I had the chance on a recent fall morning to bike into the city for a two-hour guided bus tour by Chicago Mahogany. Very educational tour. Very funny guide. Really fun and informative outing. Check out their website. They lead neighborhood tours all over the city.
But the bus tour is incidental to the point I want to make.
My River North destination was a 9-mile bike ride. The entire ride, except for a few blocks on either end, was on bike lanes or designated neighborhood greenways. Without the bike lanes and greenway designations I never would have attempted that ride. As it was, I had a safe and enjoyable ride through a very gritty part of the city.
A recent Chicago Tribune article heralded the 500th bikeway mile within the city limits and attributed to the extensive bike network a significant increase in bike trips. The article quoted the current mayor who was, of course, eager to take credit for this popular initiative. In truth, a series of supportive mayors over the last 20 years has made those 500 bikeway miles possible.
Oak Park’s recently approved Vision Zero plan and bike plan are moving us in that same direction and, hopefully, will one day result in safer streets for bikers and walkers. I understand most people, no matter what type of cycling infrastructure is in place, will not bike 9 miles to a destination. But I do believe many Oak Parkers would ride a mile or two to a favorite Oak Park destination if they felt safe.
Let’s hope Vision Zero and the bike network continue to move forward so that bikers and walkers of all ages and abilities feel safe on a complete network of Oak Park streets.
Karl Lauger
Oak Park