who worked along the I-494 corridor. Doug Shidell, of Bikeverywhere, did the custom route planning. This year he will teach bike route planners throughout the Twin Cities how to plan a custom bike route for Bike-2-Benefits participants.

Bobmbay Bicycle Club will be offering more rides east and south of Madison this year in addition to their full complement of rides in the gorgeous, but hilly western part of Dane County. The club is also offering a Leisure Ride series for the casual rider. the new initiatives are designe dto broaden the appeal of the club beyond its core of extremely fit and hill loving riders.

Hundreds of bicyclists pass through Bayside daily from Milwaukee on their way north along the shores of Lake Michigan, but too many are riding carelessly or illegally. The local police department has been fielding numerous calls about illegal bicycling activity and recently contacted Jack Hirt of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin to solicit their help with the problem. The Bike Fed and the Bayside Police Department will hold a oint Open House this spring to educate everyone about the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists. the date and time will be announced in an upcoming e-newsletter from the Bike Fed.

Little Transport Press is now bikeverywhere! Since 1984 Little Transport Press has been publishing high quality bicycle maps and guidebooks for the upper Midwest. The goal of our publications has been to produce the most accurate, easy-to-use maps of bike friendly roads and trails in the Upper Midwest. That hasn’t changed. We keep investing in new tools for researching and developing bike maps and books and we spend endless hours on the road updating the maps and discovering new routes. What has changed is that we have expanded into new cities (Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and new products. This year we’ve introduced download-able maps.

Our new name-bikeverywhere- reflects an old philosophy. We believe that the bicycle offers unlimited opportunities: for exploring, exercise, running errands, getting to work and experiencing the world on the most versatile and efficient vehicle available to humans. Our website will reflect our broader scope as we add information and interactive opportunities that go beyond traditional publishing. Check back often. We’ve just begun.

The new 2008 Madison and Dane County Bike Map is now available. It’s working its way through the distribution system right now and should be available in bike shops within a couple of weeks. You can also order it here right now. This year we’re also offering, online only, a laminated version of the map. The thick, 3 mil, laminate makes the map sturdy enough to hang from a wall or use as a route planner. Stop by the store and take a look.

The 2008 Twin Cities Bike Map is hot off the press. The newest edition, number 9, is printed on tear and water resistant paper so it will hold up to sweaty jersey pockets, endless folding and the wear and tear of carrying it in your panniers. Stop by your local bike shop to pick up a copy or order it here. For more information check the Twin Cities page.

Bikeverywhere has teamed up with the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts to update their bike route maps and make them more user friendly. This long running institution has supported the performing arts in Milwaukee for 28 years and has drawn more than 230,000 bike riders since 1981. The ride starts at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Milwaukee and offers five routes varying in length from 5 to 75 miles. Bikeverywhere updated all five route maps using the Milwaukee and SE Wisconsin Bike Map as the base. We’re proud to be part of the team that is supporting the Performing Arts in Milwaukee. Stop by our booth at the finish line and say Hi.