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Suburban Chicago Bicycling

Newsy week! E-bike law frenzy, Streamwood bridge, DPRT update, Stearns Road plans

Published 3 months ago • 1 min read

Hey, that bridge wasn't there a week ago! Actually, it was late Thursday or overnight Friday morning last week that the final trusses of the Streamwood bridge over Route 59 were put in place. The village posted about it, and then last weekend I rode out there to get a better look. It's a connection that west Streamwood residents have been waiting for all year. Check out my pictures of the progress and area trails.

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And that started a crazy-busy week of news in our bicycling world. To wit:

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Palatine passed a new e-bike ordinance Monday night with an age limit and either a learner's permit or driver's license required only for those ages 15-17.

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Hoffman Estates passed an e-bike law Monday with age and e-bike class limits.

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Arlington Heights trustees OK'd an e-bike law Tuesday with no new age limits.

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That followed the tragic death of a teenager riding an e-moto in the suburb.

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Mount Prospect trustees considered an e-bike ordinance that also went easy.

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I learned that Glencoe made a law Aug. 20 with age and driver's license limits.

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And that Morton Grove did the same Aug. 12.

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And that Glenview has banned e-bikes from any public property altogether.

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That's all now in my e-bike law round-up, and my take on creative laws is updated.

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Then, I picked up Daily Herald columnist Ralph Banasiak's piece on the six bicycling infrastructure projects getting Cook County "Invest in Cook" grants.

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And I got info on the status of Des Plaines River Trail renovations in Cook County.

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Finally, I got the plans for a Stearns Road sidepath to "Pate" Philip State Park.

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Plus, I rode my bike all week because it was so nice out! Whew!

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Speaking of bike rides: The famous and popular North Shore Century is Sunday, starting from Wilmette. And for a road trip, the also famous Apple Cider Century in Three Oaks, Michigan, is Sept. 28. They're the last on the organized/charity ride list.

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So, TGIF! We're rolling head first (or upright?) into fall. Great views to come! — Neil

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THANK YOU to donors Alan White, John Heer, Terry Witt, Mitchell C. Jones, T L Szensy, Douglas H. Hoffman, James Krause and Melynda Findlay Shamie. They're helping support my website and work. You can, too. Buy me a cup of coffee, as they say?

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Suburban Chicago Bicycling

Neil Holdway

A source for the great trails and roads to ride a bicycle in Chicago's suburbs, and to learn about efforts to make bicycling easier there.

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