to return to the EBC site.
Attendees: Cathy Haibach, Sam Gunda, Steve Sinderson, Jerome Hughes, Richard Kuhlman, Laura Kuhlman, Sharon Hermach, Bob Hoel
This was a good cross section of members from the Elmhurst Bike Club, the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB), the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (CBF).
Thanks to all who were able to break away from other commitments to attend the Advocacy meeting on Jan. 16. We had a great sharing of information and ideas. Thanks to those who were unable to attend but provided me with some thoughts to take to the meeting. Here is a quick summary of what was covered. I have not attempted to organize these in any particular way for now.
There seems to be a general disregard for the crosswalks where the Prairie Path crosses streets in Elmhurst. Is there a law that says cars are to yield to those in the crosswalk? If so, for the most part it is being ignored. Also, in most cases the crosswalk paint is badly worn and in need of being repainted. Are there adequate warning signs for vehicles approaching crosswalks? Do they say “Yield to those in the crosswalk?”
Education for the public (motorists and cyclists) and the police (2 abreast law and 3 foot rule). Submit articles to the Elmhurst Independent. Talk to Elmhurst about putting links on the city website to the “Bike Rules of the Road” (LIB) and the Illinois driving code for bikes.
Are there any League Cycling Instructors (LCI) who could be called on to give a class of cycling “etiquette?” What about community outreach programs to instruct people of the proper and safe ways to bike? You still see a lot of people biking against traffic which is the single largest cause of accidents between cars and bikes.
We need to use local newspapers and community newsletters, like Elmhurst’s Front Porch newsletter, to increase public awareness of cyclists rights and obligations.
Are there any local officials who are cyclists or pre-disposed to cyclists? Diane Gutenberg, a new alderman in Elmhurst, is very concerned with environmental issues. Cathy Haibach has a connection to Diane and will see if Diane has any interest in helping us with cycling issues.
CBF does member surveys on bike issues. Can they provide us with any data for the western suburbs that we might use in working with Elmhurst and other municipalities?
One way to deal with confrontations with motorists: repeat their license plate number to them so they realize they are not acting anonymously.
The DuPage County Forest Preserve District has about 500 bike racks purchased with a grant and they are looking for municipalities that will use them. It has been reported that Elmhurst doesn’t want any because they are not the right “style.” Bob Hoel will look into this to determine the issues to determine if they can be overcome. It is a shame not to be able to use them here in Elmhurst because we are sorely in need of bike racks in locations other than the train station, library and city office.
Plans are being made in August for a local observance of Cool Cities Green Fest. Cathy Haibach attended a recent organization meeting and it seems they might be interested in the no-carbon foot print of biking. Investigate what role EBC might have with a booth, bike valets, general person power.
EBC currently recognizes members for the miles they put in on club rides. What about recognizing club members who choose to reduce their carbon footprint by biking rather than using a motorized vehicle?
Designated routes best for biking across our communities. The Prairie Path is nice for recreation but it does not get you from one business to another. These routes need to be signed and published on a map. We may not have formal north/south bike trails but we do have a lot of low traffic residential streets that people need to be aware of. Lack of identified routes is often a barrier to people who are not comfortable biking on streets.
Too often the public thinks that people bike because they cannot afford a car. We have many examples in our community of people who can readily afford (or already have) a car but choose to use their bike to commute to work, run their errands and get their groceries.
Work with Elmhurst to develop a bike task force. The objective is to get the city to develop a bike plan which is usually the first step in applying for CMAQ grants, funds from the Federal Transportation Act, that are used to enhance pedestrian and bike travel.
- The question was asked “What compels a city to invest in a bike plan?” Here are some responses:
- Bike friendly communities provide education that reduces the confrontations between motorists and non-motorists
- Encouraging biking, especially to handle those errands of less than 2 miles, reduces congestion, exhaust pollution and carbon usage.
- A bike plan that incorporates “safe routes to schools” is one step to addressing congestion around our schools and encourages obesity-reducing activity, especially needed when nearly 30% of our children are obese.
- Complete streets (a plan for all users including pedestrians, children, elderly, disabled, bikes and autos) benefits the entire community.
- A healthier community increases home values.
- Elmhurst has a long litany of awards it has won. Why not put “Bike Friendly Community” at the top of the list?
- Biking brings money into the community. Encouraging “tourist” traffic on the Prairie Path can benefit the businesses in the area.
Bike plans are typically put together by a paid consultant at a cost that could range from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the firm. Several firms are actively offering this service, including the not-for-profits CBF and LIB. Putting together a bike plan usually involves public meetings to gather community input. These are typically run by the consultant. The recent $114,000 grant received by Homewood for improving bike amenities in the community was a direct result of their bike plan.
Communities that have a bike plan or that are working on a bike plan: Hinsdale, Homewood, Schaumburg, and Oak Park
Communities that have an active bike task force: Lisle and Warrenville
Designated (by LAB) Bike Friendly Communities: Schaumburg and Chicago
Sharon Hermach attended the meeting because she is not only interested in seeing some advocacy work done but because she helps maintain the EBC website. She will assist us in getting word of our efforts out to our members. Sharon showed us that there are already locations on the site for advocacy. We just need to populate them with information! We also hope to provide links to local and national news about biking so please forward any links to me that support our cause.
Initially we will have meetings on a regular basis, probably monthly. When this no longer proves practical or necessary we will be communicating and collaborating via email.
My next steps will be work to identify a contact within city government (volunteer, elected or hired) who is receptive to a biking initiative. With that in place we will sponsor a bike ride, once the weather warms (yes, it will warm up again), with city officials to examine how Elmhurst can be made more bike friendly. This will be a step to forming a Bike Task Force and on to initiating a bike plan. From what I can see there are no other communities on the Prairie Path actively working on bike advocacy. Elmhurst can take a leadership roll, pun intended. 
If you see something in the above notes that you would like to work on, please contact me. There will be plenty of room for everyone.
This effort is about involving as many people as possible so I would like to be flexible in setting up our meetings. I will also investigate the use of a conference room at the Elmhurst Public Library. The downside to that location is they close at 9 pm and we certainly had no difficulty working past 9 pm this week. I am happy to continue holding meetings at my house as long as I can still fit everyone in. I would love to have so many people involved that they will no longer fit in my basement.
I would like to tentatively schedule our next meeting for Wednesday, February 13 or 20. Please let me know if one date works better for you than another.
Bob Hoel
(bob.hoel_at_comcast.net)
to return to the EBC site.