B i c y c l e     T r a i l
Bike, jog, or walk on this paved path
Photographed June 2008
Photographed March 2007 Benld Entry		Photographed March 2007 Gillespie Entry
The Bike Trail between Benld and Gillespie is a great recreational place for bicycling, straight-line skating and of course the primary purpose - walking for health, exercise and enjoyment. For use by people of all ages without the hazards of motorized traffic.     Being paved and well maintained, this one and four-tenths mile trail sees a vast amount of use on a daily basis in all types of weather conditions. Directions - Benld :     On Illinois Route 4 on the west side of Benld, turn east on Illinois Route 138, also known as Central Avenue in Benld. Continue east for three blocks, the fire Department is on the south side and Trolley Street goes north. Take Trolley Street to the north for three blocks which is to the end of the street. On the north side is the Bike Trail entryway, just across the street from the ball daimond. Directions - Gillespie :     On Illinois Route 4 at the southern side of Gillespie, turn to the east on Clark Street. Continue east on Clark Street for two and one-half blocks, then just past the AmerenIP sub-station is the Gillespie entryway. Looking for photos, history, comments and any other pertinent items to be included on this web site.

The Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail is on part of the route of the electric trolley railway known as the Interurban. This is a small portion of the railway furnishing transportation through central Illinois, from St. Louis, Missouri through Alton, Edwardsville, Staunton, Sawyerville, Benld, Gillespie, Carlinville, and on north to Springfiled, Peoria, Bloomington, Decatur, Danville, and other points in between.       The Illinois streetcar system of Champaign and Urbana was purchased by William B. McKinley in 1890 and thus began McKinley Lines, the basis for the beginning of this railroad. Through merging and connections with other lines, this became the Illinois Traction System and the route was completed through to Staunton in 1905. Another line betrween Alton and Edwardsville, the Illinois Terminal Railroad was bought by Illinois Power and Light in 1928 and then in 1956 these lines were merged to form the Illinois Terminal Railroad Company.       With this system no longer in operation and the rails and related items removed, the blank strip of land was eventually utilized as a paved trail for it current use.

May is National Bicycle Safety Month
- off site Links -
Illinois State Police Bicycle Safety Command Center Official website of the Illinois State Police on bicycle safety Illinois State Police - Bicycle Safety http://www.state.il.us/kids/isp/bikes/default.htm
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois Bicycling Guide http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/Programs/Biking/BIKEGDE.HTM
Illinois Traction System Trail

This website is a work in progress : Comments and additons may be e-mailed to : Bike Trail Comments   © 2007 - 2008    by Wayne Hinton