That Elk Grove Village bridge isn't open yet

Elk Grove Village's new bicycle-pedestrian bridge from Busse Woods east over Arlington Heights Road looks cool with its concrete-block design and elk logos, but we can't ride it yet. Real railings aren't in place. It was supposed to be done in the spring, so I asked and got a brief update on its status.​

Nearby, I was excited to see that Arlington Heights is installing a real sidepath along New Wilke Road between the Busse Woods Trail offshoot at Golf Road and the village bike route at White Oak Street. The 8-foot-wide concrete path makes a real link now between bike routes. Take a peek.

Also seen at Busse Woods: The restroom buildings were closed. But that's because the county forest preserve district is renovating them. Water bottle-filling stations appear now, but they're not running. Porta-potties are nearby. Are you seeing new restrooms in south Cook County preserves? Let me know.

Finally, Bartlett is continuing to fix up its multi-use paths, including portions of the Bartlett Trail. This and more are all in the construction round-up.​

Hot and steamy: How do you dress for this?

Over the years I've thought a lot about which of my jerseys and base layers work best in different temperatures. A lot. I've got it down to 2-degree increments sometimes. See my take on dressing for the weather.​

In Downers Grove

This painted bike lane into downtown Downers Grove looks impressive. So I looked up the village's bike route plan. Leaders approved one just last year — and it's a rather harsh self-assessment. It's in my infrastructure round-up.​

Illinois’ Stop Super Speeders legislation was just signed into law, creating a new tool to stop deadly crashes by repeat reckless speeders. Ride Illinois helped push the law. See how to support the bike advocacy group.​

As American as apple pie

What about strawberry rhubarb pie? I got one of those, too, at the Pie Ride in Janesville, Wisconsin. The ride June 20 offered a slice of America. My review.​

To celebrate America on Saturday, the Joliet Bicycle Club once again is hosting a July 4th Ride of 20 to 70 miles starting at the Kendall County Fairgrounds. Then I've added a couple of August rides to my calendar:

• Fox and Prairie Ride, by Partners in Mission Africa to support a school in Uganda, Aug. 1 on the Illinois Prairie Path and Fox River Trail.
• Hope Echoes on the River Charity Bike Ride, for CASA Kane County, 10 to 65 miles, Aug. 30 starting at the Kane County Courthouse.

​Find more info and links, plus other rides big and small, on the calendar.​

WAY OUTSIDE AMERICA: Not only did I find family in Sicily (on my mom's side), but I also found cool coastal towns. Check out my ride through one.​

I managed to stay safe in Italy. Let's stay safe in the U.S., too, this July 4.

THANK YOU, DONORS:
Arlington Heights Bicycle Club, Alan White, Mitchell C. Jones, Bill Triplett, John Heer, Terry Witt, T L Szensy, Douglas H. Hoffman, James Krause, Melynda Findlay Shamie, Eric Slagter, Jeffery Norman, Kathleen Hays, Andrew L. Campbell, Mark Rathe, Robert M. Yedinak, John S. Perry, David Waycie, David Michels, Cynthia DeVoss, Cheryl Zalenski, Richard H. Jordan, Mark Joseph Dugo, Richard Wadleigh, Colleen Stevenson, Randy Barich, Michael D. Staples, Michael Vander Weele, Hilliard B. Grossman, Kevin V. Barba, Bill Kragh, William F. Haley, Todd Stocke, Colleen Sanderson, and Pete Bolsoni.

I create the Suburban Chicago Bicycling website and newsletter with the help of readers like you.
​Buy me a slice of pie?

At top: The fence around the Elk Grove bridge is gone, but those are still cheap wood railings.

For even more, read old newsletters. And please forward this to anyone interested.