My picks for Bike, Walk and Wheel Week

Bike, Walk and Wheel Week officially kicked off Saturday with a number of safety classes, but it'll kick into high gear next week with some truly excellent-sounding events. You can see all of the week's goings-on here, but here are the cant-miss happenings:

• Monday: Walking Public Art Tour— 6 pm, Flat Branch Park, Chris Stephens of the Office of Cultural Affairs will lead  a walking tour of the many pieces of public art throughout downtown Columbia.
• Tuesday: Secret Access Trail Ride — 6-8 pm, Flat Branch Park Gazebo, On this fifteen-mile round trip ride along the MKT , Ride leaders will stop during the ride and reveal various access points along the trail. I'm the first to admit I don't know enough about our local trail system. This, I think, is going to be the week's most educational event for me. Plus, 15 miles in two hours? That's a lot farther than I'm used to biking at one time. They require you to wear a helmet for this one.
• Wednesday: Brown Bag Lunch Session “I Would Bike/Walk to Work, But…” — 12-12:45 pm, Walton Building, Prepare to have your excuses banished. The PedNet Coalition will provide strategies to help you put activity into your commute to work no matter how far away you live, what the weather may be, or how busy your schedule. I recommend this session to anyone thinking of trying to bike to work. Probably you'll find it to be easier than it seems. 
• Thursday: Bike Shop Workshop — 6:30-7:45 pm, Walt’s Bicycle Fitness & Wilderness Co, Learn basic bike maintenance, like how to repair or replace a tire tube or make cable and brake adjustments. I don't have to worry too much about maintaining my own machines (Cody is the Master Tinkerer), but if you'd like to be able to take care of some of the little things yourself without hauling your rig to your local bike shop, get your ass to this class.
• Friday: Breakfast Station Day ~ National Bike to Work Day — National Bike to Work Day! YAAAAY! Plus free breakfast for pedestrians and cyclists from 7-9. Breakfast stations are at the MKT Trailhead at Forum, the ARC, Lions-Stephens Park, Flat Branch Park and Fire Station 9 at Blue Ridge and Providence. 
• Saturday: Trails Day; 5K Walk/Run & 10K Bike Event — 9-10 am, MKT Trail Access, If you aren't pooped from the week's activities there's a free, no-registration-required bike/walk/run on the MKT. It's not timed, and you get a free t-shirt.