Elgin looks for solution to bike lane issue

Elgin leaders want residents to go green.

But when businesses said they were losing green over a new bike path initiative, the city gave in.

In early July, the city eliminated parking on the south side of a 0.8-mile stretch of Walnut Avenue in favor of a striped lane for bicycles only.

But merchants near Walnut and South Street complained that the bike lane, which was the first step in a citywide plan and eliminated nine or 10 spaces, hurt their business.

So the city promised last week to remove the bike lanes on both sides of Walnut between South and Wilcox Avenue - a one-block stretch - in the next two weeks.

"Putting it back the way it was for 100 years definitely will help," said Mike Nelson, manager at B&G Train World, 829 Walnut. "I think I've counted six people in a day (using the bike lane), tops. No one uses the thing."

Jane Yoo, owner of Bazos Dry Cleaning, 835 Walnut, said the loss of parking was an inconvenience for her employees and customers alike.

"It's better than doing nothing," Yoo said of the city's plan.

The city surveyed residents and businesses before making the change. But Mayor Ed Schock said the city needs to make a better effort of talking to the right people at each business.

"It's always difficult when it's the first project in a plan," said Schock, adding he's received a lot of positive feedback about the new lanes. "Sometimes the owner of a building and the business operator are two different people."

Charlene Sligting, president of the South West Area Neighborhood Association, which endorsed the new bike lane, said the group initially proposed the bike lanes begin at Wilcox.

"With anything that is brand new, there are opportunities to step back and reflect as to what could and should be modified. This clearly is an example of such reflection," she said, adding motorists were often parking on the bike lane anyway.

David Lawry, the city's general services manager, did not return phone messages seeking comment on when the street would be restriped.