(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Bicycle Summit will be held today (Thursday) in the Des Moines metro area to promote cycling as a form of transportation, recreation, and health. Mark Wyatt, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, says the conference will feature a variety of experts in the field of cycling and trail development. Wyatt says people who will attend include cycling enthusiasts, bike retailers, city planners, trail builders, tourism officials, and more.

Workshops will include topics like, “Building Sustainable Bike Trails,” “Seven Interventions for Bike and Pedestrian Safety,” and, “How to Maximize Your Trail Brand.” Wyatt says Iowa easily has more than two-thousand miles of dedicated bike trails, and he says more are needed as there are still “trail impaired” areas. The summit opens at 9 A-M at the Courtyard Marriott Conference Center in Ankeny.