What will you find riding your bike around suburban neighborhoods in October? Thrilling Halloween scenes! Like this one in Hoffman Estates.

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My nephew loves Halloween, particularly scary animatronics and gory creatures. So when I'm riding around, I'm on the lookout for good pictures to take and text to him. Unfortunately I'm riding during the day, so the scenes' best effects may not show.

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But it seems like more residents are decorating their front yards with creepy figures, some quite large. I've had many cool displays to photograph.

I said riding in October, but really the displays were going up as soon as early September. Like a clever one of a skeleton cheerleading squad (complete with skeleton fans sitting on the left) in Crystal Lake, when it was still sunny and warm out. A resident of this Crystal Lake Avenue home was only starting to decorate on the day I passed by. "There are so many more," she lamented.

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And a tall, friendly creature was standing in front of a Palatine home before the end of September.

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For those residents decorating, volume seems the order of the day.

A row of characters lined a lawn in Bartlett. Tall creatures flanked several smaller ones on the front lawn of a Bloomingdale home. On the other side of the driveway, that home also featured a beautiful bride.

Now will all these creatures survive November?

New views in Streamwood

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October also was a thrill in Streamwood. Its new bike-pedestrian bridge opened on Oct. 25. There was much ballyhoo at the ribbon-cutting, with luminaries speaking and the first bicyclists and walkers crossing Route 59 safely. I got a good look at the bridge by riding over it later in the day. It's an impressive structure that connects neighborhoods and provides pretty prairie views. See my pictures and videos.

In other local news

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If you noticed police in Busse Woods on the Elk Grove Village side this week, that's because of harassment and water-bottle attacks by some youths last weekend, according to Cook County forest preserve police.

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Plus, River Forest is hosting an open house next week to show early ideas for improving a stretch of Washington Blvd., bike facilities included. See local news.

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Also, work on 7 miles of the Old Plank Road Trail is progressing nicely, according to a Will County forest preserve video. See the construction round-up.

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ALWAYS ON THE WEBSITE

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E-bike law round-up: It looks like Arlington Heights is about to update its e-bike law already, to add age restrictions by speed. See the latest in the compilation.

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Trail round-up: Are all the colors showing yet? See where to go.

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Daylight-saving time ends: Shouldn't we always ride with lights on, no matter the time of day or year? See my review in March of the literature and discussion.

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It'll get cold and spooky riding at twilight, so stay alert. Happy Halloween! — Neil

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The skeleton on the tricycle was seen in Schaumburg. The pretty flowers are a nice touch, no?

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