The city of Columbia pushed an initiative recently, but not for any legal matter. The local government was encouraging residents to use alternative means of transport from May 3-9.
The initiative is a yearly event with scheduled activities through last week geared toward promoting Columbians to get out and be active.
“Bike, Walk and Wheel Week is an awareness event to encourage Columbia residents to consider incorporating active transportation … into their weekly routine,” Janet Godon, Getabout Columbia’s coordinator and planner, said.
This year Bike, Walk and Wheel Week included more activities for participants and expanded the area it includes.
“This is the first year we have added an event on MU campus,” Godon said. An outreach activity for international and off campus students took place on campus May 5.
The schedule consisted of more guided rides through local trails like MKT and Bear Creek Trail. These rides were intended to make Columbians more familiar with the Columbia trail system.
Some individuals have already been cycling or walking to school from work to home, without the push of Bike, Walk and Wheel Week.
Freshman Elisabeth Glass rides her bike to and from school daily. While she concedes that it is inconvenient when the weather gets wet or chilly, she believes the plus sides outweigh running the risk of getting a cold.
“The exercise is good for me, and I actually enjoy it,” Glass said. “It gives you time to be alone and get settled.”
Glass acknowledges this may not be a possibility for peers who live farther from the school than she does, but she says that if someone is a short distance away, he/she should at least try riding a bike to school every once in a while.
Godon suggests that students who live farther away can simply park their cars or get off the bus a mile or two away. This way, students will not be subject to inclement weather, but they can still get exercise. Godon reminds students that this is aided by free parking in city parks and Columbia’s trail system.
To kick off the week, the Jay Dix Station was dedicated. Jay Dix, who passed away in 2002, took his passion to a competitive level and participated in bike races and triathlons until he was diagnosed with cancer.
The Jay Dix Station is Columbia’s newest park and includes a mountain bike skill course for the cyclists participating in Bike, Walk and Wheel Week.
“I know he would have appreciated the intent of this week, to bring fitness and exercise to the forefront of our lives,” Mary Dix, RBHS teacher and widow of Jay Dix, said.
Mary Dix described her husband as a late-blooming fitness enthusiast. Late in his life when he was working at University Hospital he began to ride his bike for recreation and exercise.
“[Jay Dix Station] is a welcome addition to our continually growing city,” Mary Dix said.
Mary Dix believes Columbians will enjoy the park and the chance for exercise it provides, especially the RBHS students who live near the park.
Other schools, like Lee Elementary School, have put in effort for years to encourage students to come to school in active ways.
“When we had a walking school bus it was fun to ride my bike and join the walkers,” Dr. Ann Mehr, the art teacher at Lee, said. Mehr regularly rides her bike to work and encourages her young pupils to get out and get active.
Mehr believes that in Columbia’s growing metropolitan atmosphere, it is vital for there to be community effort for active transport, for she believes it will be better for both the world and for people’s individual health.
“At Lee we are very lucky to do a lot of walking field trips,” Mehr said. “I feel like when we arrive at our destination the students’ minds are marvelously oxygenated, their muscles are wonderfully exercised … they are in optimal learning mode.”
By Skyler Froese 
Photo by Cassi Viox