'Low-Hanging Fruit' For Elmhurst Bike Paths

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst City Council on Monday approved the engineering for a number of bike and pedestrian paths and related improvements.

But some aldermen expressed concern about the overall plan for paths.

None of the projects are on the north side, the area with the fewest sidewalks.

A total of 19 projects have been under consideration, but the city chose six to start because they are considered easier to do. Ward 6 Alderwoman Emily Bastedo referred to them as "low-hanging fruit."

The six projects are:

• Addison Avenue, from Second to Third streets (buffered bike lanes)
• Third Street, from West to Caroline avenues (bike boulevard)
• Cottage Hill Avenue, from Prairie Path to Church Street (bike boulevard)
• Spring Road, from St. Charles Road to Vallette Street (marked shared lanes)
• Poplar Avenue and First Street (sidewalk, striping and corner changes)
• St. Charles Road and Cottage Hill Avenue (rectangular rapid flashing beacons, handicapped-accessible ramps and striping)

Ward 5 Alderman James Nudera said he was concerned that safety may decline with some proposed bike lanes.

"Bike lanes have their place, and cycling has many benefits," Nudera said. "However, marking up roadways and accommodating buffered bike lanes and bike boulevards reduce the lane size for motorists and can make traffic more problematic."

He said he learned from bicycling high school students that many crashes with cars occur in buffered bike lanes. He noted instances in which bicyclists run into the car doors of exiting drivers.

"Some of the bike lane plans may cause more stress, frustration (and) danger for all involved," Nudera said.

Two northside aldermen, Ward 3's Chris Jensen and Ward 2's Jacob Hill, noted the plans excluded some areas. But they did not specifically mention the north side.

"It is easy to see that there isn't a project on every street and in every neighborhood," Jensen said. "However, enhancing current or developing new bike paths and sidewalks are clearly for the common good for all residents and do not just benefit property owners and residents in the immediate vicinity of a given project."

Hill said Elmhurst has significant areas that still lack "pedestrian infrastructure."

"I hope we find some solution or remain committed to some way in addressing these areas going forward," he said.

Ward 6 Alderman Michael Honquest said he has similar concerns to others. He said many Elmhurst streets are not wide, so bike lanes could present issues.

He also said bike lanes in a city such as Elmhurst may not be as beneficial as in Chicago, which has long roadways and "a lot of connectivity."

"You can move pretty quickly in Elmhurst on a bike, and you kind of get to a road to nowhere if the surrounding communities don't do something. This is a good first start. I share some concerns about how much further we go," Honquest said.

The council voted 10-1 for the engineering for the six projects. Nudera was the lone dissenter.

Aldermen Bob Dunn, Mark Mulliner and Brian Cahill were absent.

Construction for the projects is slated from 2022 to 2024.