FOUR SUNDAYS in MAY by Jim Storms

Jim Storms

Nationwide interest in bicycling prompted the staff members of the Oak Park Recreation Department to give considerable thought to promoting family bicycling. As a result, last year a family bicycling program entitled "Four Sundays in May" was initiated.

Previous attempts to develop bicycle paths had been thwarted because of lack of open land— Oak Park is completely surrounded by other communities. To circumvent this problem, the Department worked on a new idea—develop a temporary bike route for a family ride within the community. Various aspects of the ride were taken into consideration during planning:

1. How could a safe protected bicycle route, taking in points of community and architectural significance, be created when there is no such route presently in existence ?

2. How long should the route be to allow both youngsters and Senior Citizens to participate without excessive exertion?

3. If cyclists use the streets,

a) how should the people be supervised, and

b) how should the automobile traffic be kept from segmenting the group?

4. How would a large group of cyclists be oriented to the trip and their formation to minimize confusion?

5. What safety precautions would be needed?

To solve the first two problems, a figure-eight shaped route was planned using the right lane of Village side streets. The center of the figure-eight served both as the starting point and also as a mid-point rest stop where the cyclists could purchase refreshments.

Tackling the third problem were ten to fifteen "outriders" who supervised the cyclists, keeping them in orderly lines and handling emergency situations. Rotating safety guards controlled traffic with large stop signs as the cyclists approached busy corners. At the front and rear of the procession were a police escort and a maintenance vehicle, respectively. Radio contact between these two aided in keeping the ride moving at a good pace.

In order to solve the last two problems, we had the riders form a line themselves on a closed street while we distributed sheets of safety hints.

The total length of the ride was eleven miles, and took approximately two hours with a rest stop. We received good publicity, and the average number of people per Sunday was 200. The program was so successful that we plan to repeat it.

For the many communities that do not yet have a bikeway or a bike route, this program could be the successful beginning of a more permanent program. Citizen enthusiasm and interest might very well help to form a bicycle club, expand trips, and finally establish a permanent bikeway system in your community.

(Editor's note: Jim Storms is Community Center Director for the Oak Park Recreation Department.)

Sunday bicycling has become popular with both the young and the old, the single and the family.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 4 March/April, 1974