Creating safe and accessible bikeways is a major focus of an Indiana group tasked with trying to expand and connect trails across the state. The Indiana Bike Trails Task Force met last week to discuss funding and safety recommendations.
The state legislature created the task force of state and city officials last year. Pete Fritz is the Healthy Communities Planner with the Indiana State Department of Health. He says designing bikeways is just like designing roadways. For both, safety is a main concern.
"It's inherent with any kind of bicycle planning and education and even enforcement activity that goes on," he says.
The group will release its findings by July 2019. They will include proposals for funding and a timetable for trail extensions. The Task Force meets again in June.