Westfield creates more options for bicyclists throughout city
The City of Westfield recently has created seven newly-mapped bike loops, adding a total of nearly 80 looped miles for riders.
“We are so fortunate to have the Monon and Midland trails running through Westfield. The new bike loops take advantage of those trails while offering some more advanced routes for those expert riders,” Westfield Mayor Andy Cook said.
In addition to providing riders with a varied riding experience, the new bike loops help to link neighborhoods, parks, schools and create an opportunity for affordable recreation.
“The basic concept is to show that Westfield is a bicycle friendly community,” Park Director Melody Jones said. “It’s very important because if you have more families taking out young kids, we need to make sure they aren’t heading out on a bicycling experience that might be bad… It’s a safe place for anybody that’s cycling.”
The bike loops are grouped by difficulty and include beginner, family, advanced and expert levels. The length of the bike loops range from 1.85 miles to 33.3 miles. Signs have been installed along the bike loop routes to help riders identify the correct loop for their skill level.
“(With family), you take a family but supervision is still needed for street crossing at lights or stop signs,” she said. “It’s multi-generational. It’s still an easy ride and not very long. The longest is eight miles.”
Jones said the advanced loops are more difficult and consist of a couple hills, minimum shoulders or sidewalks.
“It’s not for a small child,” she said. “For expert loops, riders should pick their times – not during rush hour unless you can ride with traffic.”
Riders will be taken on routes along the Monon and Midland trails, through downtown Westfield and along surrounding countryside.
“We’re extending the cycling experience in Westfield, utilizing our trails and area,” Jones said. “We’re pointing out that not every bicycle recreation experience has to be exclusively on trails.”
Teresa Skelton, 58, has lived in Westfield her whole life and said the new focus on bike trails is fantastic, especially since she lives nearby several loops.
“I live here and work here. It’s great way to get exercise; a great way to see things in the community other than with an automobile. Our trail system connectivity is fabulous. It’s a nice way to connect the community, socially and even economically – you can ride to work, the bank or Kroger,” she said.
Jones said the loops are the first step and the second is the city’s complete street policy, which started earlier this year. The city has a spine of trails but connections still need to be made. Jones said four major areas have been identified as priorities: 156th Street from Oak Ridge to Spring Mill roads, 161st Street from Oak Ridge to Spring Mill roads, 168th from Oak Ridge Road to the Monon, and 161st Street to Midland.
“We’re aggressively going after the quality of life,” she said. “Westfield will be the best connected community utilizing alternative transportation in Central Indiana.”
All Roads Loop
- Level: Advanced
- Distance: 5.05 miles
- Entry points: Red Man Park and Freedom Trail Park.
- Description: This loop runs entirely on paved roads. It is only slightly hilly, but the lack of sidewalks along several roads has earned it an advanced level rating. If you are willing to give it a go, this loop travels by interesting places such as the site of the display gardens.
- Points of Interest: Red Man Park, Freedom Trail Park, Hadley Park, Asa Bales Park, City Hall, Fallen Hoosier Heroes Memorial, Display Gardens and Westfield High School.
Little Eagle Creek Loop
- Level: Expert
- Distance: 14.7 miles
- Entry point: Raymond Worth Park
- Description: This loop is almost entirely on paved roads with little to no shoulder, but the many curves, mature trees and Little Eagle Creek make it a pleasant ride. Be careful; there are plenty of hills on this trip.
- Points of Interest: Armstrong Park and Little Eagle Creek.
Asa-Freedom Loop
- Level: Family
- Distance: 3.5 miles
- Entry points: Asa Bales Park and Freedom Trail Park.
- Description: A good portion of this loop is on designated trail but the rest is on road. There is one difficult crossing on Ind. 32 but the rest of the loop is great for the family.
- Points of Interest: Asa Bales Park, Freedom Trail Park, Hadley Park, Old Friends Cemetery Park and Downtown Westfield.
Monon-Midland Inner Loop
- Level: Advanced
- Distance: 7.5 miles
- Entry points: Quaker Park, Monon Trail, Asa Bales Park, Liberty Park, Cool Creek Park and Midland Trace Trail.
- Description: While most of this loop is on designated trails, the portions on roadways are tough enough to warrant an advanced rating. This loop connects four parks and has plenty of interests – whether that be the splash park, library, Old Friends Cemetery Park or the Monon Trail.
- Points of Interest: Quaker Park, Cool Creek Park, Asa Bales Park, Liberty, Old Friends Cemetery Park, Hadley Park, Liberty Park and Downtown Westfield.
Monon-Midland Outer Loop
- Level: Family
- Distance: 7.5 miles
- Entry points: Quaker Park and Monon Trailhead.
- Description: This loop travels mostly through subdivisions and paved trails and will be great for the whole family. There are two parks to enjoy along this loop – Armstrong and Quaker.
- Points of Interest: Quaker Park, Monon Trail and Armstrong Park.
Northwest Border Loop
- Level: Expert
- Distance: 33.3 miles
- Entry points: Raymond Worth Park and Grand Park.
- Description: This is the longest loop in Westfield and is filled with enough obstacles to rate it for expert riders only. It is almost entirely on paved roads with limited or no shoulders, is very hilly and is very long. The speed limits on roads for this loop go up to 50 miles per hour, but if you feel up to the challenge it is a very pleasant trip through agricultural fields, groves of trees and the Westfield countryside.
- Points of Interest: Grand Park, Raymond Worth Park and Little Eagle Creek.
Midland-Cool Creek Loop
- Level: Family
- Distance: 8.4 miles
- Entry points: Cool Creek Park, Simon Moon Park and Liberty Park.
- Description: This loop goes by three and is perfect for the whole family – with parental supervision. Half of this loop is on designated trails, but the other half is on the road. Be careful riding on portions of Carey Road but also be sure to enjoy the beauty of Cool Creek Park.
- Points of Interest: Cool Creek Park, Simon Moon Park, Liberty Park and Old Friends Cemetery Park.
Asa-Simon Line
- Level: Beginner
- Distance: 1.85 miles
- Entry point: Asa Bales Park and Simon Moon Park.
- Description: This line connects Quaker and Simon Moon Parks, which provides a safe and enjoyable ride for people of all ages.
- Points of Interest: Asa Bales Park, Simon Moon Park, Old Friends Cemetery Park and Downtown Westfield.