Almost hit one today....

Goshen and Fort Wayne are really the only places I see as having anything, but they don't seem to have much in the way of a circuit.

We implemented a LOT of bike lanes out where I was a few months ago, and it has made a world of difference as to where the cyclists are riding. They only ever ride on the street on this one road where there's no alternative (parking on either side of the road, no bike lane, just 'sharrows').

As a matter of fact though, I'm actually dealing with a city right now on this very issue. They've built about six miles of bicycle pathway, and are struggling to understand why bicyclists are still riding in the street.

The problem is, the bike paths don't go to places that people actually want to go (the train station, the downtown district, the mall, residential areas, the canal pathway, etc.,)

Unfortunately, it hasn't been added to google maps yet, but I'm discussing with them the possibility of forming a 'loop' around the city, and then building several ways into the heart of the city, or at least a cross. Chicago did this with the Elgin railway and their loop. The Netherlands have done this to great effect, as well. The problem is that while the paths they've built are nice for an evening out, most bicyclists are out to get groceries, or are out to get to work, or are on their way to visit a friend- it's all well and good that the path goes through the very nice woods, but it's also completely meaningless.

See also: /r/desirepath to kind of get a grip as to where I'm going with this. The planners built where they could for the cheapest amount. The pathway meanders a considerable bit before it found a cost-effective crossing over a major interstate, and then goes over before re-merging the bikes back into traffic. For the most part, bicyclists ignore it and take the road for the total distance, because to them, it's a difference between riding two miles out of the way (another 20 minutes), or running a major risk on the street, but getting to your destination immediately.

That's a real no-brainer.

/r/funny Thread Link - i.imgur.com