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| Blazing trails for much more cycling | |
| May 1, 2007 | |
| Daily Herald | |
| Pertains to Fox River Trail, Great Western Trail, Virgil Gilman Trail, St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva | |
| Phil Elfstrom lost his powerful grip on Kane County politics in the late 1980s because he envisioned something many others could not. He saw forest preserve property, especially along the Fox River, as being best used to connect various bike and hiking trails throughout the county. This was not a wild vision with no supporters, but the aggressive manner in which Elfstrom pursued riverfront parcels eventually stirred up opposition and led others, particularly Karen McConnaughay, to enter politics and begin a new era in county government. All of that government background aside, there is no doubt the Tri-Cities region and Kane County can showcase some of the most magnificent bike trails in the state, and quite possibly in all of the Midwest. We can boast of significant open space with trails such as the Fox River Trail (35 miles from Algonquin to Aurora), the Great Western Trail (17 miles from St. Charles to DeKalb) and the Virgil Gilman Trail (12 miles from Mongtomery to Waubonsee Community College), but it is the Batavia plan commission's approval last week of a formal bike plan for the city that has us thinking about bike trails again. It has us envisioning a future in which bicycles become an even more important aspect of daily life in the Tri-Cities. With such a tremendous network of bike trails that wind through the downtowns of St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia, it is making more sense for city officials to view bike riders from an economic as well as recreational standpoint. The Batavia plan calls for safer school routes but also expansion and addition of bikeways in the city, with designated routes through various neighborhoods that would link with existing trails. We especially like the idea of adding bike racks at park district facilities, downtown and at Randall Road shopping areas. We see the value of bike-related businesses with the Mill Race Cyclery located right near the river in Geneva, and we have heard members of the River Corridor group in St. Charles talk with city officials about how important it is going to be to accommodate bike riders along the city streets and at nearby businesses in the future. With the rising cost of gasoline, it is not impossible to envision more of us using bikes to get to work, run errands, shop for groceries, or meet with friends at the coffee shop. Batavia planners are wise to realize that many people are riding bikes through their city, and to emphasize that they would like to see more in the future. Current and future downtown business owners should do the same, by accommodating and encouraging bike riders to patronize their stores. Mother Nature won't allow us to embrace this concept year-round, but we surely like the thought of bicycle riding being the preferred mode of transportation for short trips for at least six to seven months of the year. |
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