The Greenway Challenge Waiver (PDF)

 The Greenway Challenge Information (printer friendly version PDF)

The Greenway Challenge

The (first annual) Greenway Challenge will highlight committed Twin Cities riders in a bike-a-thon in the Midtown Greenway on Saturday, September 25th, 2010. The Challenge? Participants will ask friends and family to pledge support for a 44-mile (four loops of the Greenway) bicycle ride in the Greenway.

Riders will be delighted by live music, colorful community art, and delicious snacks along all 5.5 miles of the Greenway trail. Sign up with your friends, raise pledges to support the Greenway, and enjoy a festival Saturday on the trail!

Want to sign up to ride and raise pledges?  Go to the registration page.

**Registration is through Active.com, an athletic event coordination website chosen by the Coalition to process the registrations and donations for The Greenway Challenge.  If you have any questions during the registration process please contact us.

If you would like to make a pledge for a participant in The Greenway Challenge, visit the donation page.

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EVENT DATE/TIME/LOCATION

Saturday, September 25th, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

10th Avenue entrance ramp to the Greenway (Midtown Exchange)

GRAND PRIZE TRIP AND OTHER PRIZES

The Grand Prize for the biker who raises the most money in pledges: flight for two and a week’s stay in a chateau in France’s wine and bike country, sleeps eight.  The house is located in a French village, with very private courtyards and gardens.  You can take quiet walks and bicycle in the vineyards, and taste wines from more than 30 vignerons. Not only is biking in the Loire Valley a lovely experience year round, but for several days each year the road next to the Loire River is completely shut down to motorized traffic so bicyclists can take to the streets and enjoy the gorgeous river valley in peace!

This grand prize was donated by Beth Parkhill and Bob Corrick. (must be 18+ to win)

2nd Place Prize for second highest pledge-raiser: a new bicycle

3rd Place Prize for third highest pledge-raiser: dinner for two at a premier local restaurant.

Best decorated bike: package of other great prizes

Best personal costume: package of other great prizes

Winners listed above will also receive a limited run event art poster by Adam Turman. All entrants will be entered in a drawing for a variety of prizes such as bike tune-ups and other biker-supportive prizes. 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

$25 to register (includes $21.75 registration fee and $3.25 processing charge).

Participants must raise at least $250 in pledges and commit to ride 44 miles (four round-trips the length of the Midtown Greenway, about four hours of bicycle riding).

Any checks should be made out to the Midtown Greenway Coalition.  The Coalition is a 501c3 organization so registration fee and pledges are all tax deductible. 

All participants and their pledgers become members of the Coalition, and should provide their full contact information to receive membership benefits (quarterly print newsletter, monthly e-news, voting rights at annual meeting).

If you plan to collect pledges in person rather than through active.com, please contact the Coalition office (612-879-0103) or theresa<at>midtowngreenway.org.

RIDE FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Music, art, food, and other great community acts of joy and whimsy

Food provided by The Wedge Co-op

Water and snack stations at east end, west end, and the Cepro site at 10th Avenue

Dress up yourself and/or your bike to win prizes for best costume!

Schedule for the day:

WHY WE RIDE

The Midtown Greenway Coalition is the organization that convinced the City and County to install the Midtown Greenway biking and walking trail.  We are still going strong protecting and improving it, and helping more people enjoy it in a variety of ways.  This unique commuter and recreational trail is a star feature of Minneapolis, and a vital part of being named the #1 bicycling city in America by Bicycling Magazine in 2010.

The programs of the Midtown Greenway Coalition include:

-Safety (Trail Watch rides, Buddy Up! campaign)

-Land Use and Transit (fighting proposed overhead high voltage lines, guiding new buildings so they face the Greenway and don’t wall it in, planning for transit alongside the trails)

-Greening (Arbor Day, rain gardens, additional greenspaces, new trail entrance ramps)

-Sweeping up broken glass on the trail (volunteers do this daily)

-Green Way to Go youth bike rides

-Adopt a Greenway

-Public Art

-Immigrant Engagement

EVENT RULES

You must sign The Greenway Challenge waiver (found in sidebar)

This event is not a race, the trail will remain open to the public, and safety is a priority over speed.

You must wear a helmet and ride a safe, functional bike

Riders and pledge-raisers must be at least 14 years old (or accompanied by parent or guardian on ride if 13 or younger)

Riders under 18 must be registered by their parent or guardian on Active.com and their fundraising overseen by a parent or guardian

It is highly suggested that you bring your own water bottle (filling stations along the route)

Rain or Shine, The Greenway Challenge is on.  If rain is likely, wear rain gear. Registration for this event releases use of any photos of participants to the Midtown Greenway Coalition.

Midtown Greenway Coalition staff, board members, and their immediate family members who share their household are not elgible for prizes but may participate in the ride if minimum pledge requirement are met.

SPONSORS

Lead Sponsors:

Freewheel Bike, KFAI Radio, Penn Cycle, Quality Bicycle Products, Target

Additional Sponsors:

30daysofbiking.com, "Baba" Onayemi Ogunkoye and friends, Barbette Restaurant, Breadsmith, Bryant Lake Bowl, Calhoun Cycle, Cars-R-Coffins, Dero Bike Racks, Equal Exchange, The Hub Bicycle Co-op, Lucia's Restaurant, Nature's Path, New Belgium Brewing, Peace Coffee, Sunrise Cyclery, Tiger Sushi, The Wedge Co-op.