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*****PRESS RELEASE FROM CITY OF ELKHART

ELKHART INVITES PEOPLE TO TRY NEW BICYCLE ROUTES

May 10, 2012 – In preparation for Michiana Bike-to-Work Week, the City of Elkhart is inviting area commuters to try three new bicycle routes. The routes are available year round, but the city is planning an introduction, Sunday, May 20, 2:00 – 5:00 pm at NIBCO Water and Ice Park on the RiverWalk in downtown Elkhart.

This event is planned for the day before Michiana Bike-to-Work Week, giving people an opportunity to try the routes before participating in Bike-to-Work Week. Representatives of the City and Bike Elkhart will be on hand to explain the routes if anybody has questions. Volunteers will ride each route at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. If needed, maps will be available. The rain date is Monday, May 21, 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

These three routes connect to the RiverWalk by selected city streets, which are designated with signs and street markings. Combined, the routes cover more than eight miles.
Click Here for Elkhart Bikeways Overview Map

The Green Route connects to the RiverWalk at Baldwin Street on the north side of High Dive Park. From Baldwin, it continues east, across Johnson Street, then connects to Dearborn Street to Greenleaf Boulevard and ends at CR 15 where the new county bike path starts.
Click Here for Green Route Map (Greenleaf Blvd)

The Brown Route follows the RiverWalk to Prairie Street, then resumes at the York Woods Apartments path and American Park. It crosses Goshen Avenue at Blazer Boulevard where it uses James Street and Kenwood to connect to Wood Street, continuing east until Wood Street ends.
Click Here for the Brown Route Map (Wood Street)

The Yellow Route connects to the RiverWalk at the south edge of High Dive Park. It follows Crawford Street to Edwardsburg Avenue. The route turns south on Edwardsburg and connects with Riverside, which it follows until Strong Avenue. The route continues west on Strong Avenue until it ends at Mary Daly Elementary or across the bridge at West Side Middle School.
Click Here for the Yellow Route Map (Strong Ave)

Maps will be available on the city’s web site, www.elkhartindiana.org/bikes and Bike Elkhart’s web site, www.bikeelkhart.org, and at Elkhart Bicycle and Family Bicycle.

The routes were among the routes suggested by the Pedal Panel, which was formed by Mayor Dick Moore to investigate the “bicycle friendliness” of Elkhart. Lower traffic counts and access were among the factors that serve the new routes.

****END PRESS RELEASE FROM CITY OF ELKHART


Maplehart-Pumpkinvine Trail Connection Complete!
I rode it Tuesday, 11/15/11, and the new "Goshen Connection" bikeway is 100% complete connecting the south end of the Maplehart trail on Wilden Ave. to the Pumpkinving trailhead on the north side of Goshen.  I live by Concord HS and get on the Maplehart at CR13 and ride out to the end of the PVT at CR33 for a 28-mile roundtrip ride on 100% bike path!  I can also add miles by going in and around Ox Bow park or go north to Elkhart to the Sterling Ave. bike lane and on into Elkhart and the Elkhart bike paths.  Elkhart cyclists now have "trail" access to Goshen and the Pumpkinvine and vice versa.  (See pictures of the Pumpkinvine Trail on the Photo Gallery tab.)



BLOOM & ZOOM BIKE RIDE - Was a big success!!  It took place on Saturday, August 20, 2011, 7a - 10a start on the north side of Nibco Water Park, Nibco Parkway, Elkhart, IN, with four ride lengths: 10, 20, 40, and 62-mile routes.  We had approximately 140 riders.  Not bad for a first-year event! 

Ride Description:  Quilt garden focused, town & country rides with a high percentage of each ride on bike paths or designated bike routes. Each route passes several quilt gardens and other scenic areas of Elkhart and Elkhart County.  Bloom & Zoom benefited Habitat for Humanity and Bike Elkhart.

10-mile Family Ride - through the parks and along the St. Joseph river, passing Ruthmere and Wellfield quilt gardens on the return.   10-mile map.  10-mile cue sheet (directions).

20-mile ride on the MapleHeart Trail to the Old Bag Factory and back.  SAG stop and Quilt Garden at the Bag Factory, then pick up Ruthmere and Wellfield on the return.  Click here for the 20-mile map.   Here for 20-mile cue sheet.

40-mile ride down to the Old Bag Factory on the Mapleheart Trail, then out to Middlebury along the Pumpkinvine Trail and beautiful county roads, then up to Bristol, and back to Elkhart along the river.  Passes nine quilt gardens.  Click here for the 40-mile map.  Here for the 40-mile cue sheet.

62-mile (100k) town and country tour with a quilt garden theme.  SAGs and quilt gardens in Wakarusa, Goshen, Middlebury, Bristol, and Elkhart.  Passes 11 quilt gardens.  Click here for 62-mile map.  Here for 62-mile cue sheet.

Brochure and registration form available at www.habitatec.com Elkhart County Habitat for Humanity website.


Welcome to the Bike Elkhart web site!  Bike Elkhart is a grass-roots bicycling advocacy group that is working to improve conditions for cyclists in the City of Elkhart and surrounding county areas through:
1) Safety education of cyclists and motorists,
2) Development of bike lanes and bike ways in and around Elkhart, and
3) Support of cycling as a transportation alternative.

License Plate

Display your pedal passion on your plate 




UPDATE - The Bicycle Indiana license plate is available to order click HERE to go to the BMV website and order yours!


In just a few months, you’ll be able to tell the world you’re a cyclist even when you’re driving – and, at the same time, support safe cycling throughout the state.

Bicycle Indiana’s I Share the Road license plate will be available January 1, 2011. Put one on your vehicle for $40 above the usual cost of your plate and the state will send $25 to Bicycle Indiana to support its efforts to improve bicycling in Indiana.

Learn more about the license plate, sign up to receive updates and indicate your interest in reserving a low plate number by filling out this form License Plate. And thanks to all of you who signed the petition to help make this happen.

Questions? Read this Q&A from the BMV: BMV Notes



Our website is brand new and in its infancy.  Please check back soon and often as we add content and become a robust cycling resource for the community of Elkhart, Indiana.