See Events, Initiatives Planned For Bicycle Safety Month This May

BATAVIA, IL — Actual spring is nearing in Batavia, meaning residents are getting ready to spend more time outdoors soaking up the sun and fresh air. May is Bicycle Safety Month, and several events are happening to celebrate the month.

The initiatives meant to commemorate Bicycle Safety Month also help keep Batavia on American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Community list, a spot the city has kept since 2013, according to a news release.

Below is a look at biking-related things happening in town this month.

Wednesday, May 4: National Walk Bike & Roll to School Day. On this day, several elementary and middle schools in Batavia are encouraging children to ride their bikes to school.

Monday, May 16: Mayor Jeff Schielke will proclaim this week "Bike Friendly Batavia Week."

Monday, May 16 through Sunday, May 22: National Bike to Work Week. The entire month, as well as this week, celebrates biking as a form of recreation and transportation. According to BikeLeague.org, 40 percent of all trips in the country are to a destination less than two miles away.

Saturday, May 28: WellBatavia Festival. The event is planned as a way to kick off the summer season with health services, holistic wellness, fitness, and environmental and community health vendors. At the festival, Batavia Bicycle Commission will host a booth offering bike evaluations, riding tips and giveaways.

While there are day-long events meant to celebrate Bicycle Safety Month, the city also has a few ongoing initiatives meant to promote biking.

In one aspect, Bikes for Batavia distributes donated bikes — as well as a helmet and lock — to students, adults and families in need. Officials said the program currently has a surplus of 90 bikes to give away. Those who need bikes can contact the group via email.

For those who bike around town, improvements are looming in the future. Staff on the Batavia Bicycle Commission, established in 2009, will conduct a ride this spring in order to investigate the best east-west route for getting across town on a bike, officials said.

Residents who might like to bike but don't want to own one have the option to use Batavia's bike-share program, through the Koloni app. The program allows riders to rent bikes by the hour. Because the program has grown in popularity in recent years, officials said an additional bike rack — there are currently three in the city — will be added to River Street.

The Batavia Police Department is also incorporating bikes into their patrol duties. This summer, the department will have a full-time bicycle patrol officer, officials announced in a news release Monday. The officer will be patrolling the heavy traffic in downtown Batavia.

"The primary mission for the Bicycle Patrol Unit is community engagement with an emphasis on education and promoting bicycle safety," city officials said. "Look for the patrol unit to be rolling in mid to late May."

Police can also help residents find their stolen bikes through an online portal.