Look at this on the Des Plaines River Trail

Reader Gary Donnelly tipped me off to the Des Plaines River Trail work that got done between Lawrence Avenue and Irving Park Road in Cook County. I knew two boardwalks were being built there this year, and the trail in spots was going to be rerouted away from the river to ease flooding problems.

When Gary rode the milelong stretch Aug. 8-9, the boardwalks had long been done, he said, but not all of the new path. A couple of weeks later, I saw for myself that the path was all done, too — and it was smooth and consistently wide. It's a striking transformation; I can't decide whether the long new boardwalk or the new trail is more impressive.

Meanwhile, the Lake County side of the DPRT keeps struggling with flooding at the underpasses. Take a look at it all with pictures and posts.​

Put a path on one side or the other here?

The Wayne Township Road District announced an open house to present plans for an off-road path on Klein Road by the West Branch Forest Preserve in DuPage County. I think Klein is great for road cycling, with its prairie views, but many area residents and advocates want a trail to serve all levels of bicyclists and establish a key connection to trails north and south. Get meeting info.

Also, Naperville leaders identified specific places to explore creating better (or any) bicycling infrastructure downtown. That's also in the local news.

In Bartlett, more of the Bartlett Trail has been repaved, especially the much-needed section right by the signpost west of downtown. There's still plenty to redo. By Hoffman Estates, the Poplar Creek Trail detour has a new time estimate. And the new Elmhurst bridge ... has a long way to go. All in the latest construction round-up.​

E-bike/e-moto legislation signed

Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday signed the legislation that, starting next year, will impose a minimum age of 15 for Class 1 and 2 e-bike riders and regulate "high-speed" e-bikes like motorcycles, as well as add e-scooter rules. See my summary of the law. The advocacy group Ride Illinois helped create the law with the secretary of state. See how to support the group.​

The ride calendar

You can be as busy as you want to be this weekend:

• Chicago Randonneurs rides: 200K, 300K, 400K, 600K
• Busse Woods Night Ride in northwest Cook County, Saturday
• Harmon Hundred by the Wheeling Wheelmen, Sunday
• Hope Echoes on the River Charity Bike Ride in Geneva, Sunday

And "Let's Ride, Illinois" community rides, by Ride Illinois, start next month! Check the ride calendar for links, information and more in September.​

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW: There's no Headless Horseman here, or any ghost stories like on Cuba Road. But Sleepy Hollow Road in Dundee Township has its share of history and controversy. And how could I resist writing about it after riding it? See story.​

I'm riding like my head's cut off as summer ends! Eyes on the road ... — Neil

THANK YOU, DONORS:
Arlington Heights Bicycle Club, Bicycle Club of Lake County, Alan J. White, Mitchell C. Jones, Bill Triplett, John Heer, Terry Witt, T L Szensy, James Krause, Mark Joseph Dugo, William F. Haley, Bill Kragh, Michael Vander Weele, Hilliard B. Grossman, Douglas H. Hoffman, 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, Richard Wadleigh, Colleen Stevenson, Randy Barich, Michael D. Staples, Kevin V. Barba, Todd Stocke, Colleen Sanderson, Pete Bolsoni, John VanSanten, Tony Messina.

I create the Suburban Chicago Bicycling website and newsletter with the help of readers like you.
​Buy me a cup of coffee, as they say?

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