THE GREAT RIVER ROAD BIKE DAY

By Tom Weathers

Over 3000 bicyclists participated in the Great River Road Bike Day, whose purpose was to get families out and to get people oriented toward the bicycling idea.

One side of the Great River Road was blocked off 6.2 miles, from Alton to Piasa Harbor. It was perhaps the first time in Illinois that a highway was closed off to allow bicycling. Permission to close the road was obtained through Senator Sam Vadalabene and Governor Dan Walker. Senator Vadalabene is the father of bike trail legislation in Illinois.

Several rest stops were placed along the route where soda and candy were sold and expert help obtained for bike repairs. The Alton Bike shop repaired 135 bikes during the day.

SENATOR SAM VADALABENE, father of Illinois bikeway legislation prepares to participate in the Great River Road Bike Day.

A special feature of the event was the giving away to the first 950 bicyclers, whip safety flags, donated by Honda Motorcycle Sales Company. All riders were required to register and pay a dime for insurance provided by the St. Louis Youth Hostels.

Types of bikes included three wheelers, unicycles, and of course, bicycles built for two. Participants ranged in age from kindergarten to people in their 70's. Even preschoolers took part as they sat in seats on bikes, pedaled by their parents. One man even carried his dog in a handlebar basket. Although there were a lot of sore muscles at the end of the day, casualties were few and minor. The area police, Alton Volunteer Emergency Corps, Local Radio Club and the State Highway and Conservation Departments helped keep the day safe.

The Bike Day was sponsored by American Youth Hostels, Inc., and coordinated by Piasa Bicycle Trails, the Alton Parks and Recreation Dept., the Junior Service League of Alton and the Y.M.C.A.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 September/October, 1975