Today, Chicago celebrates its 16th annual Bike to Work Rally. Thousands of bikers gathered downtown in Daley Plaza this morning for free breakfast and t-shirts and a passionate speech by Mayor Richard Daley outlining his commitment to make Chicago the best biking city anywhere.

Chicago received this year's Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors for its bicycling program, and the city just announced major new additions to its program. The city plans to have by 2015 a bike route within a half-mile of every resident; a 50-mile circuit of bike trails, with some off-road paths to be announced later this year; 185 miles of new bikeways altogether. The city also plans new bike stations like the one at Milllennium Park at key locations, including Midway and O'Hare Airports, bike valets at all summer festivals (courtesy of Chase Bank), and new trail patrols on the lakefront trails (which are spectacular).

It doesn't hurt that Mayor Daley is, himself, a dedicated cyclist. Bicyclists know it, and they cheered him wildly at this morning's event.

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