Get on your bikes and ride, Elgin
Today kicks of Bike to Work Week in Elgin and other communities across the suburbs.
The city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee has a full docket of events planned.
The committee also is working to promote biking as a viable and preferred mode of transportation for the coming week and beyond.
"It's a more sustainable way to get around," said Elgin resident and committee chair Steve Wasliowski. "This isn't about recreation. It's about connectivity, getting from one place to another, without using a car."
Elgin, as part of its downtown streetscape plan, has painted bike-only areas on roads and has focused on making the city more bike friendly.
Others seem to be taking notice, as the League of American Bicyclists this past April named Elgin as an honorable mention for a Bicycle Friendly Community.
The city also wants opinions from residents about biking and walking via an online survey at the city's website.
For details, visit cityofelgin.org or email bednar p@cityofelgin.org.
The city's committee has proposed that new developments have a requirement for bike racks, similar to the number of parking spaces required for a new strip mall.
Tom Armstrong, an Elgin resident and retired city planner, will kick off a short on-street instructional ride beginning a 10 a.m. Friday, June 18 from the Gail Borden Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., as a way to teach adults and kids 10 and older the rules of the road.
Armstrong, a committee member, who by choice did not have a car for three years until last month, said biking is a great form of exercise and in many ways cheaper than owning an automobile.
"It's the ultimate freedom machine, I think," Armstrong said.
Some other highlights of the week are:
• Tonight: a west-side historic neighborhood bike tour, led by Jerry Turnquist. Riders should meet at Wing Park, 1020 Wing St., at 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday: Elgin Alive on the I&M Canal bike path, meet at the library at 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday: A free, noon lunch for commuters at Walton Island. The rain date is Friday, June 18 and people must RSVP at (847) 931-6788. Also, a bike education and repair clinic will be held at the library at 7 p.m.
• Thursday: a breakfast ride with Mayor Ed Schock. Riders should meet at city hall, 150 Dexter Court, at 7:30 a.m. A bike education and repair clinic also will be held at noon at the Harvest Market in the parking lot south of city hall.
Activities all week include: a free coffee and snack from a vendor if you bike to the Metra station; a free shower at the Centre for commuters; free patch and bike lever kits at all events from the Bicycle Garage, 11 Jackson St., East Dundee, and the Elgin Community Network.