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Evan Fields, Super Volunteer for Indy Greenways

If you have spent much time on the Monon Trail, you likely have seen Evan Fields. This young man's profile is hard to miss, given his distinctive trailer and saddle bags, and his greeting is friendly and genuine.

Evan rides the Monon nearly every day of the year, even in weather that most of us would avoid, and in the process logs more than 3,000 Monon miles each year.

"I love the Greenways," Evan says, and he has favorite friends among other trail users, but he also has more reason than that for riding: Evan is a vounteer Trail Monitor.

His mission is to be a Good Samaritan

As such, he carries a cell phone, courtesy of Crime Watch, so that he can call for help if someone needs assistance. And his panniers bulge with first aid supplies and bike tools, purchased with a grant from the Central Indiana Bicycling Association -- a grant Evan thought of, made a case for, and got, to benefit Trail Monitors on all the Indy Greenways. Evan rides five to 20 miles a day, usually in the middle of the afternoon and in the evening before dusk.

His watch usually is pretty quiet, Evan admits, though he has occasionally helped injured trail users, and tried to help recover a stolen BMX bicycle. Prepared to be prepared, he sometimes watches trail users making the crowded turn at 86th Street.

"People go through there without looking," Evan says, shaking his head.

Mayor Stephen Goldsmith honored Evan's time and efforts with a certificate of appreciation, which adds to the satisfaction this young man gets from his duties.

Evan took up bicycling about five years ago, as a junior at Broad Ripple High School -- "for my health," he says -- and became well known to Tom Revard, of the Bike Line in Broad Ripple. It was Tom who started the Trail Monitor program for the Monon, and when he did so, Evan was one of his first recruits.

And so Evan will go on riding his route, often wearing his distinctive tan Trail Monitor shirt, and carrying his supplies. What's on his wish list as a Trail Monitor? "A NightRider light package, with siren and white and red flasher," he grinned.

As if you needed another way to pick Evan out of the crowd. Say "Hi, Evan, I saw you on the web site," the next time you see him. Betcha he waves back.

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