INDYCOG Partnering With Sun King Brewing Company to Educate Indianapolis Motorists and Cyclists

by Kevin Whited

Sun King Brewing Company is partnering with INDYCOG to deliver a message of mutual respect on our roadways. Our Coaster Safety Program consists of six messages: three directed at drivers and three at cyclists. These messages are designed to educate the two road users on what they can do to cut down on conflict and be safer on the roadways. Sun King will be printing these messages on one side of the thousands (20,000 thousand to be exact) of drink coasters that they distribute to bars and restaurants in the Indianapolis area.

The first two messages began circulating in late August, and we'll roll the other four messages out with other microbreweries in the area. If you are a brewer and want to get involved, please feel free to contact us. Both INDYCOG and Sun King Brewing Co. felt that as the incidence of motorist vs. cyclists crashes have increased (see study commissioned by Bicycle Indiana and completed by the Indiana University Public Policy Institute) that we needed to get information out to the general public to help combat and mitigate these incidence. If we look at the growth of cycling in other cities, this increase in crashes is to be expected. When bicycle usage begins to increase, drivers aren't use to the new road users and conflicts ensue. On a positive note, as more people ride bicycles on our roadways, drivers become more aware and the incidence of crashes tend to flatten out or decrease. The goal of our educational campaign is to let drivers and cyclists know what they need to do to peacefully coexist on Indy's roadways. And what better place to learn about these things then when you're relaxed at your favorite eating or drinking establishment. Watch the website for our artwork and messaging as we roll out the Coaster Safety Program over the next several months.

Unfortunately, we (Indianapolis) don't have bicycle traffic count numbers but that will be changing soon. The City of Indianapolis will be installing an electronic traffic counter, on a test basis, on one of the bike lanes downtown. Furthermore, INDYCOG will be partnering with the city and a few other nonprofits to help the city conduct manual counts in the fall. Stay tuned - we will need volunteers for the momentous task.