A Bikeability Checklist

http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/pdf/bikabilitychecklist.pdf

A pdf file one can print out to do a bikeability survey of one's community.

I've gone to two Champaign County "Big, Small, All" community meetings for the future plans for the county in an effort to network with area bike riders. It's very clear that bike/pedestrian pathways and making the county bicycle friendly is a very HIGH priority to it's citizens. It's very near the top of the list in fact. It is not something that local governments should put on long-term planning lists! It should be right near the top of the NOW list.

The beauty of making Champaign County the most bicycle friendly place in the Midwest is that it will attract outside money for the county and cities and save money for the area, not cost money. Bike paths allowing people to ride to school, work, shopping, dinning, and recreation will tie greenways and parks together. Reduce traffic congestion. Improve the noise and air pollution in the area. And increase physical activity of anyone willing to get out on a bike.

Besides college and university commencement ceremonies, I don't know of anything big happening in Champaign County in the month of May. Imagine how much money could be attracted to the County with a major bicycle festival!

Besides the tourist money that would be attracted in May. Money would come to the area all summer long as cyclists arrive with their bikes to experience riding the most bicycle friendly place in the Midwest!

Local citizens would invite their friends and relatives to come and ride the rails to trails paths and other parts of a county wide network of paths that take riders from Homer Lake to Allerton Park (with the cooperation of our neighbors in Piatt county) and from the Early American Museum to Gordyville USA, and everyplace in between.

More Champaign county residents would find it worthwhile to stay right here in the county for exercise and recreation that they might otherwise travel away from the area to enjoy.

Making Champaign County the most bicycle friendly place in the Midwest sounds like a WINNER no matter how I look at it.

-Rick Langlois

ORGANIZE

The number of bicyclists in Champaign County is huge but there is no organization that brings us together to work towards a common good, until now.

Now, right here, bicyclists all around Champaign County have a place to meet online and generate ideas and plans for making Champaign County the most bicycle friendly place in the Midwest.

IT'S NOT HARD IF YOU TRY!

• Champaign County as the most bicycle friendly place in the Midwest.
• A huge bike festival every May.
• A huge bike parade through Champaign and Urbana every May.
• Visitors coming from every stop along the City of New Orleans train line bringing their bike to Champaign to participate in the annual Bikefest.
• Fewer cars and more bikes on the road
• Fewer buses and more bikes on the road
• Bike/foot paths connecting everything in Champaign County to all the counties around Champaign.
  

…for access to and between parks, recreation, greenways, playgrounds
…for access to work places
…for access to shopping
…for access to everything!

IDEAS