On April 25, National Trails Day, over 800 trails throughout central Indiana became united under the Greater Indy Trailways network. A celebration will take place through a region-wide festival, Trailmixer. It began on April 25 and will go through May 3, according to Visit Indy.

For sophomore Ian Priddis, cycling is second nature.

“I come from a family of cyclists,” Priddis said. “I was riding bikes with my dad and mom before I could even walk.”

Living in Carmel, recognized as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly City by the League of American Bicyclists, helps Priddis to pursue his hobby, he said. 

“There are plenty of bike paths or sidewalks to utilize,” Priddis said. “I live off the Monon trail which makes it easy to get to and from school without having to get onto the public roads.”

Health teacher Adam Havice also commutes to school every day on his bike, a three-mile ride. He said the city’s bike-friendly infrastructure makes the journey easier and encourages him to stay consistent. 

“Even if it were longer, it would still be doable with good access to paths and trails like the Monon Trail and trails that connect to it,” Havice said. “Carmel makes biking to school pretty easy, even without many traditional bike lanes. The sidewalks, trails and safe neighborhoods really help. There are even good sidewalks along 146th (Street) that work well for biking.”

Ben Cayley, bicycle mechanic at Carmel Cyclery, said in his 20 years of cycling, Carmel supports biking far more than most cities.

“Hamilton County, in general, is—the infrastructure all over the county is really good, but Carmel is definitely head and shoulders above like Fishers, Westfield and Noblesville,” Cayley said. 

In comparison to driving a car, Priddis said biking allows him to travel quicker and save more time. 

“I figured I can get to school and home faster on my bike than I can riding the bus,” Priddis said. “If I have after-school activities, I don’t have to wait for a ride. I can generally get to places faster on a bike and see things that are harder to see in a car. Also, I don’t have to worry about traffic and don’t have to wait for the carpool lane.”

Similarly, Havice said his morning bike rides get him into a positive mood for the rest of the day. 

“As a health teacher, I’m always talking to students about habits, energy, stress and mental health,” Havice said. “Sitting in traffic every morning didn’t really match the message I was teaching. Mentally, for me, my ride in the morning helps clear my head, reduce stress and puts me in a better mood before I even walk into school. I feel more focused, patient, and ready to teach.”

Priddis agreed and said, “One of the quickest ways to change my mood can be found if I ride my bike.”

Additionally, Havice said there are plenty of other unseen benefits to biking, including cost and sustainability. 

“Biking saves me a little money and helps reduce my carbon footprint,” he said. 

For Cayley, his day is incomplete without a ride. 

“There are days when I don’t ride because of weather or obligations with people or social obligations, and I feel like something is wrong with my day,” Cayley said. “It’s not a full day.” 

Cayley said biking is his only form of exercise. Similarly, Havice said biking makes staying active easier and more exciting. 

“It’s also helped me build a healthy habit that I actually enjoy,” Havice said. “Instead of feeling like exercise is something I have to do, it’s something I look forward to.” 

Overall, Havice said that the impact of biking goes far beyond the commute.  

“Once you get into a routine, biking becomes something you really enjoy and it’s a great way to take care of both your physical and mental health.”