August 21, 2006 -- Thousands of bicyclists flocked to downtown Omaha Sunday morning for the 16th annual Corporate Cycling Challenge.

This year, the event was part of a fundraising effort for a pedestrian bridge that will connect Council Bluffs and Omaha. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall for the $22 million project.

For riding enthusiasts, the new bridge means more than 150 miles of bike trails will be connected by the bridge over the Missouri River.

"Build that bridge, and I'll be there," said cyclist Sandy Taylor after the ride.

Some bikers touted the bridge as the safest way to cross the river on a bicycle. Currently, there are few safe options. Others are looking forward to the beauty it will bring to the metro area.

There were concerns, however.

"As a biker, I love it. As a taxpayer, I'm not loving it," said Ralston resident Chris Ortman. "I'm torn."
Critics argue that the bridge is unnecessary and is an example of federal pork-barrel funding.

In 2000, then-Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska won $19 million in federal funding for the project to highlight Omaha's back-to-the-river effort. The states of Iowa and Nebraska, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District and private philanthropies are also contributing.

After Sunday's ride, a representative from Back to the River Inc. received a check for $25,000, to be spent on lighting and enhancements for the bridge. The money was collected from corporate challenge entry fees.

A booth displaying a rendering of the bridge was set up near the finish line, and donations were collected. Several riders wrote checks for $100 each, said Pete Castellano. Castellano is a director for the nonprofit Back to the River, according to its Web site.

"I don't know where they were keeping their checkbooks," Castellano joked, looking around at the spandex-suited riders.

More than 2,500 riders participated in the event, setting a new attendance record, he said. Riders chose between three bike routes of varying lengths: one 10 miles, another 26 miles, and the most challenging at 42 miles.

Afterward, riders congregated near the entrance of Heartland of America Park, where they were treated to free bottled water and sports drinks, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, and complimentary massages.