116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Government Notes: Eastern Iowa cities host Bike to Work Week events
Also, the Marion City Council is considering listing 988, the mental health crisis line, on some city vehicles to increase awareness
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Enjoy ‘Bike to Work Week’ with these Cedar Rapids area events
The city of Cedar Rapids is encouraging area residents to hop on their bikes this week through a series of events and promotions highlighting Bike to Work Week.
The weeklong celebration — a subset of National Bike Month — aims to inspire people to park their cars and opt instead to get around via bicycle. The city is set to host a variety of events to honor the occasion ranging from community bike rides to social hours, free meals and more.
The first community bike ride will take place Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. The commuter ride will start at McLoud Place Cedar Valley Nature Trail and head to McGrath Amphitheatre. A second ride will leave from McGrath at 4:30 p.m. for a return trip to McLoud.
There is at least one event per day for the remainder of the week and a complete schedule can be found online at bit.ly/CRbikeweek25.
To sweeten the deal, the city will offer free bus rides to any passengers who have a bike to put on the bus, and Bike to Work week participants can get discounted meals at a selection of downtown restaurants on Thursday.
Cyclists are invited to mark their participation by completing a Bike to Work week Bingo card, which also can be found at the link above. Those cards can be redeemed for prizes at the Handlebar Happy Hour event planned from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at The Yard between Big Grove Brewery and the Pickle Palace.
Those who don’t own a bike but would still like to participate can jump on one of the electric bicycles offered through the city’s downtown mobility program. The bikes can be rented using the Veo mobile app, and users can insert the promo code BIKE2WORK25 for a $5 credit.
Johnson County, Iowa City offer meals for bicycle commuters
In honor of Bike to Work Week — a time when residents are encouraged to bike instead of driver on their daily commutes — both Johnson County and Iowa City are offering free meals to biking participants.
Bicycle commuters and recreational bicyclists in Johnson County are invited to enjoy a free, locally made fresh breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the patio just south of the Johnson County Administration Building, 913 S. Dubuque St., in Iowa City.
The breakfast will feature empanadas, coffee, juice and fruit. Free trail maps, bike tip sheets and bike pins also will be available.
The rain location is the lower level of the nearby Health and Human Services (HHS) Building parking ramp, 855 S. Dubuque St.
The Iowa City Bicycle Commuter Breakfast will be Wednesday, May 14, from 7-9 a.m. at Chauncey Swan Park, 405 E. Washington St., Iowa City. The meal, hosted by the Climate Action and Outreach Division, is open to all commuters embracing pedal power. Bring your reusable mug for coffee and orange juice, and enjoy empanadas (apple cinnamon).
A Thursday, May 15 breakfast will be served by Neumann Monson and Bike Iowa City from 7-9 a.m. at the Pedestrian Mall side of the Linn and College Street intersection.
For information on other local bike events, visit https://bikeiowacity.com/event-calendar/
Marion to consider listing mental health crisis line on city vehicles
The city of Marion is considering adding decals to certain city vehicles to promote the national 988 mental health crisis line.
Ward 1 council member Gage Miskimen floated the idea at a recent city council work session as a way to promote mental health awareness and available resources for Marion residents.
“This could normalize that number for folks and get them familiar with it,” Miskimen said. “988 is a number that we want folks to know, memorize and be able to share with their friends, neighbors and loved ones.”
The 988 line was first adopted in 2022 in hopes of increasing accessibility and awareness around the nationwide suicide and crisis lifeline, which previously operated under a standard 10-digit number.
The line is open 24/7 and offers one-on-one support for mental health, suicide and substance use-related problems. Since switching to 988 almost three years ago, the line has received more than 13 million calls, texts and chats from people nationwide.
But still, Miskimen said, awareness about the lifeline remains relatively low around Marion — an issue that he said could be addressed in part by putting the 988 decals on certain city vehicles.
The remainder of the council agreed to pursue the proposal, and city staff will now research the topic further to identify exactly which and how many city vehicles fit the proposal and establish a timeline for installation.
An exact cost estimate was not available, but City Manager Ryan Waller said it is expected to be nominal. Per preliminary discussions, the decals will list the 988 number with a brief description that identifies it as a suicide and crisis lifeline.
The University of Iowa Police Department added 988 decals to its vehicles in 2024 through a partnership with UI students.
New principal appointed to College Community alternative schools
The College Community School District has appointed Bret Jones as principal to serve as head of Prairie Crossing and Prairie Rise, alternative learning programs in the district.
Jones — whose appointment is pending board approval — will replace Scott Black, who recently resigned.
Prairie Crossing is an alternative K–12 school that operates under a therapeutic model, serving students residing at Four Oaks.
Prairie Rise is a special school setting that provides a highly structured, therapeutic learning environment for district resident students who require more intensive support outside of a traditional school setting.
Jones currently serves as a secondary teacher at Prairie Rise. Previously, he served as assistant principal and activities director in the Anamosa Community School District.
“It is an honor to join the leadership of College Community School District as the Principal at Prairie Rise and Prairie Crossing,” Jones said in a news release. “These two buildings have a combination of outstanding teachers, established structures, and existing programming that allow our students to experience success. I am excited to see how far we can grow these programs to help every student achieve at a high level while experiencing personal growth.”
Jones, a native of Cedar Rapids, received both his Bachelor of Arts degree and Master’s in Education Administration from the University of Northern Iowa.
“Bret’s extensive experience and strong educational foundation make him an excellent fit to lead Prairie Crossing and Prairie Rise,” said Julie McKibben, executive director of special education. “His sincere commitment to building relationships and supporting each student’s unique journey will be a tremendous asset to our staff, students, and families. We are excited for his leadership and the opportunity to continue growing and strengthening our programs under his guidance.”
North Liberty students invited to apply for youth council
High school students in North Liberty are encouraged to apply to join the 2025-26 North Liberty Youth Council.
Interested students who will be in grades 9-12 in the fall of 2025 should apply by May 30. Applications will continue to be reviewed while vacancies remain.
The North Liberty Youth Council invites high school students to engage with the city, develop leadership skills, plan and host community events, support the community through service projects, and advocate for other young people in North Liberty.
Chosen council members’ terms will run from September 2025 to August 2026.
Meetings for the council are typically held at the Ranshaw House, 515 Community Dr., North Liberty) from 4:30-6 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month from September to December 2025, and the second and fourth Thursdays of the month from January to May 2026. The group will meet once a month in June and July 2026.
For more information, contact Outreach & Equity Coordinator Abbi Cobb at acobb@northlibertyiowa.org or visit northlibertyiowa.org/youthcouncil.
Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Grace King, Grace Nieland and Sara Konrad Baranowski contributed.
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