Lake Forest Seeks Public Input at Jan. 30 Bike Workshop

Riders and residents alike have the chance to weigh in Monday on bicycle master plan, which is geared toward improving bike travel in the city and its neighboring suburbs.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the .

Another public workshop to address any regional concerns or ideas for the plan is scheduled for February, according to the city's proposed timeline (see the attachd PDF).

Though the results of a recent, online survey regarding the plan have yet to be released, the village called it a “big success” after receiving more than 350 responses. The survey included questions related to bike use, ride duration, popular routes and travel conditions, such as unsafe roads, speeding and lack of bike lanes.

“So far, we're really in the early stages,” said City Planner Megan O'Neill. “We've surveyed the residents and are trying to pull out some key objectives for the plan to present at the public meeting.”

Currently, the city has two major bike paths — the Green Bay Trail, running parallel to the Union Pacific North line, and the Skokie Valley Trail, which runs alongside Skokie Valley Road.

Aside from those two paths, O'Neill said, the city doesn't have any other bike paths or road lanes.

“From reading the survey data,” she continued, “an the paths are well-used. While people still bike in the winter months, there is certainly an increase in the summer.”

In partnership with the , which is also interested in bettering bike travel throughout the area, Lake Forest will consider any recommendations or concerns for the bicycle plan.

 – Related:

Moreover, any proposal must adhere to the comprehensive plan, “the...official statement to guide (Lake Forest's) physical, economic, environmental and social development,” according the plan's introduction.

"Our comprehensive plan is amended periodically," she said. "As certain issues come up in the community, it's a plan that helps guide the future of Lake Forest."

Whether it ultimately includes building biker-friendly facilities, adding off-road trails or amenities to existing infrastructure, the plan could have considerable benefits for the region.

"Part of this process is joining with Lake Bluff to do a [combined] planning effort," she elaborated. "Each community will most likely have a separate document."

It's important to work through the process together, she added, because any improvements or changes to bicycle infrastructure will affect travel in the region.

"The next step would be to have a joint meeting between the two communities," she said, "as well as a more regional approach to gather path users who don't necessarily live in the community."