I watched that video as well. I don't think the interest in riding is down, the boys over at
@Bike Surgeon SOIL are never bored. More people riding = more people breaking things = more repairs. I think people are more risk adverse and tbf, most of the cyclist in the area are not high schoolers/young folks, the rest of us have to work. Let's go ahead and tackle these points 1-by-1.
1. Increase Community Awareness and Interest
- Partner with Local Media: Share stories on local radio, newspapers, and community Facebook groups about the benefits of cycling, upcoming events, and personal cycling success stories in Southern Illinois.
- Host Bike Clinics and Safety Workshops: Offer free or low-cost workshops teaching beginner cycling skills, maintenance, and safety, perhaps in collaboration with local bike shops. Bike shops should do more cycling collaborations.
- Publicize Scenic Routes: Emphasize the beauty of Southern Illinois by promoting scenic routes with beautiful landscapes, especially around landmarks or trails like the Tunnel Hill State Trail. Partner with local influencers to document these routes. Partner with tourism organizations to do bike-themed promotions and week/month events.
I love the idea of partnering with local media. I know I didn't see anything about the Spooky Catalyst anywhere but FB. We have to know someone at the local radio station at least. Bike Surgeon hosted a beginner tubeless tire setup day and no-one came. Slightly discouraging to say the least. I think doing something like this on a weekend would be great, but it's hard to take the time out of the work day to put on a few hour clinic. If this is to be done, we would need a massive push to get the most people there we can. Also, and maybe this isn't actually a fact, but I can see a world where people are too proud or don't think they need help on the bike. These folks probably are the people we should be targeting. On your last point, I'm not sure what we can do besides post the routes in bike shops and online. Hard to get that info into peoples homes.
2. Develop Cycling Infrastructure and Accessibility
- Advocate for Bike Lanes and Trails: Work with local government to increase bike-friendly infrastructure and ensure safe and accessible routes. Public petitions, open discussions, or community surveys can help prioritize these projects.
- Encourage Bike-Friendly Businesses: Create a “Bike-Friendly” business program where participating businesses offer bike racks, discounts, or facilities for cyclists, fostering a cycling-friendly culture.
- Map and Sign Local Routes: Work on creating detailed maps of popular routes with varying difficulties, clear signage, and places of interest for rest stops.
Advocating for bike lanes/trails is all great and all, but maintaining them is the hardest part. This is where the community needs to come together and put tires on trails and pick up after ourselves. Bike-friendly business work really well when they can be directly on a bike path (happened in Lexington KY), but there are very few complete bike routes (mixed used trails) where this can happen. See my last point from section 1 for mapping/signage.
3. Organize Community and Family-Oriented Events
- Host a Monthly “Bike Night”: Create a family-friendly event on a regular basis (e.g., “First Friday Bike Night”) to bring people together for social rides, food trucks, and community fun.
- Local Charity Rides: Organize rides where proceeds go to local causes, allowing people to give back to their community through cycling.
- Cycling Festivals: A yearly Southern Illinois Bike Festival could include races, family rides, a showcase of local biking equipment, and workshops. This would appeal to cyclists of all levels and families.
Southern Illinois is pretty big, especially if you consider anything south of 64 being southern Illinois. Where do we do this? A monthly bike night would be great, Gabe and I have been tooling around with this idea for a while. Maintaining safety with lots of families with small children pose the biggest issue. We have 2 charity rides in SoIL, I think it could increase but that takes time and money. Neither of which I am currently in excess of. I am willing to help bring back the GEO, been on my radar since I moved back to the area.
4. Foster Competitive Spirit with Races and Organized Rides
- Host Beginner-Friendly Races: Organize events where beginners feel welcome, such as short-distance time trials or relay races. This can spark interest in competitive cycling for new riders.
- Create a Southern Illinois Cycling Series: Partner with towns to hold a series of races and rides across Southern Illinois, each focusing on unique local landmarks. A cumulative points system can build excitement and recognition for dedicated participants.
- Add Themed Rides: Consider adding themed or holiday rides to the calendar (e.g., Fall Foliage Ride, Halloween Night Ride), which could attract a wider audience by adding a seasonal element.
I love a beginner friendly race. However, in practice this becomes difficult because you don't want to bore the more experienced racers. We have the SoIL Grand Prix, which has pretty much all the MTB/gravel races across SoIL/Missouri. I mean the Spooky Catalyst race was technically a costume party, although not emphasized.
5. Use Social Media and Digital Platforms
- Build an Online Cycling Community: Start an online group (e.g., a Facebook group or a forum section) dedicated to Southern Illinois cycling where members can share experiences, event details, and group rides.
- Leverage Influencer Partnerships: Collaborate with local outdoor influencers who can promote cycling events and provide tips, ride locations, and highlights of the region’s scenic views.
- Regular Social Media Content: Post daily or weekly cycling tips, route suggestions, and event promotions on Southern Illinois cycling social media channels to keep followers engaged.
This is where I suck and many of the rest of us are bad at, and where this forum can fill the gap.
6. Create Partnerships and Engage Stakeholders
- Collaborate with Local Schools: Introduce school programs that encourage biking to school, possibly in partnership with local governments or organizations for safety.
- Partner with Fitness Groups: Coordinate with running clubs, fitness centers, or outdoor groups to cross-promote cycling as a complementary activity.
- Engage Local Businesses and Tourism Boards: Showcase cycling as a tourism attraction by promoting bike rental services, local accommodations, and dining for visiting cyclists.
The big thing for the local schools is to get a southern Illinois NICA team, youths are how we continually grow the sport. Although the idea has been pitched around casually, if someone is willing to head this up, teams run on sponsors/volunteers. Do we have any running clubs/fitness centers here in the area? We also have the RAIL ride, but that is too taxing for new cyclists. You can rent a bike at most bike shops, but its getting that information out that becomes the challenge.
7. Offer Incentives and Membership Programs
- Incentivize Regular Riders: Set up a rewards program where riders can log miles and win rewards from local businesses or receive discounts on event entries.
- Create a Southern Illinois Cycling Club: Offer membership benefits like access to exclusive rides, discounts on cycling gear, and early entry to popular events. Membership dues can fund local cycling initiatives and infrastructure.
As someone who rides quite a few miles, and can really utilize this, I love the idea of incentives based on miles/hours logged/month/year. This is something that can be pitched to the local coffee shops, bike shops, and shops like the co-op in Carbondale. We do have a cycling club, St. Nicks Cycling Club, where all of those topics are addressed.
These are just some of my thought on these topics. We already have some of this in place, it's just not well publicized. We are great at doing things, but the administrative things we are pretty bad at.
and work together.