Preckwinkle, Mayors, 300 Bicyclists Kick-Off 2nd Tour de Proviso

(Broadview, IL) – Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, other west suburban elected officials, and more than 300 bicyclists at the Broadview Fire Department on Saturday, October 2, to kick off the 2nd Annual “Tour de Proviso” bike tour.

This year’s bicycle route comprises seven suburban Cook County communities – up from three last year – now including Bellwood, Broadview, Maywood, Melrose Park, Oak Park, River Forest, and Riverside and more than double the number of participants with 300 bicyclists participating in the event to promote township tourism, a healthy lifestyle, and the need for more bike trail investments, according to Thompson.

“Last year, we had three communities, Broadview, Bellwood and Maywood, host the first Tour de Proviso and we had over 150 bike riders,” said Thompson. “This year, we added four more towns, Melrose Park, Oak Park, River Forest, and Riverside, and doubled the riders to 300.”

The idea for the Tour de Proviso sprung from Thompson and Maywood Trustee Miguel Jones’ own biking habits.

“Maywood Trustee Miguel Jones and I came up with Tour de Proviso because we organize regularly our own individual bike tours with constituents in our own communities to support health and wellness as well as clean and green transportation,” said Thompson. “Still, there are very few bike lanes or, in some communities, no bike lanes in the Proviso Township, so this year’s tour aims to showcase the need for more bike trail investment by Cook County and the state.”

Thompson says that the Tour de Proviso is also a tourism tool.

“This year we have added tourism to our cause and have partner with Visit Oak Park,” said Thompson. “We have so many historical sites in the Proviso Township, and it's time for us to show visitors what we have to offer, such as good restaurants, shopping, hotels and recreation for all ages, and what better to showcase these assets than by bike.”

Thompson and Preckwinkle were joined by Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey, Maywood Trustee Miguel Jones, and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Eira L. Corral Sepulveda at the tour’s kick-off press conference at the Broadview Fire Station.

The bicyclists were escorted along the tour route by local police and fire departments.

davidormsby@davidormsby.com