We Bike Rochester

CDOT employee known for bike safety work hit, killed by semi while cycling in Bridgeport Those who knew Riley O'Neil say he worked tirelessly to make riding bicycles in the city safer for everyone.

Whenever you can, buy local. Amazon is never going to fill in a mechanic slot at a cherished ride event like the Tour de Pepin , Sam's club is never going to sponsor the high school mtb team.

Thank you Bicycle Sports Inc. For your longstanding commitment to helping to keep us all rolling.

Rochester is a community full of people working to build a better future for all our kids. Ethan Swanson was one of those people.

He cared deeply for his family, for the natural and human-cultivated spaces in and around Rochester, and for the long-term health of our city. He was a master gardener who loved native plants and paid close attention to how the seasons changed what grew around him. He shared that knowledge the way he shared everything — with patience, gentleness, and a steadfast generosity that left people feeling like they belonged.

Many of you knew him from group rides, where his standing commitment was that no one gets left behind. Others knew him from public engagement meetings for everything from housing policy, trail funding, and roadway redesign, to discussions about park amenities. Frequently he arrived with Helen and Isaac in tow, wanting to make sure someone was present to ask: ‘Will this infrastructure actually work for them?” “Who does this design leave out?” And if you've used the downtown painted bike infrastructure at any point in the past several years, you have Ethan to thank directly — he crunched the numbers that exposed just how mathematically flawed the push to remove it was.

The day before he was hospitalized, he biked the kids home from school. Less than two weeks later, he was gone. Ethan passed away on June 3 following a diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

All who knew him would call him a friend. We were lucky to be among them.

He is survived by his wife MaKayla and their children, Helen and Isaac. His loved ones have set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral and hospitalization expenses, and a meal train is in place as well. Please give what you can — and if you can't give money, give a meal, give some time, or just reach out to someone who knew him.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ethan-swanson-and-family-gofundme

Photo of Ethan and Makayla at the 2022 Holiday Lights Ride. They were proud to tell folks that this was their date night for the month.

Join the City of Rochester in celebrating Bike to Work (or Anywhere!) Day on Tuesday, June 23, from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m. Enjoy free food, grab some giveaways, and access biking resources while connecting with fellow riders! Learn more and RSVP for a ride: https://dmc.mn/bike-to-work-day-2026/

Find here more information: https://www.rochestermn.gov/news/posts/pedal-into-summer-bike-to-work-or-anywhere-day-returns-june-23/

Check out some details about the new Family Friend Bike Parade hosted by Mayor Norton.
Register here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/america-250-family-friendly-bike-parade-in-partnership-with-rochesterfest-tickets-1985389702044

Rochester Voices, May 2026 - Rochesterfest and America 250 Bike Parade For the May 2026 edition of Rochester Voices, City of Rochester May...

NINE Days til we welcome hundreds of bike riders to our beautiful trails!

Celebrate with us by registering to ride the Meander at bikemn.org/mcm

2026 Med City Meander featuring a new 50 mile Rochester Rotary Ramble route Rochester Minnesota's Biggest Bike Tour! Check out NEW route distances in 2026 thanks to partnership with The Rotary Club of Rochester!

The city will be resurfacing Elton Hills Dr and is looking for community input on plans to improve safety for all user along this route. Come out to the open house and learn more.