By Ed Fanselow Tribune staff reporter Published October 18, 2001
Thanks to a burgeoning number of bicycle lanes, paths, routes and racks -- as well as a mayor who has loudly championed the cause of bike riding -- Chicago has been named the best big city in America for bicycling, city officials and local bike advocates announced today. The November 2001 issue of Bicycling magazine named Chicago the "Best Cycling City in the United States, for a community with a population of more than 1 million." "No city is faster improving its facilities for cycling," the magazine stated, citing the city's Bicycling Ambassadors education program and recent efforts to equip CTA trains and buses with bike racks. Since 1991, when Mayor Richard Daley announced the formation of a Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council, the city has established more than 100 miles of bikeways and invested millions of dollars in bicycle-related improvements across the city, officials said. Chicago now has more than 6,500 bicycle racks, possibly the most of any municipality in the nation. "It used to be that when we put we put up bike racks, people would say, 'Why do I want this in front of my home or my store?'" said Randy Neufeld, executive director of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. "Now, people are calling their aldermen, begging to get more bike racks." The magazine rated cities on their bicycling infrastructure, the involvement of bicycle advocacy groups, and their bike culture, including clubs, shops and the number of everyday riders. Speaking at a city-organized news conference at Daley Plaza, Chicago, to announce the "Best Cycling City" designation, Neufeld said officials have been wise to be hospitable to the local bicycling culture. "It's a simple matter of physics," he said. "We have a small space with a whole lot of people in it. Driving by yourself in a car does not help that. Bicycling, along with taking public transportation, is the only way to help reduce the terrible congestion that we see and help make this a better, more comfortable place to live." Bicycling also helps reduce air pollution and improves people's physical fitness, he said. But Neufeld and others said the city still can do more. Educating motorists about the rights of bicyclists, for example, would encourage cycling among people fearful of riding in city traffic. Neufeld said his group also is working with the city to increase bicycle ridership among schoolchildren, while city officials said they also are working to improve publicity programs, such as this summer's Bike Chicago festival. That program last month was named the best bicycling event in the nation by the League of American Bicyclists. Copyright � 2001, Chicago Tribune Link to Story: http://chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-011018bike.story?coll=chi%2Dnews%2Dhed Stephano
