The name of a place can be very important. It can draw visitors because it sounds inviting, intriguing or memorializes someone of interest.
Anyone know the name of the bike trail that starts east of International Falls and ends near the former city of Island View? Few people likely know that the official name is the Rainy Lake Bike Trail. And while that name is adequate, there is another name that should be associated with this trail.
Biking was what Mike Budak’s life was all about. Budak, who died last summer, ought to be honored by naming the bike trail, which he helped to establish, after him. We’ve done it for boat accesses in the area with the Ron Hall Memorial Landing on Shorewood Drive; and the Frank Bohman Memorial Landing off Highway 11 East. This would be equally appropriate.
Dozens of cyclists participated in the first Budak Memorial Bike Ride Saturday. It is intended to be an annual, family fun ride. It is no race.
But Budak knew about bike races. He organized the “To Hill and Back” annual race in 1985 and started “Team Dinosaur,” a local cycling club for people age 40 and over. This trophy-winning cyclist kept track of his miles and had cycled 100,000 miles by 1993.
And Budak wanted children to get involved in this life sport, but to do it safely. He was a teacher at the state’s “Pedal Power Camp” and connected to young riders through 4-H, scouting and community education.
Naming the bike trail after a man whose passion for cycling was shared with the community in parades on his nostalgic highwheeler, other cyclists his age through clubs and races, and young people who likely practice safety because of him — would be a fitting honor.
We look forward to the day when the Budak Memorial Bike Ride begins on a trail that honors this man and his love of cycling.