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Pedaling forward

Robert Herrington
Matt and Teresa Skelton ride along the Asa-Freedom loop. (Photo by Robert Herrington)

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

Little Eagle Creek Loop

Asa-Freedom Loop

Monon-Midland Inner Loop

Monon-Midland Outer Loop

Northwest Border Loop

Midland-Cool Creek Loop

Asa-Simon Line

 


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