At the risk of banding myself as a bike loving dirty hippie, you all should check out Eau Claire’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Informational Meeting on Thursday at 7pm (details). If y’all are serious about a bike and foot-friendly Eau Claire, activate your involvement engine and set your systems to GO. Description:

• The City of Eau Claire is looking for input regarding its Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which intends to establish on- and off-road routes that form a transportation network linking neighborhoods and major destinations. In addition, it sets forth the framework for examining the current environment in the community and outlining public and private initiatives over the next 20 or more years.

We do end up talking about bike stuff a lot in this blog, but we really believe it’s important to the area’s future identity, as well as its ability to attract businesses and residents. Also, biking helps you not be so fat from all the beer, and that is a cause that is nestled comfortably next to my red-blooded American heart.

Also, most of the people pushing for bike friendliness around here are not hippies, and from what I've heard, most area hippies are not that dirty.