Even as the clouds gathered and the weather turned, dodging raindrops wasn’t enough to stop the cyclists on Bike to Work Day.
DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, along with other board members and employees, as well as members of local biking groups, all donned their helmets to help encourage the alternative transportation.
“You know, we have a beautiful system of bike trails throughout the county,” said Cronin. “We’ve invested a lot of money and a lot of public resources into this trail system. You know what, get out there and try it, it’s great.”
Over the last 20 years, a growing percentage of Americans have elected to ditch traffic and break out their bicycles instead.
According to Census Bureau statistics, biking to work increased 60 percent from 2000 to 2012 and continues to climb today.
DuPage County currently supports over 500 miles of trails, many of which are welcome to cyclists.
And whether your interest in biking is rooted in pure exercise, a needed break from traffic or an increasing awareness of the environmental benefits of bicycling, there is plenty of room on the bike paths.
Naperville News 17’s Peter Medlin reports.
