Updated on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 6:56 p.m. CT
Several local organizations are hosting a series of public events to promote a culture of biking.
Champaign County Bike Month runs throughout September. Groups are sharing cycling resources and holding free giveaways to create opportunities for residents to hop on their bikes and meet fellow cyclists.
“It’s all an effort to encourage people to ride their bikes really, and hopefully to [provide] safety and education information for both experienced and new riders,” said Gabe Lewis, a planner with the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (RPC).
The program is a partnership between the RPC, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, the University of Illinois and several local governments and other organizations.
The events also come as officials are also working to better understand how community members are traveling around town — and what residents would like to see improve in terms of infrastructure and transportation options.
Bike to Work Day
The month kicks off with Bike to Work Day, when volunteers at 16 locations to greet community members pedaling on their way to work.
Those who visit a welcome station on their bike can also get a free t-shirt.
Welcome stations will be set up in Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul and Savoy. The map of stations includes multiple on the U of I campus and a few new sites, including Centennial Park.
Lewis said the first local bike to work events started off with four stations. He said the event is a great way to gather and meet up with neighbors over a shared interest.
“We want to celebrate existing bike commuters and recreational bicyclists, but we also want to encourage new people who may not have bike to work to give it a try,” he said.
Lewis said the station by the Alma Mater statue tends to be the most popular site. The welcome stations will be set up from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Bike lights giveaway
The month also focuses on promoting safer cycling. On Sept. 16, visitors can get free bike lights on the University of Illinois campus.
Those who bring their bicycle to “Light the Night” can have front and back lights installed onto their bike frame. State law requires cyclists to have front lights and either a rear light or reflector when riding in the dark.
“We do this in the fall because the sun starts to set earlier,” Lewis said. “Not only do we have a new population of students not only returning, but also new [to] riding bikes [that] may not have lights. Once they get outfitted, then they’re visible.”
Bike lights will be available while supplies last from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Alma Mater statue, Ikenberry Quad, the Hallene Gateway and at the Lincoln Avenue and Green Street intersection. The lights are available to all community members, not just U of I students.
Active transportation survey
Separate from Champaign County Bike Month, the RPC is also running a survey to better understand residents’ transportation decisions and desired improvements.
Lewis said the survey will help update the county’s Active Transportation Plan from 2014 with a focus on walking, biking and park infrastructure.
“We really want to hear from people, whether or not they bike regularly or walk regularly … why they do or don’t do those things,” Lewis said. “If there’s trails or bikeways or sidewalks, crosswalks that you like, and then if something is a barrier to you walking or biking, such as a busy road to cross, wanting to see a crosswalk in a certain place, wanting to see a trail built or an existing trail improved, that’s the type of information we’re looking for.”
The survey is open through Oct. 20.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to include the correct date for the “Light the Night” event.