Where there's a Will, there's a way

Over the weekend I went to Scheels, the new sports superstore behemoth in Springfield. They have a large section of bicycles and riding gear. They did a good job putting bike racks out front. They even have a large statue of a bicycle rider.

And yet, there are no bike lanes on the newly built roads leading to this destination for cyclists. Another episode in city planning brilliance!

This repeats the huge blunder of not extending the bike lanes around UIS onto roads built for the new South 6th Street Wal-mart. It was the perfect opportunity to connect bike lanes on the south end of town to the city center. The opportunity was wasted. Now that the roads are built, we're likely to be stuck with these mistakes for years or decades.

I give credit to planners for redesigning the new MacAruthur I-72 interchange (after intense public pressure) so that it doesn't cut off a recreational bike path. But, cycling isn't just for recreational riders. Bicycle lanes should be included on every new road.

Bike lanes aren't a new, experimental idea to be viewed with skepticism. It should simply be done. There's no excuse for planing our infrastructure with a 1950's car-centric mindset.

I had to get that off my chest.

The store itself is impressively ginormous. They have higher quality gear than other outdoors stores in town. The clothing and shoe sections were nice. The prices seem comparable to REI.

We went on a fun/terrifying Ferris wheel ride inside the store.

They have a talking Abraham Lincoln that delivers the Gettysburg Address.

Seeing the guy in a wet suit feeding fish in their large aquarium was entertaining.

Their 100,000 donation to United Way is commendable. However, the local United Way doesn't support environmental causes. Perhaps Scheels will also give to area conservation and environmental organizations since some of their profits depend on those groups successfully protecting natural areas for people to recreate in. Yes, this hint is self-serving but it makes sense.

Anyway, the store is worth going to see at least once whether or not you buy anything. Just be careful if you try riding your bike there.