August Theme Day: Bicycles

I was wondering what sort of pictures I would 

use to illustrate today's theme.

Unlike more sophisticated/progressive cities 

the world over, Indianapolis has only, in recent years, 

begun to urge people to commute to work and 

to do their errands using bicycles as a convenient, 

environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

That has started to change in dramatic fashion,

as many of the city's streets now have

bike lanes, and the city buses are all equipped

with bike racks to aid people who both

ride the bus and use their bikes to commute.

On Saturday, today, the 8th Annual Mass Ave Criterium 

was held. Utilizing a street course 

laid out in the neighborhood just northeast of 

downtown Indy, the MAC is a cycling event made up 

of timed races for riders of various categories of experience 

and ages, male and female. (As I type this,

the Men's Pro 90-minute race has just started.)

While it's a joy to see so many lean, fit people,

I find the sport about as interesting as some folks 

find drying paint. However, entire families showed up,

both to compete and/or to watch the races.

The little girl above was accompanying her father,

attached to his bike on a sort of third wheel,

while the father below brought his son and daughter

to watch the races.

Earlier this year, the city also initiated a system 

of bicycle rental kiosks. Yeah, yeah, while this is popular

in other countries, Indy has been slow to adapt, 

but the people have not. The bicycles have proved 

to be very popular with both citizens and visitors alike; 

I often pass by kiosks that are virtually empty of bicycles 

as they have all been taken for use.

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