May is National Bike Month in the United States, and in many Illinois communities, this week is designated as Bike to Work Week. Organized nationally by the League of American Bicyclists, Bike to Work Week encourages people to leave the car at home and explore riding a bike to the office instead.

More Illinois communities are recognizing the value of building more bike paths and dedicating new bike lanes as a quality-of-life amenity. The state has hundreds of miles of dedicated bike paths, most of which are converted former railroad lines. Cities are also getting in on the act by adding bike lanes to existing streets, increasing the numbers of bike racks and adding bike-sharing services such as Chicago’s Divvy program.

Learn more:
The list of bike trails in Illinois is a great place to get started
If you are interested in bike advocacy, visit the League of Illinois Bicyclists