• New bikeways, bike boulevards and walking paths debuted all over the area, including the Riverlake Greenway and enhanced bike lanes on 1^st and Blaisdell Avenues, just to name two.
• New bike centers opened, including the University of Minnesota Bike Center in September and Venture North Bike Walk & Coffee in October
• We went behind-the-scenes at a few of the Twin Cities most bike-friendly companies, including Clockwork Active Media Systems, Colle+McVoy and Northern Brewer

The cherry on top: December’s news that numbers for both biking and walking in the Twin Cities are up – way up. Bicycling in the Twin Cities increased 52 percent over the past five years, and walking is up 18 percent, according to data from Bike Walk Twin Cities. In fact, from 2010 to 2011 alone, biking increased a whopping 22 percent. And that’s really what all the new bike paths and other infrastructure changes are all about: helping people bike, walk and move more.

Why the increase in biking and walking? Why now? Bike Walk Twin Cities officials attribute the increase to several factors, including new bikeways, fluctuating gas prices and heightened community awareness of the health and social benefits of bicycling.

The big jump in biking and walking numbers drew local and nationwide attention, once again solidifying the Twin Cities as one of the most bike- (and walk-) friendly areas in the country. Here’s a full list of the media/blog stories in the last month:

Huffington Post –“ How to boost biking and walking in your town”

Energy Bulletin – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Planetizen – “Twin Cities see remarkable increases in biking, walking”

Star Tribune – “A new attitude about biking in Minneapolis?”

On the Commons – “How to boost biking and walking in your town”

Minnesota Public Radio – “Advocates tout increase in Twin Cities cyclists”

Common Dreams – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Oregon Emerging Local Government Leaders Network - “The Afternoon Delight” (summary)

Building America’s Future Educational Fund – “Infrastructure in the news”

MinnPost – “Study says Twin Cities biking up 52% in last five years”

Open Salon – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Downtown Journal – “Community Notebook”

Shareable – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Transit Oriented Development News – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

People for Bikes – “More people than ever are biking and walking in the Twin Cities”

Mostly Water – “How to boost biking and walking even furthering your city”

Tokyo Progressive – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Humanitarian News – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Twin Cities Sidewalks – “Minneapolis bike count show disparities in cycling infrastructure”

Velo Traffic – “Measuring Cycling Growth”

Cycle TC – “5 years, 52% increase in cycling”

TreeHugger – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

AidNews – “How to boost biking and walking even further in your city”

Clearly, the positive news attracted a lot of attention inside and outside the Twin Cities. Here’s to continuing the momentum in 2012!

Consider these five tips that can help you avoid filing a police report for a missing bike:

1. Carefully consider where you park and store your bike. Lock your bike anytime it’s not in use, even when it’s parked in your driveway or porch (if you can, keep it stored inside at home, when possible). If you’re locking your bike in a public area, choose a well-lit, high-traffic spot. Secure your bike to a large, stationary object; remember, chain-link fences can be easily cut through. And always take easily removable accessories, such as lights, with you. If you’re a bike commuter, the City of Minneapolis and City of Saint Paul also have great resources and maps for bike racks and lockers to stow your bike safely.

2. Buy a U-lock. Why? Because the U-lock is the best single lock to use, if you lock your bike properly. For even more protection, use both a U-lock and a chain or cable that’s at least 3/8-inch thick. Visit the Bike Walk Twin Cities site for more about the different kinds of bike locks.

3. Learn how to lock your bike. For maximum security, try removing the front wheel of your bike and fastening the U-lock around it, the back wheel, the seat tube, and the object you’re locking your bike to. If you don’t want to remove the front wheel, fasten the U-lock through it, your tube, and the stationary object. Then, wrap a cable or chain through both the front and back tires, as well as the U-lock. For detailed instructions and diagrams, check out the Bike Minneapolis’ Downtown Biking Guide slideshow (see page 8).

4. Lock size matters. Don’t use a lock that’s longer than you need; any extra space is just more room for a thief to maneuver and gain leverage. Try a few configurations to determine which setup leaves the least amount of slack. Avoid letting the lock rest on the ground or a wall, too; a thief could use those surfaces to smash the lock with a hammer.

5. Register your bike. In the case that your bike is stolen, having the serial number registered can help track it if the culprit tries to sell it. The National Bike Registry offers several types of registration at various prices. Also, write down the serial number, make, and model and keep the information in a safe place, along with a few photos of the bike.

Worst-case scenario, follow these guidelines from the City of Minneapolis to report a bike theft in Minneapolis. If the crime occurred in Saint Paul, call 651-291-1111 to report it.

What other tips do you have to prevent bike theft?