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. Order it from any of these bike shops. 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 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 dealer to pick up a copy or order it here. For more information check the Twin Cities page.