In just two months at BikeNet, our AmeriCorps member, Elyse Monat, has done significant work in Billings to promote biking and walking.  She has already accomplished several projects BikeNet asked her to do, and has found innovative ways of making it easier for board members, our general BikeNet members and the community to gain information they need about trail-related news.

 

 

 

Looking for a 10-mile route in Billings? Try RouteLoops!

 

First, Elyse was tasked with finding an online interactive map by which runners and cyclists could navigate bike and walk-friendly routes in Billings. With no budget, Elyse resourcefully found RouteLoops, a website that uses the walking and biking features in Google Maps to provide different routes for a user-defined distance.

 

RouteLoops is a fairly limited application, but it is free and fits the needs of those who would like to find a route of a certain distance.  Users log on to https://www.routeloops.com/ and simply enter a home base address, the number of miles they would like to train, and then click on “Create Route of This Length.” This website has the potential to be useful to visitors to town as well as those looking for a bit of variety in their training routine.

 

Most recent trail and lanes have been added to Google Maps

 

Elyse found one problem with RouteLoops, however. Google Maps was not updated, so before the program could be used to its full potential, new trails and bike lanes had to be added. This set Elyse on her second task: to update Billings’ trails and bike lanes in Google Maps. This was helpful for Elyse, too because “as a newcomer to Billings and

a cyclist commuter, I rely heavily on Google maps to figure out how to get around. Planning routes is very important to me in order to avoid dangerous, high-speed roads.”

 

It took Elyse a bit of research to figure out how to do this but eventually she found a user-friendly application called Google Map Maker, which allows anyone with a Google account to suggest updates to the map. Updates must then be approved by a fellow Map Maker user. After approval, the changes go live on Google Maps.

 

“Having accurate information about trails is also important for recreational walkers, cyclists, and runners who want to find safe places to get some exercise, sometimes away from traffic. As a result, Kristi and I decided that it would be a priority to get Google Maps up to date,” explains Elyse.

 

Ever been told to “ride on the sidewalk?”  

 

Next, we asked Elyse to begin researching and creating a motorist and cyclist awareness campaign, which would include public service announcements reminding cyclists to obey laws and be predictable, and letting motorists know what it’s like to be a bicyclist. Elyse began researching comments provided by both motorists and cyclists on social media and in newspaper feedback, talking to Billings residents about their concerns and noting issues from campaigns in other communities.

 

Now armed with information about attitudes, behaviors and pinch points specific to Billings, Elyse will be coordinating a campaign which will include public service announcements, presentations, social media posts and events to promote healthy, cooperative behavior on our roads and trails. If you would like to give input we will hold some focus groups within the next month, to assist her with designing the right messages. Please contact Elyse if you would like to be included in the focus group, at elyse@bikenet.org.

 

Where do we need bike lanes most in Billings?

 

As she researched safe road sharing, Elyse found another important tool which could be useful in promoting new bicycling and walking infrastructure by providing local accident data, reported by victims.

 

Elyse explains that “reporting your accident data is important. Other cyclists will be able to look on the map and better understand which areas to avoid. The map will also help BikeNet and the other powers that be to understand which parts of town most need increased bicycle safety infrastructure.”

 

The website “BikeMaps.org” allows people all over the world to submit bicycle related data. Billings residents can now submit reports regarding bike collisions, near misses, hazards, official reports, and bike thefts. These reports will then be displayed anonymously on the map.

To read more on reporting accident data and to learn how to use BikeMaps.org, please click here.

 

BikeNet Calendar

Upon the suggestion of our board, Elyse added a calendar to our website. You can find it under the Events tab of our website. We plan to use the calendar to post future BikeNet events so be sure to check back for updates!