Second Annual Run Across the District!

State Senator Mike Jungbauer (R-East Bethel) is busy training for his “Second Annual Run Across the District for Complete Streets” and he’d like to invite members of the public to join him.

Last year Senator Jungbauer successfully completed the 22 mile run/bike route between the cities of East Bethel and Elk River in his district. This year the route will also move through Nowthen, the newest city in Minnesota. Senator Jungbauer hopes to raise awareness for the transportation needs in this burgeoning new community. “This is the only section along this main east/west transportation corridor of our run/bike route that does not even have so much as a shoulder on the road,” Jungbauer said.

During the 2008 Minnesota Legislative Session, Senator Jungbauer successfully introduced legislation requiring the Minnesota Department of Transportation to study the implementation of “complete streets” in new and future road design.

The “complete street” concept utilized existing right of way many roads currently have or are designed with, providing access for bicycles and pedestrians. This may involve reducing a currently designed four lane road to three with the center lane being dedicated as a left turn lane. “Statistics show that a three lane road actually increases safety by at least 25% for autos and pedestrians with less congestion because all vehicles are much more visible especially in the left hand turn lane,” Jungbauer said. The remaining space would be devoted to bicycle lanes and wide pedestrian sidewalks.

This year the event takes place on Saturday, September 6 beginning at 7a.m. at the East Bethel fire station on 2751 Viking Blvd. East Bethel. The route will proceed to Lions Park in Elk River where the run will transition to bicycles for the return trip to East Bethel.

A lead car and follow car will be present, book ending the participants for safety throughout the route.

Media or members of the public wishing to speak with Senator Jungbauer about the event should either meet the Senator before the start of the event at the East Bethel Fire station, or at Lions Park during the transition from run to bike.