Bike Route Indianapolis

One encounters lots of interesting things while riding the bike.  For example, I saw two deer at 106th and Hazel Dell on Sunday, but they weren't the usual does or young bucks--these were big guys with eight-point antlers.  Neato!

Lots of these sights pass without comment.  Another blue heron!  A Ferrari!  A racing rival riding the other direction!  But every once in a while, there's something worth stopping and recording for posterity:


This caught my eye because of its relation to my friend and BGI mechanic JB Musselman (whose name itself is also hilarious for obvious reasons).  So I stopped and snapped it for him. 

Also of interest was the following gem that requires a little explanation.  Around these parts, the accepted method of informal bike route marking is known as a "Dan Henry:"


You find these all over the roads around here.  They're generally very helpful, except when routes intersect, and then it can be a little difficult to make sure you're on the one you want.  It is also easy to confuse with another common symbol: 

Luckily, this confusion only occurs at specific types of intersections.


You also find the occasional attempt to introduce a higher level of artistry to the Dan Henry:


The white symbol above is not uncommon, and it has the same role as a Dan Henry, except more specific:  if you have a bike with two disc wheels, and a transparent frame, then you want to go this way.  Also:  no helmets allowed.

The yellow symbol is far less common, for obvious reasons:  most robots don't bother with a bike route, since they have other means of propulsion.  Unfortunately, the artist left their message a little unclear.  Does this mean "robots go this way?"  "Danger:  Robots ahead?"  "This route only for cyclists with a robot sidekick?"  I lean toward that last explanation, since a cyclist with an invisible bike frame would probably also have access to robot technology.

 This will be a relatively short update, as I still have plenty to do. It's Tuesday afternoon (August 11) and everything is pretty much all set. My bike is boxed, my bags are organized, and everything's loaded in the van. Shower, late lunch, then off to Union Station.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm in a suburb of Chicago, so to box my bike I had the assistance of a great shop, Dan's Bike Shop in Berwyn. After emailing them ahead of time to check the availability of bike boxes, I stopped in yesterday to pick up a box. I was pleasantly surprised when they also handed me a plastic bag labeled "packing kit," that contained all the necessary padding for my bike. It was great, and completely free! It took me about 45 minutes to pack up the bike this morning. Around the bike inside the box I also packed one front pannier, my handlebar bag, bike shoes, and my water bottles (empty of course). This way I was able to maximize the use of space in the box while also adding extra padding for my precious vehicle. I also utilized a great resource on our own BGI website that takes one through packing a bike step by step. Check it out here. Now let's see if Amtrak takes good care of it...

For the train ride to Pittsburgh I'll check two other panniers. My carry on bags will be one rear pannier (loaded with reading material and such, as well as my fuel bottle) and a duffle bag that has my tent, sleeping bag, and helmet inside. 

When I arrive in Pittsburgh tomorrow morning, I'll assemble my bike and load it up, have some breakfast at a nearby bagel shop, then get shuttled to the trailhead. Since the final 9 miles from McKeesport to Pittsburgh are not complete on the GAP trail, I have to get to it some other way. I emailed the trail association and they said that traffic is SO thick around there that they wouldn't even recommend a bike route. The did, however, give me the name of a taxi service (Bill's) who will pick me and my bike up in Pittsburgh and take me to the trailhead in McKeesport for $45. Then the cycling adventure begins!

So, for now, my future is in the hands of Amtrak. I'll enjoy a comfy coach-class seat on a Superliner for the overnight trek while my bike rests gently in the baggage car. I don't expect a great night's sleep, but only have about 45 miles to pedal tomorrow, so I can turn in early. 

Bon Voyage!

We bicycle riders have always had to fight for our right to any little bit of road. We have just taken it for granted that that's the way its going to be. Well, I'm encouraged and impressed with the amount of work that is being done.

With Indianapolis investing in bike lanes and greenway expansion it was certain to filter down to my main riding location. Johnson County, is getting in the mix with a growing support group for safe bike routes. Check out this web site to find out more  http://www.johnsoncountycompplan.org/

There has been some public meetings and more are coming. Come and share your input.

Anita Knowles should be given big thanks for all her hard work leading up to this point.

 This Saturday, Kathy and I had a fantastic 30 mile ride stopping midway for coffee at Strange Brew in Greenwood.  Rolling hills, not-so-bad traffic, great company (I love riding with my bride to be), and perfect weather made this the best ride so far this year.  We felt so good that we even pushed the pace a bit and ended with an average speed of nearly 12.5 mph!


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It seems everytime I talk to someone about bicycling in Indianapolis, they are looking for a way to get from home to work or somewhere else by bike. Just last Friday I was talking with someone at an event who had been commuting to work last year. But he didn't like his choices and wanted to know how to get to the Monon from where he lived instead of riding on Binford Blvd. Once I found out where he lived, it was easy to find him a great route on neighborhood roads that will connect him to Fall Creek Trail and then the Monon. 

The first tip in finding a bike route to work is to look at a map of Indianapolis. There are often low-traffic roads that connect where you are with where you want to go. Often they parallel higher traffic roads. Look for roads that you don't use for driving your car.  In general you want to look for the straightest route on the lower traffic streets. However, sometimes it is much more enjoyable to go a little out of your way to avoid very busy roads.

The next step is to map out your preferred route and try it on a weekend, just to get your bearings. It may not give you a sense of how your route will be in rush-hour traffic, but it's better to get lost or turned around when you don't have a time-crunch.  It will also give you an idea how long it will take you to get from home to work. 

The 3rd step is to try your route on a work day.  It's often good to have a few routes in mind for variety to explore different areas on your way home.

A 4th step is to talk about riding to work with others - chances are you'll find a group of bicyclists you can ride with at least part of the way to work.

Bicycling in Indianapolis takes some skill, knowledge and experience, but it can be a lot of fun.

If you're in need of some guidance in finding a better bicycle commuting route to work or in feeling more confident bicycling in Indianapolis, email me at cschmucker@bgindy.com  I've been bicycling in Indianapolis for more than 20 years and can say from experience there's lots of great riding within Marion County. You just have to know how to find it.

Connie Szabo Schmucker, Advocacy Director
Bicycle Garage Indy
Indianapolis, IN
cschmucker@bgindy.com
www.bgindy.com