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The best of biking in 2024: A look back at the year’s good news

Reindeer are keeled over from exhaustion, Santa from excessive eggnog and the Grinch from a heart too small. As colorful corpses of holiday inflatables disappear from suburban lawns, it’s time to reflect on 2024’s good news for Chicagoland biking.

Bike fatalities down

A preliminary look showed biking deaths due to Illinois traffic crashes fell almost 20% from 2023 totals, from 41 to 33. While one death is one too many, this decline is encouraging given the average number of fatalities from 2021-23 was 36.

On Dec. 31, the Illinois Department of Transportation’s “As of” snapshot chart reported 32 deaths. Missing was the Dec. 29 death of a 58-year-old Alton resident, as reported by St. Louis NBC affiliate KSDK-TV.

In a recent phone call, IDOT public information officer Maria Castaneda explained that fatal traffic crash statistics are fluid numbers due to delays in data collection. Myriad Illinois law enforcement groups are responsible for transmitting data to IDOT for all types of vehicle crashes.

“2024 crash data is provisional and subject to change as more information is received,” Castaneda said.

Although official 2024 totals may creep higher than 33, Dave Simmons, Ride Illinois executive director, noted the reduction from 41 is good news, “though far too many pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists are still dying on Illinois roads. Efforts and initiatives to increase safety for all road users — such as reducing speed limits and building separate infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians — must continue.”

Asked about the drop, IDOT’s Castaneda said, “It’s too early to be able to pinpoint a precise reason for the decrease or to draw a specific direct correlation between increased efforts and decrease of fatalities at this time.”

11th bike friendly state

Illinois jumped to 11th from 15th in the League of American Bicyclists biennial rankings of bike friendly states. Among 13 Midwestern states, Illinois remains third friendliest behind Minnesota, at fifth overall, and Michigan at 10th.

Along with other criteria on Illinois’s state report card, LAB offered positive feedback about the state’s first Active Transportation Plan, “Walk Roll Illinois.” It expands upon the 2014 statewide bike plan to include walking and all modes of active transportation. Initiated in 2023, its release is anticipated this summer, according to Castaneda.

Simmons noted, “IDOT's Active Transportation Plan (which Ride Illinois and partners were directly involved in developing) is a key reason for the improved ranking. Our goal is to be a top-5 Bicycle Friendly State, so there's work to do.” He noted the state’s inability to spend some available funding as an impediment to more, improved infrastructure.

Bike/pedestrian plans

Bright prospects appear ahead as numerous Chicago area bike/pedestrian, trail and transportation plans were completed or launched in 2024.

The DuPage County Trails Plan, released in February, provided a framework for the ownership, operations and maintenance of 215 miles in DuPage’s regional trail network, with a focus on the Illinois Prairie Path, Great Western Trail and Southern DuPage Regional Trail.

Completed last April, the Glendale Heights Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, recommended adding/enhancing 15 miles of village bikeways. Last spring’s Round Lake Beach Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan called for implementing 16 miles of bikeways, more than half that mileage on streets under village jurisdiction.

Oak Brook held its final public information meeting in November for its Multi-Use Path and Bike Route Master Plan. Initiated last spring, this first bike-related plan will build on its current bicycle/pedestrian network, improving connections to community destinations and regional trails like the Salt Creek Greenway Trail.

Per Tim O’Malley, director of public works, final deliverables from consultant Civiltech Engineering will be reviewed and then presented for village board approval. Likely plan release is first quarter 2025.

Hillside is one of five communities partnering with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning on the West Cook Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Courtesy of TyLin

Neighboring communities of Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, Hillside, and Westchester have partnered with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning on the West Cook Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Per CMAP Senior Planner Stephen Ostrander, the two-year project is approximately halfway complete.

Led by TyLin consultants, the team has interviewed stakeholders and attended events across the five communities promoting the plan and gathering input. They have completed the Existing Condition Report and have met regularly with the Executive Committee and Advisory Committee. A draft plan is expected for public review next fall.

Epstein senior planner Ryan Peterson addresses cyclists before a community bike ride as part of the Hoffman in Motion project. Courtesy of All Together Studio

Hoffman in Motion

Hoffman in Motion takes a broad look at travel within Hoffman Estates, focusing on pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit, plus links among all transportation modes. Started in early 2024, the project expects to provide final deliverables this March with a mid-March open house to communicate project findings, according to Epstein senior planner Ryan Peterson. After steering committee review, the plan will head to the village council and mayor for approval.

Like the Hoffman Estates project, Connecting Aurora is a multimodal transportation plan examining how to improve travel in Aurora for everyone regardless of mode. Initiated in 2024, this citywide master plan aims to identify projects, policies, and programs for implementation over the next 5-20 years.

Improvements are expected to offer safer, more sustainable and convenient transportation options for everyone who walks, rolls, bikes, takes transit or drives. Project timeline shows a final draft in late 2025.

Mount Prospect’s Arterial Bike Network Study, initiated last spring, expects final results from its consultant Civiltech Engineering in February followed by Transportation Safety Commission review and then full village board approval.

Project Engineer Luke Foresman expects the study to help identify and prioritize future bike projects, including connections with existing routes and bike paths. Pedestrians are likely to benefit as well. “All recommendations will involve shared use paths and be ADA-compliant.”

The City of Des Plaines Active Transportation Plan Update kicked off last November to improve safety and enhance connectivity for people walking, bicycling, and rolling. Currently underway is a survey to collect initial input on potential improvements, and a call for a volunteer community advisory group. The project timeline shows draft plans due in July/August.

• Join the ride. Contact Ralph Banasiak at alongfortheridemail@gmail.com.

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