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Edwardsville leg of Route 66 Trail-Breaking

Edwardsville is one of the communities holding ceremonies for the League of Illinois Bicyclists' Route 66-Trail Breaking on Saturday, June 2. LIB has maps available for a 15-mile trip from the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge to Edwardsville or a 40-mile trip from Litchfield to Edwardsville. Cyclists can do all or a part of the ceremony. Below is the full text of the press release recently issued by the organizers of the Edwardsville ceremony:

Edwardsville will be a gathering point for bicyclists trail blazing sections of Illinois’ Mother Road, the historic Route 66, on Saturday, June 2.

A rest stop will be available in the Edwardsville City Park and will be staffed from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. to provide water and information to riders coming through town.

Edwardsville will be one of six locations along the route from Chicago to the Missouri border celebrating Route 66 as welcoming to bicyclists, who can ride the distance they choose on trailblazing day.

“This will be a major event for bicyclists and all Route 66 fans,” said Stephanie Robbins, event coordinator. “Route 66 allowed thousands of travelers to stop and sample our community’s local history and special flavor, but the Interstate Highway System changed that. This trailblazing event will allow us to refocus attention on our community on June 2 and attract future travelers on bikes and in cars.”

Ed Barsotti, executive director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists, said, “Bicycling Route 66 gives riders the chance to recapture a bit of the past in an enjoyable, healthy way while imagining what the route was like during its heyday. Our hope is that thousands of bicyclists and others will follow, traveling Route 66 for exhilarating and nostalgic rides.”

"The trail breaking ride is a chance to sample what we believe will be a great recreational and educational experience for bicyclists at all levels from local recreational riders to cross-country tourists," said Donovan Gardner, chair of the Route 66 Trail Executive Committee.

Bicyclists will travel one of 13 sections of the Route 66 Trail all on June 2, covering the entire distance from downtown Chicago, the route’s starting point, to the Mississippi River north of St. Louis. Bicyclists can ride a whole segment or a part of a segment, starting anywhere along the route. Participants can select their own starting times to arrive in the towns at noon. The charted individual segments range from 15-50 miles.

The other towns participating in the trailblazing event with their own festivities are Joliet, Pontiac, Bloomington, Springfield, and Staunton.

For more information on the event, the 13 routes with cue sheets and free registration, go to www.bikelib.org/route66.

Sponsors of the trailblazing event are the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the League of Illinois Bicyclists and the Route 66 Trail Executive Committee.

Labels: cycling, League of Illinois Cyclists, Route 66

Roger 1 comments links to this post 12:29 PM

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Riders needed for Route 66 Trail-Breaking

The League of Illinois Bicyclists is looking for riders -- especially in downstate Illinois -- for the Route 66 Trail-Breaking ride on Saturday, June 2.

Bicyclists and other "trail-breakers" will traverse the entire 369 miles of Illinois' new Route 66 Trail, a route of quieter roads and trails showing off the best of the old "Mother Road." The event will highlight bike tourism on the Route 66 Trail while giving a boost for road and trail improvements along the way.

Bicyclists will each ride one of 14 legs of the Route 66 Trail, simultaneously covering the entire distance of the route. They will converge at six different Route 66 towns, where ceremonies will be held at noon. Cyclists choose from one of these 14 segments, covering the main route and western alternate route. You can ride a whole segment or start anywhere along the way.

In a recent e-mail, LIB Executive Director Ed Barsotti told me that there's been great response to the ride in the Chicago area, but that riders are needed for the segments of the ride leading to ceremonies in Edwardsville and Staunton.

The Edwardsville segments are 15 miles from the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and 40 miles from Litchfield. The Staunton segments are 17 miles from Litchfield, 26 miles from Carlinville and 40 miles from the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.

The Staunton ceremony will have added significance because it includes the dedication of the Leroy Duda Garden, the southern trailhead of the ITS (Illinois Traction System) Trail. The ITS Trail eventually will link Staunton and Benld, and the long-term goal is for it to be part of a trail system that will link St. Louis and Springfield.

Other Route 66 communities where ceremonies will be held are Joliet, Pontiac, Bloomington and Springfield.

The ride is free, but you have to register with LIB. To register or to get more information about the ride, visit http://www.lepirtle.com/lib/route66/rt66form1.cfm.

Labels: cycling, League of Illinois Cyclists, Route 66

Roger 2 comments links to this post 1:15 AM

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Route 66 Trail-Breaking

The League of Illinois Bicyclists is inviting you to be a part of history on National Trails Day 2007, which will be Saturday, June 2. Bicyclists and other "trail-breakers" will traverse the entire 369 miles of Illinois' new Route 66 Trail, a route of quieter roads and trails showing off the best of the old "Mother Road".

Bicyclists and other users will each ride one of 13 legs of the Route 66 Trail, simultaneously covering the entire distance of the route. They will converge at six different Route 66 towns, where ceremonies will be held at noon.

The following communities will be hosting ceremonies: Edwardsville, Staunton, Springfield, Bloomington, Pontiac and Joliet.

The ride is free, but you need to register to get a packet of information and a T-shirt for the event.

You can view the route on these PDF files:
North-to-South
South-to North

Speaking of LIB, the organization is selling Illinois Pedal Power jerseys, and they appear to be a fine addition for any Illinois cyclist's wardrobe. They come in sizes ranging from XS to XXXL. Including postage, the cost of the jersey is $63.05 for LIB members and $69.05 for non-members. To order the jersey, just download this PDF order form, fill it out and send it to LIB.

Also, LIB once again is offering its National Bicycle Month plate for Illinois motorists. The plates are approved for use by the Illinois Secretary of State's office for use during the months of April and May in place of your normal Illinois plates. The plates are $28 and can be order by downloading this PDF form, filling it out and sending it and a copy of your Illinois vehicle registration to LIB.

LIB has done a lot in recent years to promote cycling in the state. LIB received funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation to produce a video on motorist-cyclist safety. Copies of the video have been distributed to 900 high school and private driving education programs and to more than 900 police and sheriff's departments. LIB also has been active in cycling advocacy issues, including the effort to make cyclists intended, rather than permitted, users of Illinois roads.

Labels: cycling, League of Illinois Cyclists, Route 66, trails

Roger 0 comments links to this post 2:13 PM