Bike paths pave way to a better future

I would like to address this letter to our Lake County Board members and our state legislators who represent Lake County.

I was driving south on Route 83 near Lake Villa when I noticed a fellow trying his best to ride his bicycle in the same direction. At times, he would teeter on the edge of the pavement while at other times he would slip off onto the gravel shoulder. During this brief encounter, he was always looking over his shoulder at the oncoming traffic. Though I admired that he was riding a bike, I also felt afraid for his safety. I'm sure he was aware that many drivers today are distracted and may be doing something in addition to just driving, like dialing phones, applying eyeliner or working crossword puzzles.

As I drove on, I thought, wouldn't it be safer and nicer for bicyclists and motorists, as well, if all of our major roads had adjacent bike paths? This is especially important now with a changing climate, soaring gasoline prices and dwindling fuel supplies. Isn't this the perfect time to encourage other modes of transportation? I truly believe that if residents of Lake County had the means, many of them would opt to ride a bike over driving a car to the library, the video store or the coffee shop. Connecting our towns and shopping areas with bike paths makes good economic and environmental sense, not to mention the positive health effects of bicycling.

Many villages and municipalities are already bike-friendly. Grayslake and Lake Forest, for instance, have tremendous bike path systems. I'm sure that these and other bike-friendly communities could help the county and the state establish templates for future paths and avoid huge consulting fees and lengthy studies.

Do I envision Lake County as being the next Amsterdam? No, not really, but building bike paths will give all of us an opportunity to save money, get free exercise and help the environment.

I realize that not everyone will jump on the bike-riding bandwagon. There will always be those individuals who will drive one block to buy a cup of coffee. However, I do believe that they are the minority. Many folks would opt to ride bikes to work or to the grocery store if they could do it safely.

We have many challenges facing us today involving climate change, the economy and fuel shortages. If we choose to think long term rather than short, riding bicycles and conserving fuel is a better alternative than driving. Conservation is what will best protect our children, our grandchildren and future generations. If we want them to have clean air to breath and a healthier lifestyle, then we should plan for their future today. Bike paths are just one way to help. Please consider this as you make your decisions about future road improvements.

Robert C. Anderson

Grayslake