Photo by sashafolly/Shutterstock
By Laurie Casey
Remember back in March, right after the COVID shutdown, and how empty the streets were of cars? It was a biker’s dream; many people took to the empty roads on two wheels. Fast forward to August, and the auto traffic has come roaring back . . . but biking is still a hot topic this summer.
The bicycle in summer of 2020 is a bit of a Rorschach test: its use and meaning changes, depending on what’s important to you. If you’re a family with young kids during this summer when the movie theaters and pools are closed, it’s something fun to do. If your gym is closed, it’s safe exercise. If you can’t afford a car, it’s freedom and mobility. If you still have a job, it’s how you get to work. And if you care about the environment, it’s all of the above.
Photo by Mike Russo/Unsplash
Here are some tools and resources for you to have fun/get around/support equity/save the earth on your bike during August, September and beyond.
Safe Biking Advice: In addition to a helmet and well-inflated tires, let’s add COVID guidance to the list of safety “equipment.” The group Active Transportation Alliance, an organization that promotes biking, walking and public transit, worked with the Illinois Department of Health to develop an infographic in April, plus more advice on healthy biking and walking during the pandemic. Rusty on biking in general? Take Ride Illinois’ Bike Safety Quiz.
Slow Streets: Looking hyper local, Oak Park’s Slow Streets Pilot kicked off August 3: the Village closed about 5 miles of streets to non-local traffic so that bikers, runners, walkers, wheelchair users, rollerbladers and others can enjoy healthy outdoor exercise and play. If all goes well, the Village will expand it to all quadrants of Oak Park. It’s a trend that’s catching on in other towns, too. If you don’t live in Oak Park, check for initiatives near you that you can support. If you live nearby, you can try out the path and give the village your feedback on the pilot. Your input can help them improve the program. Read more at the Wednesday Journal. Want to be involved in more local initiatives like this one? Look into the group Bike Walk Oak Park.
Leisure & Mountain Biking Paths: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources publishes a list of 18 statewide bike paths, from the urban Chicago lakefront, to the suburban Prairie Path to other rural paths in pristine natural areas.
Out Our Front Door sponsors regional bike camping trips. The late September trip to the Indiana Dunes is described as, “A two-day bike camping tour, with steel, nature, bridges, beaches, camping and history.” Map courtesy of Out Our Front Door.
Bike Camping & Learning: Just imagine: biking through stunning nature, stopping to camp under the stars and hearing fabulous stories about the local history, flora and fauna while you roast your marshmallows. The nonprofit organization, Out Our Front Door, leads bike adventures that focus on local history and nature of the Lower Lake Michigan Basin Area. They offer rides for families, adults and high school students. Upcoming rides include Starved Rock, Door County and Camp Sullivan in Oak Forest, Ill.
Commuting to Work: Ride Illinois offers advice for safe commuting routes to Metra stations. They also have a good collection of general bike maps for Illinois cities, including Chicago, that show safer streets for biking.
Equal Access: Transit justice continues to be an important policy goal by social justice activists. Many groups, such as Equiticity, have been working to expand access to electric scooters and Divvy bikes. Active Trans has been doing a series of blogs based on interviews with Chicago residents about transit and equity issues on the south and west sides of the city. Residents cite frequent police stops as barriers to biking, among others.
Turn the Wheel: Want to learn more or get involved in increasing access to biking in your community? Ride Illinois is organizing the Illinois Bike Summit on Sept. 15. It’s for “local bike advocates, transportation planners, engineers, and anyone interested in making biking for recreation and transportation better on their block or in their community.”