Comes with 2 Wheels!
With
the
rising
costs,
both
economically
and
environmentally,
of
our
nations
fossil
fuel
dependency,
Americans
are
constantly
on
the
look out
for
new
ways
of
getting
from
point
A
to
point
B.
Electric
cars,
mo‐peds,
trains,
and
the
like,
have
increased
in
popularity
lately.
But
there
is
one
mode
of
transportation
that
has
trumped
all
others:
Bikes!
Bicycles
as
a
means
of
leisure
have
been
around
since
the
19th
Century,
but
lately
our
current
culture
has
taken
the
idea
of
the
recreational
cyclist
to
new
heights.
With
the
emergence
of
bicycle
lanes,
cities
across
the
country
have
grabbed
hold
of
this
new
phenomenon
and
haven’t
looked
back.
The
idea
that
bicycles
should
have
the
same
rights
as
cars
on
the
road,
is
a
relatively
new
idea,
although
one
that
does
seem
to
be
catching
hold.
Indy residents are increasingly modern and conscious, and with those ideas come a focus on sustainability and health. Here’s where the idea of bike trails comes roaring in. Urban and suburban residents alike are eager to ditch the sterile environment of a car for the sight seeing, wind in your hair, and heart‐racing thrill of riding ones bike to and from work every morning. In recent years, our beloved leaders of the city of Indianapolis have caught wind of this happening. With the growing popularity of bike trails like the Monon, which crosses straight through the heart of Broad Ripple, Indianapolis natives have made their voice heard by demanding more and more bike trails that dart through all areas of Indianapolis, making it much simpler, and healthier, to go visit a family member on the weekend or pedal out to lunch in the neighborhood across town.
Bikes: The Future of Indy Transportation
The
city
officials
of
Indianapolis
have
made
great
strides
in
making
Indianapolis
a
“Bicycle
Friendly
Community”.
Indianapolis
has
already
been
coined
“one
of
the
most
walkable
cities
in
the
nation”,
but
according
to
the
League
of
American
Bicyclists,
Indianapolis
recently
earned
the
badge
of
“Bicycle
Friendly
Community”
by
“providing
safe
accommodation
for
cycling
and
encouraging
people
to
bike
for
transportation
and
recreation”.
Indy
has
taken
a
big
step
forward
in
recent
years
by
joining
the
ranks
of
fellow
bicycle
friendly
cities
like
Portland
and
New
York
City,
particularly
with
the
implementation
of
the
Connectivity
Plan
and
the
Indianapolis
Bikeways
Plan.
Both
of
these
initiatives
will
combine
to
build
more
than
200
miles
of
new
bike
lanes
across
the
city
over
the
next
12
years!
This
will
more
than
double
the
existing
74
miles
of
on‐street
bike
lanes
currently
offered
by
the
city.
The various bike lanes, paths, and trails of Indianapolis can take you almost any where in the city, from the Northside neighborhoods of Broad Ripple and Carmel to the South side areas of Fountain Square, all of which pass straight through downtown. The most prominent of all trails, one that took nearly 12 years to create from conception to creation, including 6 years of construction: the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
The Cultural Trail
Funded
entirely
by
private
donations
and
federal
grants,
this
trail
of
epic
proportions
snakes
through out
downtown
while
connecting
the
6
designated
cultural
districts
of
the
city,
as
well
as
points
of
interests
related
to
entertainment,
sports,
heritage,
and
art.
Among
the
cultural
districts
is
Broad
Ripple
Village, Massachusetts
Avenue,
the
Wholesale
District,
the
Canal,
White
River
State
Park,
and
of
course
Fountain
Square.
The Cultural Trail also features numerous public art works, designed by local artists of course. One of the more interesting and prominent pieces is known as “Ann Dancing”. Designed by UK based artist Julian Opie, this particular piece is a larger than life LED display featuring a perpetually dancing digital woman. “Ann” sways back and forth, swinging her hips and snapping her fingers to the beat of the streets. “Ann Dancing” can be seen along the Cultural Trail at Mass Ave.
Many other improvements have come a long with the new trail which include 25,400 sq ft of storm water planters, an 8 mile linear park, 86 new bike racks, and 5 acres of new landscaping, The Cultural Trail has peaked interest from city planners and urban aficionados from all over the world like Cologne, Germany and Miami, as well as a featured article in The New York Times! And according to the architectural firm responsible for the creation of the trail, “We discovered that there really wasn’t quite anything like what we were attempting to do any where in the world”. If all that’s not enough to entice you to take a walk on this trail, what will?
How about a cherry on top? The Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc. in collaboration with the Herb Simon Family Foundation have brought fourth the very first Indianapolis Bike Share program. With 250 bikes available for rent in 25 different stations around the city, Indy residents and visitors can cruise around town for a moderate price. The bikes offer easily adjustable seats, front and rear baskets, automatic lights, fenders to protect you from the rain, and skirt/chain guards to keep your clothes nice and clean. The best part about these bikes, the aesthetic design. Most cities with these types of programs have bikes covered with a high‐paying corporate sponsor. I mean who wants to ride around on a bike sporting the logo of a faceless bank or soda company? Not Indy. Our bikes sport the name and colors (blue and gold) of our adored professional basketball team, the Indiana Pacers. If you’re a fan of the Pacers, you’ll surely notice these bikes have plenty of “gold swagger”!
For more information on Indy’s bike‐ability be sure to pick up a free Indy Ride Guide at a local restaurant, coffee house, retail establishment, or bar near you! This unique guide provides detailed insight into the bike lanes and greenways that span the entirety of Indianapolis. Not only that, but the Indy Ride Guide goes one step further by evaluating the best and safest streets to ride a bike by using a sophisticated algorithm. Welcome to the future of Indianapolis!
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