The perfect Valentine's Day gift

This Valentine's Day (THIS Sunday), who could resist a person who gives a thoughtful gift of healthy, yummy, ...did I mention chocolate? INDIANAPOLIS CULTURAL TRAIL MIX? 

What better way to say "Gee, I REALLY like you!" than with the one and only Indianapolis Cultural Trail mix made by local chocolatier Elizabeth Garber at the Best Chocolate in Town, 880 Mass Ave., located just across from the Cultural Trail construction near Davidson St. 

Each bag is $7 with $1 going toward the Cultural Trail's Maintenance Endowment, which will be matched by the Margot L. and Robert S. Eccles Charitable Fund, a CICF Fund.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Brown Bag Lunch: Next Tues., Feb. 16

Bring your lunch, questions and curiosity to the monthly Cultural Trail brown bag lunch, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the English Foundation Building Efroymson Board Room, 615 N. Alabama St. (northeast corner of North St. and Alabama St.) 

New study: Build it and they will be safer, healthier

It's really no surprise that a new study reports that cyclists and pedestrians are more likely to ride and walk if there is a separate, safer path to use.  

Yet, numbers talk so it's very helpful to have real data to back up what the Cultural Trail has been talking about all along. 

The Alliance for Biking and Walking issued a report this week: Bicyclng and Walking in the United States: The 2010 Benchmarking Report. The following are just a few outcomes that demonstrate how the Cultural Trail and other bicycle/walking infrastructure will help make Indianapolis a safer and healthier community.

Dedicated bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure will:

• increase the number of people walking or biking
• make it safer for these users and decrease traffic fatalities
• increase wellness - states with highest number of cyclists/walkers also have the lowest levels of diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure

Click here for the full report. 

Construction update

As the weather permits, construction continues.  
Here's what's planned in February:

North Corridor
(see map - Alabama St. and North St. west to Indiana Ave. and Blackford St.) 
Currently on hold pending utility work and weather issues. 

Northeast Corridor
(see map - Alabama St. and North St. northeast to 10th St. and the Monon Trail)
(Photo: It really is more than just sidewalk replacement. Installing new drainage pipes during construction saves the city millions of dollars.)

On Mass Ave. from College Ave. to 10th St. 

• drainage pipe and structures installation continues and will begin from Davidson St. up to 10th St.
• Please note that Davidson St. at Mass Ave. will be closed one day only in the next week. The specific date is TBD. Contact the Cultural Trail office for more information. 

In the alley behind Scholar's Inn:

• finishing sub-grade work and adding concrete paver base
• installing foundations for light canopy
• installing vault for "Chatham Passage" public art installation

Snow will not be removed from the trail due to it being a construction site. To be safe, please use other sidewalks.