Mayor Fahey to show why Omaha can be a top US Biking City

For immediate release Contact: Amy Gilroy
6/22/05 402 - 934-5923


Mayor Fahey to show why Omaha can be a top US Biking City

On June 23rd, 11:00 am at the Lewis and Clark Landing, Omaha Mayor Mike
Fahey will welcome Omaha Pedalers cycling club president, Stephen
Schnitkner, who will have bicycled in from Des Moines, Iowa, one stop on
the 4th Annual National Mayors' Ride. Thursday's event, part of a ride,
which visits 52 other major cities, will help the National Bicycle
Greenway (NBG) bring nationwide attention to Omaha's massive trail
network and the city¹s bicycle/pedestrian bridge. Upon completion, the
bridge will be the first to connect the cities of Omaha and Council
Bluffs, along with Iowa and Nebraska.

After National Bicycle Greenway director, Martin Krieg, learned from
Mayor Fahey that Omaha has 90 miles of concrete bike trails running
through the city, Krieg resolved to find out more so he could tell his
national bicycle audience about it. In doing so he learned that Omaha
has all the ingredients needed to make it one of America's top cycling
cities.

"Not only are the trails there but so are the grassroots organizations
that can help make them part of a transportation network that replaces
car trips," says Krieg. Armed with a Mayor who jogs and cycles, a
zealous Convention and Visitors Bureau, lifelong bike advocates and
various nonprofits*that have improved Omahans¹ quality of life,*indeed
everything is in place to turn Omaha into bicycle heaven.

On the edge of the Missouri River, Lewis and Clark Landing was chosen as
the event site for Omaha¹s 4th annual NBG Day*because that is where the
precedent setting bridge leaves Nebraska soil. Mayor Fahey will issue a
ceremonial proclamation, designating June 23rd as ³Omaha NBG Day.²
Representatives from Activate Omaha, the PAPIO Missouri River Natural
Resource District, Omaha by Design and Visit Omaha will also provide
commentary about what they are doing to make Omaha a better place to
ride a bike.

More info: http://www.bikeroute.com/http://www.bikeroute.com

--
54% of New York City households do not own cars

M A R T I N K R I E G : "Awake Again" Author
http://www.bikeroute.com/AwakeAgain
Bent Since '83, Car Free Since '89, '79 & '86 TransAms********
Coma, Paralysis, Clinical Death Survivor*
Can You Change it with Love?*
N A T I O N A L B I C Y C L E G R E E N W A Y