Riders don't use it; customers stay away

In reply to Judy Robnett's letter regarding the Walnut Avenue bike path in Elgin, she states we should contact the "Elgin Department" about people parking illegally.

I am assuming she means the Elgin Police Department, which she mentions in the next paragraph. She must think I am not terribly intelligent to have not thought of that. I have been calling the police frequently over the years, but their response time is not good enough so the people are rarely cited.

By the way, the majority of bike riders are still riding on the sidewalk in the 800 block of Walnut. Safety has always been an issue - the more timid riders do not like using the street. The more seasoned riders can travel anywhere and accommodate most anything. While you may think it is bucolic and wonderful in theory, this bike path should never have existed in a business neighborhood or perhaps at all. When I lived in Evanston, bicyclists were prohibited from riding on busy streets in commercial districts and instead used other streets.

Business has also dramatically decreased in the past several weeks. Customers will simply go elsewhere. The few off-street business parking lots are not adequate for quick sales, elderly customers, or the volume of customers during certain seasons of the year to cite a few of the reasons street parking spaces are needed and should be restored.

Interesting, the business owners were never adequately informed or consulted by the Southwest Area Neighborhood Association that supported the project or the city of Elgin for their opinions well in advance of the bike path's existence. We should have been notified.

The city's survey takers did not provide us with the city council date on the final vote for this path, contrary to Dave Lawry's statement in the Daily Herald. I guess we don't matter, or they were afraid we would oppose it. Thanks a lot.

Susan Hess

Kindness Inc.

Elgin