Carmel Pedals/CIBA Tour De Thursday Dinner Ride Resumes April 6

The popular Carmel Pedals Tour De Thursday Dinner Ride resumes on Thursday, April 6, with the ride to begin at 6:30 PM. The ride starts from the Bike in Line City Center, from the parking lot in the back of the store (the entrance is just west of Rangeline on City Center Drive).

Riders of all abilities and ages are invited to join Carmel Pedals each Thursday evening for a relaxed 8-12 mile ride on trails, paths and neighborhoods less traveled. Afterwards, all riders are invited to join a optional group social for food and brew. #NoOneLeftBehind

Bicycle Helmets Are Required. If you plan on joining us for dinner, lights and reflective gear are STRONGLY recommended for your ride home.

You can learn more about other CIBA rides and events at CIBARIDE.ORG.

Bike Carmel - City to Sponsor 3 Bicycle Events in 2017

Bike Carmel is a new bicycle promotion initiative by the city of Carmel, and will sponsor 3 events during 2017.  Here are the dates and available details for the planned events.

• Safe Summer Cycling - Saturday, May 20, 10 am to 2 pm, co-sponsored by the Carmel Fire Department. The focus for this event summer cycling safety for youths and adults. Location to be announced.
• Ride, Dine and Dance - Saturday, July 1, 6 pm to 11 pm - Main Street and Rangeline. An evening starting with multiple distance bike rides, followed by an assortment of dining options along Main Street, wrapped up with a live band and dancing under the stars.
• The final event with be Sunday, August 13, details available later this summer.

You can learn more by following Bike Carmel on Facebook - www.facebook.com/bikecarmel/

Monon Greenway to be widened through Midtown, Arts & Design District

From the City of Carmel Website:

CARMEL, IN –The City of Carmel announced today a major widening and expansion of the popular Monon Greenway through the heart of Midtown and the Arts & Design District – a new Monon Boulevard that will transform the current 12-foot wide path into a multi-faceted 140-foot wide right-of-way section that will include new dedicated lanes for cycling, buffer zones, sidewalks, green spaces, one-way streets with additional parking on either side of the trail and a new Midtown Plaza at 4th Street SW near the Allied Solutions corporate headquarters.

The expanded trail will serve a rapidly growing Midtown redevelopment area where the city is partnering with private developers to create a new, vibrant corridor connecting our City Center and Arts & Design redevelopment districts, which will include a mix of offices, restaurants, retail and residential units in what was once city’s primary industrial area.

Plans call for work to begin by July of 2017 and take about 12 months to complete.

Read the full press release: http://www.carmel.in.gov/index.aspx?recordid=1717&page=25.

Upcoming Events - February 2017

Even when February chills keep you from riding, there are plenty of bicycle activities in central Indiana.


CIBA Winter Swap Meet
When: Sat, February 4, 11am – 4pm
Where: Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant Street, Noblesville, IN, United States

The CIBA Swap Meet will offer a great selection of deals from the closets and garages of cyclists like you (and bikes shops) from across Indiana. And if you don’t sell it, you don't have to take it home! You can donate your used bikes and related items to Freewheelin’ Community Bikes before you leave the swap meet.

Details and registration at www.cibaride.org
Director/Contact: Jason Ochoada, swap@cibaride.org.

CIBA's Annual Swap meet - Indiana's largest.

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2017 CIBA/IndyPL Speaker Series - February 

Willie Weir - TIVA TO TEKOA: A Rescue Dog Travels a Rescued Trail.

When: Wednesday, February 15, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Where: IndyPL Central Library, 40 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA

WILLIE WEIR is the author of Travels with Willie and Spokesongs, a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine and is known to public radio listeners for his commentaries aired on KUOW in Seattle, Washington. His writings have appeared in newspapers across the country and earned him a gold and bronze Lowell Thomas Award, given by the Society of American Travel Writers. He has cycled over 60,000 miles throughout the world.


2017 CIBA/IndyPL Speaker Series - March 

Greg Ballard - Former Indianapolis Mayor - Why Mobility Options are Important

When: Wednesday, March 15, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Where: IndyPL Central Library, 40 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA (map)

Indy's #1 Cyclist, is now nationally known for innovation and boldness amongst mayors for his support of the development of a “cycling culture” in Indianapolis.

Complete details on these and other Central Indiana Bicycling Association events at www.cibaride.org.

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Follow Carmel Pedals on Facebook

Bike to Farmers Market with Carmel Pedals

May is National Bike Month, and the perfect time to introduce your non-cycling friends to bicycling. Central Indiana Bicycling Association and The Bike Line of Carmel.

  With that in mind Carmel Pedals would like to invite you to join us for Carmel Pedals Bike to the Farmer's Market, a new, novice and family friendly cycling event hosted by Carmel Pedals,

You can join either of our Bike Trains from 2 Carmel locations for a short ride, starting at 9:00 AM, to the Carmel Farmer’s Market.  Free bike parking will let you enjoy the shops and treats of Farmer’s Market.  You can explore more on your own, or join the return Bike Trains, departing at 11:30 AM.

Special Bonus:  Anyone biking to the Carmel Farmers Market on Saturday May 21st can register to win a Saris SuperBones Car Rack, sponsored by Saris and Carmel Pedals.

What is a Bike Train? Bike Trains are casual group rides led by an experienced cyclist, the Conductor.  Each Bike Train Conductor acts as a guide and aide along the short 4-5 mile route.  Addition volunteers will be assisting each Conductor based on the number of pre-registered riders.

When:  Saturday, May 21, 8:30 AM to Noon
Where – 2 Start Locations, rides depart at 9:00 AM
West Side: Smokey Row Elementary, 900 West 136th Street
East Side: Forest Dale Elementary, 10721 Lakeshore Drive West

Destination:  The Carmel Farmers Market (www.carmelfarmersmarket.com) - Carmel’s Center Green, located adjacent to the Palladium

Return:   Bike Trains for return will depart about 11:30 AM

Helmets are required.
Youth rider guidelines: Young riders should be riding full bicycles and capable of riding the full distance (there is no vehicle support for this event).  While paths will be used on all routes, they will be using street crossings.  Youth bicycle trailers, child seats and Trail-a-bikes are also welcome.  NOTE: Children must be accompanied by an adult rider.  No Drop-Offs Please.

Carmel Pedals is new bicycle advocacy organization being formed to serve the needs of the Carmel’s diverse cycling community.  Carmel Pedals believes an effective Bicycle Advocacy organization is essential if our common interests are to be represented in the shaping the change that is coming.  Learn more at www.facebook.com/indiana.carmelpedals.

Why do bicyclists in Carmel need a voice?

(This summary was first presented to interested members of the Carmel cycling community in early 2016. )

Change is coming to Carmel:

• Change in how we live – more apartments, and senior living, with changing demographics and population density
• Change in where we work – more large scale, regional headquarters
• Change in how we get around – transportation projects to support larger employers, with a more mixed work force

Effective Bicycle Advocacy is essential if our common interests are to be represented in the shaping the change that is coming.  The goal for Carmel Pedal organizers is to create a broad interest Bicycling Community that can work for greater Safety and Facilities advocacy.

Create a Community

• Bring together casual riders, utility riders and enthusiasts to form a stronger voice, while demonstrating the breadth of community support for bicycling
• Identify the true needs of the cycling community, and identify specific problem areas
• Connect more new riders to the other regional, state and national resources

Safety Advocacy

• Law Enforcement - A dialog with local enforcement on their concerns, based on what they observe, what they enforce, and the complaints they hear concerning cycling.
• Cycling Community - Continuing the dialog in communicating these concerns with local cyclists
• Non-Cycling Community  - a safety message for those we share roads and trails with.

Facilities Advocacy

• Recreation – Connectivity must be made essential part of current trail network
• Road – road design must consider cyclists needs where path intersect and when the trail ends
• The Last Mile – destinations must be bicycle friendly, offering, safe, secure bicycle facilities that also support the needs of both casual riders and bicycle commuters

This summary is only starting point, and what we can accomplish depends on participation from all members of the bicycling community.  To learn more and stay touch, follow us on the Carmel Pedals Facebook page, or sign-up for Carmel Pedals emails.