Paul Lite

@paulite

Indianapolis west-sider, husband, father, reader, cyclist, explorer and tinkerer. Biochemist in another life. Joined Dec’23. x21c7 Banner: Skellig Michael Island off County Kerry. Portrait: Me holding a 🍀 in Galway.

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Paul Lite@paulite· 7d

(2/2) On my way home from Eagle Creek Park, I did my monthly trash pick-up along the 56th St causeway bike trail. My bag was totally full only halfway across but luckily the trash included another bag, so I was able to use that to finish the full 1/2 mile job. (see ALT)

A black bicycle parked along a bike lane along a street. White clouds and a blue sky above. Hanging on the bike’s handlebars are two full bags of trash. The trash include a tangled mass of fishing line, liquor bottles, and discarded fast food cups and wrappers.

A map of the location of the Eagle Creek causeway on a Google earth map. GPS (39.8523667, -86.3061965)

Paul Lite@paulite· 7d

A few weeks ago I wrote about the floating wetlands I saw while visiting Chicago. I was intrigued to learn that Indiana’s very first floating wetland was built in #Indys Eagle Creek Park in ~2018. So yesterday I biked to the park to take a look. The hibiscus were in full bloom. (see ALT) (1/2)

A black bike stands between two brown park benches on a cement slab along a crushed rock trail. A sign describes the floating wetland that extends behind the sign.

A brown sign with pink hibiscus blooms in the background

The sign that reads in part:

Floating Wetlands Help clean our water

What's happening here?

Did you know that Eagle Creek Reservoir is a source of drinking water for Indianapolis? It is also important for fishing, boating, and nature observation.

The reservoir has a long history of algal blooms due to excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus entering the water from upstream sources and nearby stormwater runoff. Algae can cause a bad taste and odor in our drinking water, be costly to treat, and even be harmful to our health.
The floating wetlands you see here are the first to be installed in Indiana.

These artificial islands are made of recycled plastic bottles and have been planted with native wetland vegetation. They serve as valuable wildlife habitat and slow the waves as they enter this area, protecting the recently restored shoreline.

How do they work?

These floating wetlands have hundreds of small holes which were planted with a variety of sedges, rushes, and wildflowers. Their long root systems extend into the water and help take up excess nutrients and filter out pollutants. Strategic use of floating wetlands at other locations in the reservoir could potentially reduce the frequency and severity of algal blooms.

Preliminary research by a local university indicates the floating wetlands demonstrated significant phosphorus uptake throughout the growing season.
Further esearch is needed to quantify all of the water quality benefits d provided by floating wetlands, but they are already making a difference for wildlife habitat and erosion control.

A view from the fisherman’s pier looking back toward the wetland area.

A google earth map showing a red pin where the floating wetland is located at Eagle Crerk Park. GPS: (39.8668596, -86.2993670)

Paul Lite@paulite· 9d

This was well written piece. I’m sure the actual location will be shared soon. It’s ironic that rumors placed the rally’s location as being in Greenfield, when instead, a very different type of event is occurring later this month in Greenfield. See ALT.

Mr. Riley's Book Club featuring "A Fever in the Heartland" is at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at the
James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home

Paul Lite@paulite· 11d

Yes. Rumble strips would help. And, because the westbound roadway rises (making it hard to see that the road is ending) add some reflective arrow signs behind the guardrail facing the west-bound turn lanes. I find the name of the street just before the intersection quite ironic… “Soaring Eagle”! 😂

A black dual direction arrow on a yellow road sign.

A street view looking westbound at the 34th and Dandy Trail intersection in #Indy. GPS (39.8168914, -86.2984781)

Paul Lite@paulite· 12d

A cause for celebration? Recently #Indy DPW repaired this formally damaged trail infrastructure. The fence photo is along the Eagle Creek Trail today. Contrast this with my earlier post from (5/14/26). Of course, only a mile further up the trail I found new damage! See ALT. #bike

A black bike sits alongside a repaired fence. Photo taken 7/30/26. I photographed this same spot over two months ago and posted the damaged post. The fence was installed in the spring of 2026 and was almost immediately damaged by a trail vehicle.

A black bike is parked alongside a trail near a roadway. The guardrail has been destroyed by a vehicle crash. Behind the bike it is clear that the same vehicle crashed across the trail into a destroyed wooden fence and a broken cement culvert. We can’t have nice things because of cars.

Paul Lite@paulite· 19d

Fantastic day for #cycling in #Indy. Progress continues on both ends of Eagle Creek Trail Phase 2B. Speedway has closed off Main Street for the “Hauler” Parade at 5pm.

Route map of a 26 mile loop that includes Eagle Creek Park, Eagle Creek Trail, Peoria Eastern Rail Trail, Speedway, B&O Trail, and Ronald Reagan Trail.

View of a black bike with a closed-off Main Street in Speedway as the background.

Excavation beginning at north end of Eagle Creek Phase 2B near I465 and Crawfordsville Rd.

Gravel compaction at South end of Eagle Creek Trail at the B&O Trail junction in Speedway.

Paul Lite@paulite· 20d

Yesterday I #cycled 28 miles, starting in Speedway, out to the western end of #Indy’s B&O trail. At the Green St crossing, we passed the trail’s new outdoor railroad museum that displays several B&O artifacts. See ALT.

Telephone Hut
In the early 20'h century, onboard radio technology had not yet arrived for locomotives. In order for train conductors to communicate with the yard master, telephone huts were placed along rail lines some distance from the rail yard Engineers would stop the trains and conductors would call ahead to verify whether they could proceed. These hexagonal concrete structures were built to protect the equipment and last for many years in all types of weather conditions. Estimates place the weight of this structure at around 7,000 pounds. This particular telephone hut was discovered south of 21" Street and west of Maradona Drive in Marion County. A crew from Thomas Monuments relocated the hut to this location on June 25, 2026.

Iron Bridge Plaque
When this particular railroad line was abandoned, CS removed the rails, ties, crossing signals and the bridges. In most cases, all that remained was the stone ballast along the corridor plus the concrete piers and abutments that once supported the old iron bridges across ditches, creeks and select roadways. In September, 2016 when a new, pre-fabricated pedestrian bridge was going to cross White Lick Creek; preparations were needed for a crane to lift the new bridge sections off of trailers and put them into place. While crews excavated near White Lick Creek west of here to prepare for the crane, they discovered buried in the mud the original iron plaque from that first railroad bridge. The inscription reads "Union Bridge Co. ~ Athens, PA. ~ 1895" providing valuable information about when the original rail line was constructed and who designed that first bridge across White Lick Creek.

Whistle Post
Whistle posts like this one were placed about 1,000 feet before road crossings. The single letter "W" served as a visual cue for the train engineers to blow their whistle as they approached the road crossing. These whistle posts were made of concrete and reinforced with rebar. They were intended to last many years so the railroad would not have to worry about ongoing maintenance.

Map showing the location of the Outdoor Railroad Museum along the B&O Trail in Brownsburg IN. GPS (39.8143243, -86.4011963)

B&O TRAIL OUTDOOR RAILROAD MUSEUM
Dedicated on July 4, 2026
Today, we celebrate the legacy of America's railroads, The former rail line through here was completed by the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railroad. It connected Springfield, IL, to Indianapolis, IN, and initially carried coal from West Virginia.In 1927, it became part of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (CEO) took over control of the B&O in 1962.
On August 31, 1987, the B&O and C&O became part of CS Transportation. Unfortunately, the decline in railroad traffic after World War Il eventually resulted in its abandonment between 1989 and 1993.
(Continued on other side.)
MUSEUM FUNDING FROM DUKE ENERGY FOUNDATION

Paul Lite@paulite· 23d

We spent the weekend in Chicago visiting my daughter. She lives an easy walk away from wildmile.org , which is a beautiful floating wetland and boardwalk along the Chicago River at Goose Island. Currently 700ft long, the plan is to expand to a full mile.

Photos taken at Wild Mile floating gardens in Chicago. A butterfly sips nectar.

Photos taken at Wild Mile floating gardens in Chicago. A boardwalk along the river’s edge.

Photos taken at Wild Mile floating gardens in Chicago. The hazy Chicago skyline in the distance.

Photos taken at Wild Mile floating gardens in Chicago. A family takes in the sights.

Paul Lite@paulite· 29d

While cycling home from the YMCA this afternoon, I stopped off at Eagle Creek Park’s beach shelter (#Indy) and saw these signs posted at the gate. A good reminder that tomorrow night’s free concert features Tim Grimm and Sergio Webb. Hot weather or not, my wife and I will definitely be there.

A black bike parked in front of some concert signs - a window and a brick wall behind the bike. A closed iron entrance gate to the right. A poster is circled in red.

A concert sign in a window reads Tim Grimm, July 14, Eagle Creek Beach, Tuesday 6:30-8:00 pm.

Paul Lite@paulite· Jul 5

A status update on the bike trail at 56th and Dandy Trail Rd in #Indy: Recently, the city completed repairs on the fence from a 2024 car crash. Of course, now another car has crashed across the trail and into the repaired fence. Maybe a guard rail is needed to protect trail users here?

A wooden fence along a bike trail is damaged by a car crash.

GPS: (39.8525631, -86.2976889)

A black bike parked alongside a wooden fence along a bike trail that was damaged by a car crash.

GPS: (39.8525631, -86.2976889)

A Google map screenshot of crash location. GPS: (39.8525631, -86.2976889)

Paul Lite@paulite· Jul 1

Just some of the #books I read in the 2nd quarter of 2026. I'm always searching for book suggestions - got any? See ALT for more details and links to my past reads.

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 30

During this afternoon’s Extreme Heat, I bicycled from Indy’s IU University Hospital out to Clermont. My wife got this accidental text from me (from the phone bouncing in my pocket). She was worried that I was stroking-out in the heat. Now I learn there is an actual medical term for this - Dystextia.

Content of two text messages sent on a very hot day while biking.

Leaving hospital by bike.

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I g S CS e S op w I.8.. ex ex N N IU IU
Inn v E de V V z
68? &@

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 28

I looked up the restaurant location on the map and, at first glance, I read it as “E. Coli” street. 😀

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 24

Classic! @wthrcom.bsky.social runs an article about new e-moto legislation in Hamilton County IN and this is one of ads that pops up while I’m reading the story on my browser! See ALT for details.

As e-bike popularity rises in central Indiana, cities like Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville and Westfield are implementing new regulations to address safety concerns.

https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/e-bike-regulation-central-indiana-the-communities-making-changes-for-e-bike-safety/531-39b1aa80-b425-4471-a795-89f4d7f04730

HEYBIKE ONLY $999 Saturn Limited Time
https://www.heybike.com/products/

This bike was advertised along with an article about restricting e-motos in Carmel and other Hamilton Co communities. It would not be legal on bike trails.

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 22

My wife and I cycled today to Eagle Creek Park, passing through the Bear Overlook Parking area. This is so infuriating, the new gates that control access are never closed, the new, expensive security system has been destroyed, and the iconic Bear sculpture has been covered with graffiti. (1/2)

Inoperable access gate. Photos taken 6/21/26 at the Bear Overlook parking area, Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis. GPS: (39.8532094, -86.3100891)

Destroyed security camera. Photos taken 6/21/26 at the Bear Overlook parking area, Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis. GPS: (39.8532094, -86.3100891)

Graffiti covered Bear Sculpture. Photos taken 6/21/26 at the Bear Overlook parking area, Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis. GPS: (39.8532094, -86.3100891)

AI Overview of Lilly Foundation funded “improvements “ to three parking areas on the west side of Eagle Crerk Park. One of these locations, the Bear Overlook, was photographed on 6/21/26. GPS: (39.8532094, -86.3100891)

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 15

So excited to have my hold on the book “London Falling” by @praddenkeefe.bsky.social finally become available at the #Indy public library. I biked to the Pike branch this afternoon to pick it up.

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 15

LOL. Hoping these poster-board signs are just a stopgap measure.

“No parking” barely visible on cardboard sign.

“No parking” already run over on a cardboard sign.

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 12

Over the last few days I helped my daughter change apartments in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood and, after getting her unpacked, I rented a Divvy and cycled to Union Station to take Amtrak’s Cardinal back to Indy. It never dawned on me that they’d stop us mid-way to wait out the storms tonight!

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 10

Here’s a video from today, 6/8/26, at 3:30 as I approach Indy’s Eagle Creek golf course on the trail coming from the east. Twenty-plus cars!

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 10

Indy Parks Department’s Eagle Creek Golf Course appears to believe that the 56th Street multi-use trail is their private overflow parking lot. This has been going on every summer for years. The course management is not responsive, the park says it’s not their issue, & when I call MAC I sit on hold.

Maps showing location of vehicles parked on the greenway. (39.8534786, -86.3189518)

A “VEHICLES PROHIBITED” sign along the greenway.

Cars parked on the greenway. GPS: (39.8534786, -86.3189518)

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 8

Last night’s tragic fatality marks the second time in the past month that a wheelchair-bound pedestrian has been struck crossing at a signalized intersection in Indy.

UPDATE: This incident was a hit-and-run. Victim is an approximately 45- to 50-year-old male who was seriously injured. He was reportedly using a wheelchair when struck. Medics rushed him to Methodist. 6/7/26

UPDATE: Victim in this incident is a 66-year-old female. She was struck and injured while crossing the street in a powered wheelchair. Medics transported her to Eskenazi.

Reply: This is an intersection with a public library and with a pedestrian crosswalk that lacks a NTOR sign. I hope her physical injuries weren’t severe. (May 2026).

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 3

And it’s a new cycle-track record! The barriers were reset in just a few days! A bit of debris left behind that I carried off the path. #Indy #bike #eaglecreektrail

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 3

My sympathies go out to victim’s family and friends. How hard would it have been for the apartment complex to have installed a guardrail or bollards at the only spot in the entire apartment complex where this could happen?

Overhead map of Eagle Lake Landing apartments in Speedway. Red push pin marks spot where pavement leads to retention pond.

Google Streetview image of Eagle Lake Landing apartments in Speedway showing view from push pin where pavement leads to retention pond.

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 2

Tonight is the first night of Eagle Creek Park’s Tuesday “In Concert with Nature” series. I’m going to try to cycle before each concert this summer.

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 2

I’m at the park on my #bicycle a lot and thought I’d share two routes that start from the beach parking lot. The first is a hilly 7 miles and the second is a flat 5 miles.

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 2

I spent this perfect afternoon #cycling around #Indy’s Eagle Creek Park. The newly completed, accessible trails and parking near the Earth Discovery center opens the park to visitors of all ages and abilities.

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 2

I found a use for Braun/Beckwith’s 6/1/26 “Take Back the Rainbow” Nuclear Family Declaration… (v2)

An image shared on Facebook by Indiana's Lt Governor Beckwith that contains the key elements of Gov Braun's June 1 Declaration of June as "Nuclear Family" month in Indiana was converted by Google Gemini Al into a roll of toilet paper. A propaganda-style photo of a white person with short hair, a white person with long hair wearing a yellow dress and two children are portrayed walking arm-in-arm toward the setting sun (the sun is, of course, a massive nuclear furnace; which is exactly where a nuclear family would want to walk toward).

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 2

Paul Lite@paulite· Jun 1

Just a typical day cycling to the YMCA using the cement barrier “protected” bike lane on #Indy’s 56th St causeway over Eagle Creek Reservoir. #bike

Black bike near scattered concrete barriers.
GPS. (39.8526264, -86.2994927)

Black bike near scattered concrete barriers.

Paul Lite@paulite· May 31

It wouldn’t be May in #Indy at our house without a yard blanketed in #cottonwood fluff. At one particular corner of our house, we always see snow-drifts in the Winter and fluff-drifts in the Spring.