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Area towns, events focus on Route 66 Bikeway
By Scott Richardson
srichardson@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- Normal will host a special event to showcase Route 66 during National Trails Day observances Saturday.

In an event sponsored by the League of Illinois Bicyclists, cyclists from across the state plan to ride sections of the Route 66 Bikeway. The bikeway is the precursor of a Route 66 Trail that will run the 369-mile length of the Mother Road from Chicago to the Mississippi River.

Bicyclists and other trail users will travel on one of 13 legs of the Route 66 Trail to simultaneously cover the entire distance of the route. They'll converge at six Route 66 towns, including Normal, where city officils will host a ceremony to open a new leg of Contitution Trail at noon. Cyclists are due to arrive at 11:30 a.m.

Beginning at 10 a.m., Vitesse Cycle Shop will provide free bicycle checks,. Organizations will also have available summer program guides and activities for the area. Sign up for a drawing for free pool and golf daily passes plus free admission to the Children's Discovery Museum. The Normal Theater will offer ticket giveaways.

The new section of Constitution Trail is 3.4 miles long. It travels from the existing Constitution Trail from the center of town and across the Illinois State University campus before turning north along Adelaide Street to Fairview Park, north to Raab Road and west to Heartland Community College. Tours will be provided from Fairview Park to the proposed Illinois State University Horticulture Center.

Sign up for free registration for the bike rides at www.bikelib.org/route66. Registration includes a T-shirt.

The league says the state of Illinois has realized the potential economic impact of a trail along Route 66, which recently received National Scenic Byway status. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources took steps two years ago toward the goal of a permanent Route 66 trail when the agency convened a committee of public and private groups with an idea to encourage travel along Route 66 at a slower pace.

What emerged was a long-term plan to develop a Route 66 Trail system of off-road paths and comfortable roads for bicycles, equestrians and hikers. The league says the state has made a commitment to begin construction by 2009.

In the meantime, the league has published a Route 66 bikeway route listing important features along the way. The route information is available at the league's Web site.

"Bicycling Route 66 gives riders the chance to recapture a bit of the past in an enjoyable, healthy way while imagining what the route was like during its heyday," said Ed Barsotti, executive director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists. "Our hope is that thousands of bicyclists and others will follow, traveling Route 66 for exhilarating and nostalgic rides."

Donovan Gardner, chairman of the Route 66 Trail executive committee, added: "The trail-breaking ride is a chance to sample what we believe will be a great recreational and educational experience for bicyclists at all levels from local recreational riders to cross-country tourists."

Cyclists plan to ride to Normal from surrounding towns along Route 66.

Lexington plans a send-off ceremony before bikes start the 25-mile trip to Normal's Fairview Park, where the main event is a ribbon-cutting to open a newly completed section of Constitution Trail. The 3.6-mile length connects Normal's uptown commercial district to Illinois State University, Lincoln College and Heartland College. Snacks will be provided and vendors will sell other food.

Pontiac also will be a major gathering point for bicyclists who will be trailblazing sections of Illinois' Mother Road. A ceremony will be at 11:45 a.m. in the parking lot south of the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum on Howard Street.

Joliet plans a kick-off on Route 66 on Saturday with disc jockeys, classic cars, food and a Blues Brothers tribute band. There also will be a sock hop and showings of the movies "Grease" and "Cars." For more, visit www.jolietkicks.com.

Learn more about Route 66 from the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project by calling (217) 525-7980 or by visiting www.illinoisroute66.org. Contact the Route 66 Association of Illinois at (815) 844-4566 or visit www.il66assoc.org.

Take a look
Route 66 will be the focus of events in several towns, including Normal, Pontiac and Joliet, on Saturday, which is National Trails Day. (Pantagraph photo)
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