III.3. Proclamation Declaring May as Bike Month; Gallagher
CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2026-048
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Sam Gallagher, Associate Planner
Date: May 5, 2026
Subject: Proclamation Celebrating Bike Month
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO Adopt a Proclamation Declaring May as Bike Month.
OVERVIEW
Since 1956, May has been recognized as National Bike Month, and the League of
American Bicyclists has sponsored this celebration of cycling for decades to advance
the movement to build a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. During this celebration
of bikes and the people who ride them, Hopkins and cities across the nation are called
upon to get as many people riding as possible.
This year’s Bike to Work Week is May 11th – 17th, and Friday, May 15th is Bike to Work
Day. Encouraging more people to go places by biking is beneficial to Hopkins’ social,
economic and environmental growth. Several bicycling events are scheduled during
May and throughout the year:
x Metro Transit’s Trails to the Rail event on May 9th
o Bike ride leaving from the Artery at 10 a.m. to a ribbon cutting at West
Lake Station in Minneapolis
o Trail celebration at Hopkins Downtown LRT Station from 12 to 2 p.m.
x Hopkins and Three Rivers Park District Commuter Hub to celebrate Bike to Work
Week on May 12th at the Depot from 7 to 9 a.m.
Access Hopkins is a volunteer advocacy group working to ensure biking, walking and
rolling are safe, easy and joyful for people of all backgrounds & identities. Access
Hopkins, BikeMN, Hopkins Police Department, Three Rivers Park District and Tonka
Cycle are co-hosting an Ask the Experts; E-bikes and E-motos Open House event at
the Depot on May 7th from 5 to 7 p.m. Chris Polston of Access Hopkins will attend the
City Council meeting to accept the proclamation.
The Hopkins Activity Center Senior Bike Club has started for the season. There are two
weekly group rides available:
x Active Riders on Mondays at 9:00 a.m.
x Recreational Rides on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
Seniors who are interested can learn more and register for the season online.
Planning & Economic
Development
Tonka Cycle and Ski offers Road Rides on Wednesdays, Mountain Bike Rides and
Skills Workshops on Sundays, and seminars on touring and repairs. Learn more and
register online for education and group rides.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
x Proclamation Declaring May as Bike Month
x Hyperlink to Bike Minnesota Website
CITY OF HOPKINS
A Proclamation declaring May as Bike Month
WHEREAS, throughout the month of May, the City of Hopkins will celebrate biking and
the freedom, joy, and the well-being it imbues within use, as well as the power that more
people riding bikes has in making life better for everyone; and
WHEREAS, bicycling has been shown to improve community health, well-being, and
quality of life, growing the economy of the City of Hopkins, attracting tourism dollars and
local business spending, and reducing pollution, congestion and parking costs on our
streets and roads; and
WHEREAS, Hopkins is fortunate to have five Regional bike trails converging in Hopkins
and robust local pedestrian and biking infrastructure, resulting in a bike score of 70 and
is recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly
Community; and
WHEREAS, Access Hopkins, schools, parks and recreation departments, businesses
and civic groups will be joining the League of American Bicyclists in promoting bicycling
during the month of May 2026; and
WHEREAS, these groups are also promoting the use of the bicycle as both a means of
transportation and recreation year-round to attract more visitors to enjoy local parks and
trail systems, as well as restaurants, retail establishments, and cultural and scenic
attractions, and
WHEREAS, these groups are also promoting greater public awareness of bicycle
operations and safety education during Bike Month and year-round in an effort to
reduce collisions, injuries, and fatalities and improve health and safety for everyone on
the road.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Brian Hunke, Mayor Pro Tempore of the City of Hopkins in the
state of Minnesota, along with my fellow Council Members, recognize, adopt, and
proclaim this Proclamation to support the many benefits of bicycling as a form of
transportation and recreation in Hopkins and to encourage others to join in the special
observance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Seal of the City of
Hopkins, Minnesota to be affixed this 5th day
of May in the year 2025.
_____________________________________
Brian Hunke, Mayor Pro Tempore