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Suburban Chicago Bicycling

Neil Holdway

Your one-stop source for the great trails and roads to ride a bicycle in Chicago's suburbs, and to learn about efforts to make bicycling and bicycling infrastructure better there.

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A sleeveless young cyclist with a blue backpack rides on a boardwalk bridge through a forest preserve
Featured Post

Slick new DPRT mile, proposed Klein Road path, e-bike/e-moto law signed

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...

about 19 hours ago • 2 min read
Empty rural road with trees and a construction sign on the side.

This construction's done It was a treat to catch up to Old McHenry Road between Long Grove and Hawthorn Woods and find its repaving ... all done! The construction signs lingered, but even the striping is finished. The best part is the shoulders are mostly nice and wide. I'm sure they did that for us road cyclists. Meanwhile, if you haven't seen, the City of Geneva late last month finally announced a much-needed detour for the quarter-mile of the Fox River Trail that it is closing at least...

14 days ago • 2 min read
A newly paved road curves right through tall, thin trees after many brown leaves fell, while the sun sets in the background

My money roads I hope you're riding more than working this summer. That's what summer's for, right? I have been riding a lot as usual and found myself on money roads — roads that are destinations themselves, because they're so money. Fun, beautiful, mesmerizing. So much better than the others. I just did a tour in Wisconsin's Northwoods. I always ride these money roads: County X between Wisconsin routes 70 and 32 by Three Lakes Military Road nearby County K between Star Lake and Boulder...

28 days ago • 2 min read
A newly paved, dustry trail curves through new lawn and rough bushes toward an underpass under a blue sky

Surprise, surprise on the Salt Creek Trail Some Cycle Brookfield and other riders were thrilled a week ago by what they stumbled upon: the Salt Creek Trail open under the Tri-State Tollway. And not just open but repaved, with a new, nicely labeled bridge. The riders had been blocked for at least a couple of years and thought it might be another. I have considered the Salt Creek Trail kind of a mess overall, with all the twists and turns it takes through neighborhoods and industrial areas. The...

about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Looking at the underside of a new concrete bike-pedestrian bridge over a lawn with makeshift wooden railings

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...

about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Newly paved shoulder on Ela Road in Cook County with a blue vehicle parked nearby.

New Ela Road in Cook County: Easier to ride? Cook County has finished repaving Ela Road from Hoffman Estates to Inverness — and that's big because the road serves as an unofficial gateway to Lake County and its more open roads. The road runs about 8.5 miles from just north of the Jane Addams Tollway to Lake Zurich. But we road cyclists have had to lean on Ela's shoulders, whose width and condition were inconsistent. Are they any better now? I took a good look (with video). Traffic light...

2 months ago • 2 min read
A bundled-up rider of a small motorbike makes a devil's-horn finger gesture as he zips down a striped bike trail through a forest preserve.

Quick update from last week's newsletter: The state legislation on e-motos and e-bikes has passed! New rules take effect Jan. 1. If you hadn't looked at the regulations that the legislation creates, you can see what they are, presuming the governor signs the bill. Coming events Hey, it's June! To recap coming events starting Sunday: Bicycle Club of Lake County Ramble, June 7 in southern Wisconsin Swedish Days Ride, June 14 starting in Sugar Grove Janesville Morning Rotary Club Pie Ride, June...

3 months ago • 1 min read
A cyclist rides down a straight two-lane road through farmland, with a tree on the left, power lines on the right and a red barn way up ahead.

I'm "out of the office" this week and next, but I set this message up to alert you to all the big rides coming up. This weekend features three events: Pedalpalooza in McHenry County, Saturday The Arlington 500, Sunday starting at Lake Zurich High School Everybody Rides, Sunday in St. Charles, for Project Mobility Then these are on the schedule for June: Bicycle Club of Lake County Ramble, June 7 in southern Wisconsin Swedish Days Ride, June 14 starting in Sugar Grove Janesville Morning Rotary...

3 months ago • 2 min read
A bike trail with new, black asphalt runs through a suburban neighborhood with removed construction signs off to the side and a Mallard Lake Bicycle Trail sign.

Well, this was exciting to see in Hanover Park this week. But let's talk about important events first. International Ride of Silence A key day in this National Bike Month is the international Ride of Silence, which are really several rides worldwide Wednesday to honor bicyclists who've been killed on public roadways. Seven rides are scheduled in our suburbs that I know of. They're short, slow and, of course, quiet. See the list of rides. Speaking of National Bike Month, there are still plenty...

3 months ago • 2 min read
A line of bicyclists ride on a suburban street with a bike lane.

May is National Bike Month, and the suburbs are stepping up for it. Events lined up The Active Transportation Alliance has assembled a list of May bicycling events throughout the suburbs. Plus there's Bike to Work Week and National Bike & Roll to School Day. All the May events Organized rides ramp up Organized and charity rides really get going in May. Plus there's the Ride of Silence, in memory of bicyclists killed on roads. It's actually several rides around the suburbs. Updated list...

4 months ago • 1 min read