Missouri Bicycle News

Fortunately for Columbia, we’ve got a number of folks dedicated to making it easier to bike, walk and wheel our way to better health. And starting May 6, you can join the rest of the community in celebrating an active lifestyle during the fifth annual Mayor’s Challenge: Bike, Walk and Wheel Week. Along with dozens of sponsors, the week’s events are made possible by PedNet, a local coalition made up of individuals, businesses and not-for-profit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in Columbia

For Ian Thomas, who serves as PedNet’s executive director, the concept is nothing new. A native of England, Thomas spent several years living in Milton Keynes, a town just north of London that was developed in the 1960s with nonmotorized traffic in mind. A network of paths and trails runs throughout the pedestrian-friendly city, and Thomas — who didn’t even have a driver’s license when he lived there — cites the town as an influence on his vision for Columbia.

“I really appreciated the value of having that system,” Thomas said. “I came to the U.S. and found it a lot more difficult to get around by bike.”