DeKALB — Illinois lawmakers have made cycling the official state exercise and implemented several new laws to promote bicycle safety on the roads.

 

Drivers can now pass bicyclists in no-passing zones to ensure the safety of the rider, and bicyclists can legally ride on road shoulders. Riders also have the option to use a red light instead of, or in addition to, the red reflector found on the back of bicycles.

 

Groups in DeKalb, like the Active Transportation Committee, the Kish Bike and Rec Club and the North Central Cyclery bike shop, try to encourage cycling.

The Active Transportation Initiative, as part of the Live Healthy DeKalb group, works to maintain bicycle and pedestrian paths and provide a more interconnected network for residents, according to Jan. 16 Active Transportation subcommittee documents.

 

“[The Active Transportation Committee works] to educate and get more people out, to encourage more people to bike and to make more connections in some of the trail systems,” said Dirk Happ, Active Transportation Committee member.

The League of American Bicyclists, an organization working toward creating a bicycle-friendly America, allows communities to participate in a free program to receive the Bicycle Friendly Community award.

 

As part of The League of American Bicyclists, the Bicycle Friendly America program provides a roadmap to transforming states and communities and recognized DeKalb as being of the Bronze level bicycle friendly community in November 2016. 

 

Bronze level communities are noted for being not necessarily bike friendly with few bicycle lanes and motorists potentially unaware of their need to share the road with bicyclists, according to a Nov. 13, 2016, City of DeKalb document.

 

“The big thing is, of course, people being safe being on a bicycle on the road, and the more paths you have, the more ability people have to stay off of the roads and on the paths, so it keeps them safer,” said Michael Paul, North Central Cyclery co-owner.

 

Happ said distracted driving is a problem and hopefully some of the new laws make it safer for bicycling on the road.

 

Happ said it seems like enthusiasm about cycling in Illinois is behind other places like Madison, Wisconsin, which has a large bike culture.

 

“I guess Chicago may have somewhat of one, but you go to other places outside of Illinois and there’s a huge bike culture,” Happ said. “I don’t think by saying it’s the state activity is going to promote it.”

 

Happ said he thinks there is more involved than making cycling the state activity to promote it, such as improving infrastructure, installing more bike lanes and promoting riding on the streets.

 

Paul said other states have more bicycle-related events and activities, but he thinks it’s great Illinois made cycling the official state exercise. He also thinks the pathways around DeKalb offer those who don’t cycle another form of exercise. 

Toney Xidis, Kish Bike and Rec Club member said he hesitates calling the trails bicycle pathways because they can be utilized by walkers, roller skaters, runners and families.