Biking in Indiana is better than ever
Comet staff report

May is National Bike Month, and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is urging Hoosiers to ride their bikes and realize Indiana is becoming increasingly bike-friendly.

"Cycling in Indiana is better than ever in 2007," said INDOT Commissioner Karl B. Browning. "Within the past year, Indiana created the visionary Indiana Trails plan, launched the Safe Routes to School Program and developed many new multi-use trails. In addition, INDOT continues to support efforts to increase cycling safety and educate motorists about the importance of sharing the road with cyclists."

National Bike Month is a growing movement to promote biking as an excellent form of exercise, recreation and transportation. The nationwide effort brings to the attention of the motoring public the fact that more than 50 million people ride a bike each year. During the third week of National Bike Month, Indiana will again celebrate Bike to Work Week, a week-long effort promoting biking to work as an excellent way to commute and increase physical activity.

Efforts to increase cycling in Indiana include: + The state adopted a new Indiana Trails Plan. The plan will place every Hoosier within 7.5 miles of a trail by 2016. + INDOT awarded nearly $11 million to fund new multi-use trails across the state in 2006. + The InShape Indiana initiative urges Hoosiers to get active and promotes cycling as a beneficial form of physical activity. + INDOT awarded nearly $50,000 to Indiana State Department of Health to promote bicycle safety and awareness in Indiana in 2006. + Indiana now has more than 600 miles of trails suitable for cycling - about half of those trails are suitable for road bicycles, and the other half are for mountain bicycles. + Indiana recently launched its Safe Routes to School program, which provides funding to increase walking and biking to school among children in kindergarten through eighth grades.

Cylists are asked to remember the following safety tips

Be visible - Wear bright clothing and use front and back lights in low-light conditions

Wear a helmet - No matter how short the trip

Obey traffic laws - Ride on the right, signal turns and obey all traffic control devices

Ride predictably - Check for traffic, anticipate hazards and don't swerve

Safety tips for motorists include:

Drive cautiously - Reduce speed and don't tailgate when you encounter a cyclist

Pass with care - Leave at least four feet between your vehicle and the cyclist

Watch for children - Kids on bikes are often unpredictable

Yield to cyclists - Bicycles are vehicles and should be given the appropriate right-of-way.

For more information on safe cycling visit www.bikemonth. org. For information on cycling activities in Indiana, go to the Indiana Bicycle Coalition's Web site at www.bicycleindiana.org and the Central Indiana Bicycling Association Web site at www.cibaride.org. To read more about the Indiana Trails Plan, visit the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Web site at www.in.gov/dnr/trailsplan.