BAK 2021 Canceled

January 25, 2021

BAK Family and Friends,

Thank you to those who completed the surveys in October and January regarding a 2021 BAK tour. Your feedback was invaluable, and we greatly appreciate your time, ideas, and comments.

We have made the extremely difficult decision to cancel plans for a June 2021 tour. Some of you will be relieved; others will be greatly disappointed. We empathize with all of you and have felt every emotion possible associated with this decision.

In the spirit of transparency, we would like you to better understand the two primary challenges that impacted our decision:

1. Our highest priority is the health and wellness of our participants, along with the people in Kansas communities. We do not feel confident that the pandemic will be diminished enough by June to stage BAK in a safe and enjoyable manner. (As of January 8, Governor Kelly anticipated beginning COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 3 (of 5 phases) in June.)

2. Less than half of the 478 of you who responded to the January survey, tell us “Yes, you will participate in BAK 2021 in June.” (The survey was sent to 1,550 past participants and interested persons.) To make a June tour financially viable for the organization, the minimum participation is 350 persons.

Please know we are fully committed to the long-term future of Biking Across Kansas and desire to return with a full-week, cross-state tour—an event we know you love—June 11-18, 2022.

In addition, know that we are considering a 2 to 3 day BAK weekend event in late summer 2021 and will make an announcement once a final decision is made.

In the meantime, let’s continue to encourage and inspire each other on the Biking Across Kansas Discussion and Photography Facebook page and celebrate all-things Kansas on Kansas Day, January 29. If you have any questions, please contact Stefanie Weaver, executive director, at director@bak.org or 913.735.3035.

Biking Across Kansas Board of Directors