Evanston leads 'Bicycle Friendly Communities'

The League of American Bicyclists just announced which towns have become the latest to earn its "Bicycle Friendly Community" designation, and Evanston is leading the way in Chicago's suburbs. It earned a "Silver" designation after the rigorous application process last year. It's not the first time Evanston has had the honor, but the city let its designation slip after the pandemic.

Three other suburbs won a "Bronze" designation from the League: Aurora, Batavia, Elmhurst and Niles. The last town got the honor for the first time.

Evanston's designation comes as the town is reviving stalled efforts to add protected bike lanes on Chicago Avenue and Church Street, and as it's working to update its bike plan this year. Read more about the towns.​

Secretary of state eyes e-bike/e-moto laws

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has launched a campaign to update state law so that e-motos would be regulated separately from e-bikes. He's also working with educators to train kids on the difference and to teach rules of the road. He says he's looking to set baseline rules, not dictate local laws. Read.​

Letter to Congress: Support bike-ped facilities

Suburban Chicago Bicycling was one of more than 1,100 groups that signed a letter to congressional leaders urging them to maintain federal funding for bicycle-pedestrian infrastructure. Read the letter.​

The quest to add infrastructure in Riverside

Riverside leaders are getting on board with accommodating bicyclists as a result of the efforts of Valerie Kramer, who last year was named an advocate of the year by the Active Transportation Alliance. The organization noticed the popular slow-roll bike rides she and her club have organized as well as Kramer’s Vision Zero effort to eliminate traffic deaths and injuries in Riverside. That's now in my compilation of bike infrastructure town by town.​

(I learned this from February's Suburban Advocacy Connect call, which the Active Transportation Alliance leads every couple of months. Watch.)

In local news: Lake-Cook Road path connection

The Lake County Division of Transportation will show the preferred alternative for its Lake-Cook Path project from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight (Feb. 5) at the West Ridge Center in Highland Park. The aim is to connect the bike path gap from the Skokie Valley Path and the North Branch Trail. Also, the county forest preserve district is planning path improvements around Lake Carina. More.​

My website always has lists and information on bike clubs, bike trails and great roads. Plus, the list of organized bike rides in 2026 has March events!

A month until daylight-saving time, and then spring! We can make it. — Neil

THANK YOU TO THESE DONORS: Alan White, John Heer, Terry Witt, Mitchell C. Jones, T L Szensy, the Arlington Heights Bicycle Club, 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 and Colleen Stevenson. They've helped support this work provided for free. You can, too. Buy me a cup of coffee, as they say?

At top, protected bike lanes help Evanston stand out for bicycle friendliness. Plus that lake.

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