2020 Active Living Strategy Updates
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Wabasha-Kellogg Chamber of Commerce partners with SHIP to support the Bicycle Friendly Business program.
Together with Wabasha Walk-Bike Advocates, Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, and Wabasha County SHIP, the Wabasha-Kellogg Chamber of Commerce encourages local businesses to consider applying to become a Bicycle Friendly Business℠ (BFB) through a program sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists.
The organizations have worked with the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) to provide technical assistance to interested businesses. Wabasha-Kellogg Chamber was awarded a grant from SHIP to fund a workshop facilitated by BikeMN at Beach Park on July 24, 2020.
Thank you to the National Eagle Center, AmericanInn, and River Rider Cycle and Specialty for submitting recent BFB applications.
Why should YOUR business apply for the BFB℠ designation?
Nearly 100 Minnesota businesses have applied and have been ranked as BFB’s. They range from our internationally recognized brands like 3M and Target to small businesses with only a few employees. This is not just a Metro Area phenomenon. In January, Fergus Falls, MN made the nationwide BFB top ten list with 18 BFB’s and Walker, MN has the most BFB’s (8 BFB’s and 950 people) per capita in the nation. All have woven the message that places with Bicycle Friendly rankings are great places to work, do business, and live into their marketing, employee recruitment, customer relations, and community development strategies.
Studies have shown that people who lead an active lifestyle have significantly lower costs for health care. Since employers typically pay a significant portion of health care costs, it benefits employers and the employees to promote healthy living. A healthy workforce also reduces the rate of absenteeism.
Businesses that promote bicycling are also recognized for being green and socially responsible. They are conscious of their carbon footprint, aware of their impact on the environment, and are willing to think and act creatively in order to improve the quality of life for employees, their families and the greater community. A Bicycle Friendly Business attracts and retains employees, because people want to be part of a positive environment.
Workshops hosted by BikeMN show attendees what it takes to achieve a BFB ranking. They explain what other Minnesota businesses have done and what their motivations were as well as provide ongoing technical assistance with completing applications.
DID YOU KNOW? If your business has two or more employees and not operating from a residential location, you can apply for a BFB ranking.
The next application closes October 7, 2020. If you would like information on becoming a BFB, please email SHIP Coordinator, Tina Moen or call her at 651-565-5200.
Getting outside and being active is as important as ever.
Wabasha County Public Health Director, Tammy Fiedler, advises local bike sharing programs to not launch their programs at this time.
SHIP continues to support Wabasha County in staying active during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Avoiding crowds and maintaining social distancing of 6 feet is important leaving the great outdoors is a perfect place to be. While planning your next outing, now is a perfect time to review BikeMN’s Minnesota Bicycling Handbook; learn more here.
The following resources in Wabasha County are available to help us get out and get active:
City of Lake City resources: Community Bike Program, Walking Lake Pepin, Biking Guide of Lake Pepin
City of Mazeppa’s Jaycee’s/Walking Bridge Park
City of Plainview Trailhead Park / Great River Ridge Trail.
City of Wabasha resources: Wabasha Public Bike Share, Wabasha Biking Guide, Brochures and Maps, Wabasha-An Active Living River Town GIS Map
Go to our resource page to find tools that may be helpful for staying active.
For information on what it means to partner with Wabasha County SHIP on healthy eating, physical activity, and/or tobacco-free environment projects, please email Tina Moen or call her at 651-565-5200.
Wabasha’s Walk/Bike Advocates making strides toward becoming a Bike Friendly Community.
The group started meeting in 2018 and can already see their vision for the community become a reality.
The group formed during a Bicycle Friendly Community Rapid Planning Workshop, where participants identified short-, medium- and long-term goals. The group’s first action planning focused on establishing a bike-share program. Learn more about the bike-share program.
About a year later, the planning came to fruition when Wabasha kicked off its community bike-share program in June 2019. Local organizers and advocates had set a target goal of 120 registered users in the first year. That goal was easily surpassed with 146 registered users signing up in just the first two months.
“We have a committed team of advocates,” said Tina Moen, SHIP coordinator. “On Nov. 26, Jim Freihammer, Superintendent of Wabasha-Kellogg School District, joined our team. He will make a huge impact toward becoming bike friendly and has indicated support for working with others to apply for a MnDOT Safe Routes to School Planning Assistance grant and implementing bike education into the schools. He even mentioned the possibility of working with their Technical Education Students to work on maintenance for the bike share bikes.”
The following Active Living momentum is occurring in Wabasha:
The Greater Minnesota Futures Pilot worked on a master trail plan that can serve to give credibility to funding requests. The mapping will reach bikers, walkers, the birding community, highlight the river assets, and connect resources and resulted in a Regional Sustainable Development (RSDP) grant.
The Wabasha Active Living interactive map was created with support from the RSDP.
The Biking Guide to Wabasha was published.
Markings were added to 1, 3 and 5 mile SHIP supported bike/walk routes.
“With the many local offerings, it's a no brainer to support the walk/bike advocates initiatives. SHIP has been a tremendous partner in seeing to it that we develop and use our active living assets.”
- Mayor Emily Durand (who has joined the Minnesota Mayoral Active Transportation Caucus)
For information on what it means to partner with Wabasha County SHIP on healthy eating, physical activity, and/or tobacco-free environment projects, please email Tina Moen or call her at 651-565-5200.