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player ready...Steve Buchtel (right), director of communications for the Chicago Bicycle Federation, has been helping riders throughout the metropolitan area by fighting for accommodation of bicycles in the region’s transportation plans to make the sport safe, convenient and fun. The Markham resident has been with the organization, founded in 1985 and with a membership of about 2,500, for three years.
Q: How long have you been cycling, and what was your longest ride?
A: I’ve been cycling the past eight years or so. My longest ride was 138 miles between Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne, Ind. The ride was just something I did with a buddy.
Q: What tips do you offer bicyclists?
A: Take advantage of the warm weather and remember to wear a helmet. And when you’re on the street, act like a car. Drivers know what to expect of you then. Always ride with traffic, not against it.
Q: Is the Chicago Bicycle Federation’s main effort to plot more bicycle-safe roads?
A: Some of that has already been done. There’s a Chicago Area Transportation Study plan . . . and bicycle and pedestrian plans were written (into it) by the Chicago Bicycle Federation. For each new road or improvement project, the Chicago Bicycle Federation and the League of Illinois Bicyclists, a statewide organization, offer input (to the Illinois Department of Transportation) to determine the feasibility of accommodating bicycles. A few examples are major thoroughfares in Chicago, including Roosevelt Road and King Drive, that have bicycle lanes as part of the city’s efforts to reduce short trips by car.
Q: What bike paths do you recommend in the south and southwest suburbs?
A: I like the Tinley Creek Trail. I pick it up at 167th Street and Cicero Avenue, and I can take it all the way to Orland Park or (take) it as far as Worth.
Q: Around the world, people use bikes for transportation. Here, bikes are used primarily for recreation. Will we ever change our approach?
A: The rest of the world is so dependent on bicycles for a few reasons. I think the leading factor is the price of gasoline, and many cities are so densely packed that there’s little space for cars. People in the U.S. are already becoming dissatisfied and want to change their car use. They’re looking for communities with town centers that have easy access either by biking or walking.