May is Bike Month. In Indiana it’s also a celebration of speed, car racing, and all things local.
I kicked off May a little early with a metric century (100 kilometer/62 mile) bike ride in Louisville with my husband as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. It is a great way to spend a Sunday morning, and great training for my upcoming triathlon season. It also gave us an opportunity to see metro Louisville in a way we hadn’t yet experienced. I have run the Derby half marathon and loved the tour of Louisville it provided. So many great places.
Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP with her husband, David Scovel, LPG Senior Geologist, BCA Environmental Consultants
The month begins with the One America Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon – known locally as “the Mini.” The Mini is something everyone should do (at least) once. It is a local celebration, it is one of the largest half marathons in the country, and it is an opportunity for a physical activity challenge and to see Indianapolis in a different way that most people have experienced it. I have walked/run the Mini eight times. It was my first half marathon. The Mini is walker friendly and is a mix of elite level runners and people who walk a half marathon once a year. The course begins downtown and heads out toward the Town of Speedway, which has been undergoing a transformation of their downtown and Speed Zone economic development area. It then enters the track and you cover the entire 2.5 miles on foot (I have also ridden my bike around the track). Then the course weaves back to Military Park. There are neighborhoods on the route that highlight some of the very real housing challenges in Indy, neighborhoods that many “outsiders” don’t see otherwise. Regardless, people see the city in a whole new way. The training programs that lead up to the Mini create a sense of community (and happen in several places around the state) and connect people in meaningful relationships.
Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP finished her 8th Mini in 2016.
That same weekend is the American Planning Association national planning conference in New York City. I will be attending as part of the Planners4Health collaboration. There we will talk about the work the collaboration has been doing around integrating planning (and community development) with public health and promoting health in all plans.
Connecting bikes and the Indianapolis 500, the Central Indiana Bicycling Association has their 500 miles (or 500 kilometers) in May competition where members try to ride either 310 or 500 miles in May to earn a special jersey (average 10-16 miles per day). These miles can be commuting (avoiding the traffic and enjoying the spring weather), recreation rides, or training for bike races or triathlon. All miles count. All miles are a way to experiences neighborhoods in a different way than you do in a car. Some miles end in local beer or local donuts, which is economic development at its most fun!
Friday, May 19 is Bike to Work Day. While many more days are great for biking to work, May 19 is a day set aside for groups to meet and encourage people to try riding in to work. It’s about people working with people to overcome barriers to biking to work (logistics, safety, etc.). It is about building a community of people. It allows you to experience your commute in an entirely different way. Depending on your community and where you work you may be able to ride most of the way without being on roads. Of my 10 mile bike commute only 1.3 miles is on road, the rest is on the Monon Trail and the Cultural Trail in Indianapolis. Allyson (Director of Sustainability) has been bike commuting for the past few weeks because construction projects have left the roads so congested that her bike commute is faster than driving. Try it out! A few quick guidelines if you aren’t used to bike commuting:
- Check your A, B, Cs – AIR in your tires, BRAKES, and CHAIN.
- Helmets are not required under Indiana law. There are people who support their use and others who do not.
- Lights are required if you are riding when it’s dark. Headlights and taillights come in a variety of price points and are easy to attach to your bike. Being visible is very important.
- Indiana law requires a bell. Not everyone follows this law, but use the bell or an audible warning to let people know if you are approaching/passing. Pass on the left.
- On most multi-use trails/greenways pedestrians have the right-of-way. Bikes must slow and pass safely. Some trails have speed limits of 10-15 miles per hour. Know your trail rules.
- When riding on roads always ride with traffic. Do not ride more than two abreast. Follow all traffic signals and signs as if you were in a car.
- Carry ID – an ID bracelet or shoe tag or your photo ID. Some way to identify you in the event there is a problem.
- Let someone know you’re route and your expected arrival time. Let them know that you arrived.
Indiana State Department of Health Healthy Communities Planner Pete Fritz, AICP, ALSA is a regular bike commuter and always ready to ride
Look for bike events in your community – in Indy we have organized rides to the ball park, weekly recurring rides, women’s rides, grand touring weekend rides (often involving stops at local restaurants), and beer rides (lots more too). It’s a great way to get some physical activity, meet new people, and explore. You don’t need a fancy bike. You don’t need to wear spandex.
If your community has a local bike share program May is the perfect month to try that too! I use Pacers Bikeshare in Indy to get around downtown without moving my car. It’s a great way to get to meetings or appointments (or lunch) and is faster than walking – or getting the car from the parking garage. More communities in Indiana have added bike share programs in the past few years.
If you try riding on trails and decide you like it (you’ll love it), the Greenways Foundation of Indiana has a number of different challenges that run from April 22 (Earth Day) through October. Some are focused on local trail use while others encourage exploring your region or the state. I am participating in the Hoosier Trail Hero challenge for the second year – riding (or running) at least 10 different trails around the state. http://www.greenwaysfoundation.org/
Beyond Monumental Strategic Partnerships Manager Swati Gunale and Prosperity Indiana Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP riding in the Greenways Challenge in 2016.
Planning, Healthy Communities, Bikes, and Community Development are all connected and help connect people and places to make prosperity. Prosperity Indiana’s capacity building team can help you make connections and provide information resources on how to make your community healthier (and more fun).
Also, Prosperity Indiana will be hosting our first Twitter chat on May 11 at 11:00 AM and we'll be talking about healthy neighborhoods and physical activity. I'll have control of the @INCommDev Twitter handle and we'll have fun for an hour. There will be six questions to respond to and opportunities to connect with others doing the same work.
Happy biking! Cheers to healthy communities!
Rose Scovel, AICP
Director of Capacity Building
