Bike Indianapolis works with city officials and other organizations to ensure that our public facilities are bicycle friendly. This includes bike lanes, bike trails, greenways, and even bike parking.
We are actively involved with local groups including the Indianapolis Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council (IMBAC), the Complete Streets Coalition, the Indianapolis Cycle Commuter Task Force, and the Indianapolis Greenways Development Committee. In addition, we work with Bicycle Indiana on statewide initiatives that impact central Indiana bicycling and are active in national bicycle organizations including the League of American Bicyclists, People for Bikes, and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.
Our efforts have helped to extend the Monon Trail hours and to pass an Indianapolis Complete Streets ordinance. We continue to advocate for better bicycle facilities and ordinances throughout central Indiana. If you have suggestions, please contact us.
Advocacy Resources
Bike Indianapolis is a part of a larger group of local, state, and national organizations working to improve bicycling throughout the United States. Our efforts in central Indiana are coordinated with these organizations.
- Central Indiana Regional Transport Authority
- Indy Greenways
- Reconnecting to our Waterways
- Strong Indy
- Bicycle Indiana
- Greenways Foundation
- Health by Design
- Hoosier Mountain Bike Association
- Hoosier Rails to Trails Council
State and Local Ordinances
Indiana Bicycle Laws are contained in Indiana Code Title 9, Article 21, Chapter 1
The city of Carmel bike laws are contained in city ordinance D-2137- 13
The city of Fishers bike ordinance is contained in city ordinance, chapter 73
The town of Avon bike laws are contained in city ordinance Chapter 8, Article 12
Trails & Greenways
Central Indiana has an ever growing system of bike trails and multi-use paths and greenways, in addition to the many roads with bike lanes. Here are links to notable ones in the area.
You can find more information on trails in Indiana at these sites.
Bike Theft Prevention
Bike Indianapolis has partnered with Bike Index to help you register, report, and recover your bike should it get stolen. You should know that most stolen bicycles do not get recovered, so prevention is the most important step. With enough time, a determined bike thief will most likely succeed in taking your bike. You need to make your bike the hardest bike to steal.
Prevention:
- First, register your bike with Bike Index using the form below. This is a national database for bicycles. If you’re registered people can look up your bike and determine if it was stolen from you.
- Then, spend some money on a high quality bike lock or at least one whose cost is proportional to how much you like your bike. Research has shown that heavy duty U-locks in combination with a heavy gauge chain work best (see image below). Do not lock your bike up with just a cable!
- Always lock your bike to fixed objects like bike racks, signs (only after you checked that they can’t be pulled from the ground), parking meters, etc. Again, just make sure that these objects are firmly affixed to the ground.
- Lock your bike in well-lit and well-travelled areas and if you consistently go to the same destination (think daily commute), don’t lock it up in the same location every day.
- Find indoor secure bike parking if you can. Many buildings are offering bike parking rooms for tenants. Some offices allow employees to bring bikes inside. Public indoor parking like the Indy Bike Hub are beginning to appear as well as bike lockers.
- Lock your wheels, especially if you have quick release skewers. You can also take the front wheel with you, and if you can only lock one wheel, make it the rear since they are more expensive to replace.
Don’t lock your bike like this!
- Write your name or initials on the frame with a Sharpie and cover it with several layers of packing tape. A thief can remove the tape and marker but it will take some time and they want a bike they can sell quickly & easily.
- Take photographs and save them somewhere safe (i.e. Bike Index.)
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- You and your bike
- Of anything special about your bike
- The serial number which is located on the bottom bracket shell (the area underneath your bike where your pedals/crank arms meet). If you can’t find the serial number of your bike ask your bike shop to help. Often they keep records and can tell you. At the least they can help you look for it (it’s not always on the bottom bracket.)
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Report:
It is important for you to file a police report quickly so you can get your bike back if it’s found. The more documentation you have, the better your chances of getting to ride your bike again.
- Gather your important bike info
- Serial number
- Receipt, if purchased new or used at a shop
- Photographs, if you have them
- File a police report using the non-emergency number. In Indianapolis, the number is 317-327-3811.
- Mark you bike as stolen in Bike Index.
- Follow @StolenBikesIndy. Most of the local bike shops, pawn shops, law enforcement agencies, and anyone interested will be following this Twitter feed as well.
Recovery:
- Check the @StolenBikesIndy to see if anyone has responded.
- Check Craig’s List & Ebay to see if the thief has listed your bike. If you find it, contact law enforcement. Do not try to recover the bike on your own.
- Fill out the form below and make several copies. Keep one at home (with pics), roll up one and place inside handlebars and finally, slide one in your seatpost. This will help identify your bike if it is ever stolen and you or the police find it.
- So I found my bike…Now what?
- If it is returned to you, please notify the police and cancel your report. It wouldn’t be good if you get pulled over for riding your own bike and don’t have the documentation to prove it is yours. Also go the Bike Index site and change the status from stolen.
- If you see someone riding your bike, be careful if you decide to approach the person. He (yes most bike thieves are male) could become violent. You should call the police if the situation allows, but be sure you have the documentation to prove that it is your bike.