Bike and Pedestrian Planning
Introduction
2010 Bike Plan Update
Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Report and Maps
Local Examples
Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee
Introduction
While investment in road and transit improvements are major components of the Northwest Municipal Conference’s strategy to improve mobility in our region, it is just as important to provide non-motorized transportation options for those traveling within and between our communities. Our members have been proactive in planning for the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians. The Northwest Municipal Conference has taken an active role in several initiatives to enhance the biking and walking environment in our communities.
We strongly believe that the benefits of providing bicycle and pedestrian facilities more than justify their cost. The need for safe facilities has become readily apparent. More and more of our citizens, ranging from children biking to local schools and parks to health conscious adults to seniors citizens who are no longer able to drive to nearby amenities, are choosing to engage in biking and walking to get around their communities. Health benefits from the increase in physical activity pay dividends for both the individual and society. In addition, people who no longer opt to drive short trips are saving the air by leaving their vehicles parked.
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2010 Bicycle Plan Update
The goals of the plan update are to build upon the Conference's previous bike planning efforts, including prioritization of regional corridors to better leverage state and federal funding and exploration of other regional initiatives to promote bikeing, including regional signage and bike rack joint purchases. All Conference members are encouraged to participate in the plan update.
Please review the below maps and project listing. Comments or updates on the map and list should be sent to NWMC staff (
mwalczak@nwmc-cog.org or
cstaron@nwmc-cog.org). As the next step in the NWMC Bike Plan update, a series of corridor meetings will be held at the NWMC offices on Tuesday July 20, starting at 9:00 a.m. These meetings will explore the opportunities and obstacles in each of the proposed corridors.
Draft NWMC Regional Corridors Map
Draft NWMC Exisiting Bike Facilities Map
Draft NWMC Existing, Programmed and Planned Bike Facilities
Draft Project Listing
Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Report and Maps
On June 29, 2007, the NWMC released their updated bicycle and pedestrian reports and map. The map was put together with the help of the NWMC Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and TY Lin International. In the fall of 2006, the NWMC received a grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to update the North Shore and Northwest Councils of Mayors bicycle and pedestrian map. In January 2007, TY Lin International was chosen as the consultant for this effort. After several meetings, the final map was released by TY Lin for municipal use. An informational report accompanies the map and provides a wealth of knowledge about bike planning in the region.
The NWMC would like to thank all of the members of the NWMC Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee for their hard-work and assistance throughout this project.
The NWMC Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee will continue to meet on a regular basis to discuss bicycle programs and initiatives in the region. For more information about the Committee or the map, please contact Mike Walczak at 847-296-9200, ext. 34.
Please click on the links below to review the maps and plan:
NWMC Final Bike Report - July 2007
NWMC Map 11x17
NWMC 11x17 Regional Corridors Map
NWMC 34x44 Map
NWMC 34x44 Regional Corridors Map
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Local Examples
Our members are putting their bicycle plans into action constructing safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Many communities have completed or are in the process of constructing extensive bikeway systems. Schaumburg’s system, which contains over 85 miles of bikeways, is the largest in the northwest suburbs. Other communities are rapidly expanding their bikeway systems. State and federal funding programs have supplemented many of these local efforts. Currently, seventeen bicycle and pedestrian projects are receiving Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funding. Among these CMAQ projects are a Des Plaines River walk and bikeway between Golf Rd. and Algonquin Rd. and an on-street bicycle network in Evanston.
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Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee
Next Meeting:
10:00 a.m.
April 20, 2010
NWMC Offices
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