Bike the Trail set for Saturday in Frankfort - Southtown Star

Bike the Trail set for Saturday in Frankfort - Southtown Star

Suburbs getting bike racks as part of Lincoln Highway grant - Southtown Star

Suburbs getting bike racks as part of Lincoln Highway grant - Southtown Star

Ride to Pierogi Fest

Saturday I lead a Folks on Spokes ride to Whiting, IN for Pierogi Fest. Pierogi Fest is a huge festival celebrating the town's Polish heritage while poking a little fun also. Seriously, there are people dressed at Pierogis.

The ride started at 8 am at what we affectionately call "Old Target" parking lot. It's a lot right off the trail on Cicero in Matteson, IL. Two people joined me at the lot and our illustrious President met us ten miles in.

We rode a really nice route into Whiting. There was a lot of zig zaging, but it kept us off the main roads. Mr. Lazarus had one flat on the way in and another at the festival.

I had a good time, but we lost a member. I had his home phone, but not his cell. After waiting a while, we decided to leave. We knew he had a map, so all was well.

We took some different road back, but after the forest preserve, stayed on the same route.

In the end it was around 55 miles total. A good ride. Hope to see you next year!

Metra and Bikes

I recently posted to the Chainlink about my opinions on rule inconsistencies on Metra. Check it out.

Also, check out a post about Metra's new cars.

Jane Healy spoke at June Folks on Spokes Meeting

On Thursday June 28th, Jane Healy gave a great presentation on getting kids to bike. There was a huge storm right before the meeting so the attendance was low.

Some of the things I took away was the you need to get a few kids riding with either a bike train (group of kids riding to school) or a bike club. Once you have a few the word spreads.

I hope to have the slides soon. This presentation had many questions from the audience and I was really glad to hear it. If you start kids off riding for utility, in addition to fun, early, you can build a life long habit.

Afterwards we made our way to Flossmoor station and had some drinks. I particularly liked the Red Rye.

Trails for Illinois

At the last Folks on Spokes meeting Steve Buchtel talked about Trails for Illinois, a little know advocacy group that he is revamping into an Illinois power house.

He talked about the benefits of trails to the surrounding communities and how many trails can be improved. One image stands out in my mind. The only connector from a box store to the trail (I think target) is out an emergency exit.

I'm excited to see the group and wish it well. Check out their tumblr.

Big thumbs up for Tinley Park’s active transportation plan

"Tinley Park’s Village Board passed its active transportation plan this week with flying colors.

The village board’s unanimous approval of the plan seems to reflect widespread interest in the community about bike facilities. One village official said this plan had more interest than almost any other plan up for village board approval in recent years."

From Active Transit Blog.

Middle School staff ride to work

"Hickory Creek Middle School staff members recently rode their bikes to school wearing “Go Green: Pedaling with Purpose” signs. Eighth-grade student Jake Juracka joined the staff by riding his unicycle to school. "


Picture and more info at http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/neighborhoodstar/tinleypark/13007674-521/around-town-for-june-10.html

First sight of complete streets near me

"A Cook County project to rebuild 108th Avenue from 163rd Place to 179th Street in Orland Park will begin Monday, and detours will be in place starting Friday, according to the village.

The project is slated for completion in early October. While most of the county road will be rebuilt, some newer sections will only be resurfaced.

The two-lane road will not be widened but wider paved shoulders — wide enough to accommodate bicycle traffic — will be installed, the village said...."

From http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/13014545-418/road-work-to-start-on-108th-avenue.html 

emphasis mine

Nice ride to Joliet last Sunday

This last Sunday I joined Folks on Spokes for a ride along the Old Plank Trail out to Joliet.

I rode from home on my way to the meeting spot. Someone had placed lettuce on the path every 20 feet. So I had to be on the watch for rabbits. In total I saw dozens dart off the trail as I approached.

I met up with the other riders around 9am Sunday at what we like to call "Old Target". The Target parking lot on the West side of Cicero right off of Old Plank Trail. We decided to break into two groups. One fast and one medium.

It was a nice morning and had a wonderful chat as I rode next to another FOS member as we made our way from Matteson to Joliet along the trail. The medium group caught up with the fast group and stopped in Joliet and had a delicious lunch of a turkey salad on crossant and salad at "Joliet Restaurant". From what I understand the name being somewhat a controversy in the club because, while the window says Joliet Restaurant, the sign above the place says "Hotel Plaza". I'm pretty convinced that the plaza is the name of the building, not the cafe.

After leaving our lunch stop we meandered through Joliet downtown. The rider I with having two flats in 500 feet of each other. After the first tube replacement, then a patch, we made our way East. I cut off near my home in Mokena and said my goodbyes. I ended up making it home with close to 40 miles for the day.

Grid Chicago on getting around in the suburbs

Grid Chicago has posted a nice roundup of ways cyclists must sometimes get around in certain suburbs.

First suburb snow ride.

Winter has come to Chicago.

The ride into work today was fine, no snow of course. It was starting to come down when I got into the city and rode through downtown from the Metra station.

I stayed in the city late today for a nerd meeting. So my plan was to catch the 11:15pm train down to home. Riding back through the loop was easy. The roads were covered with snow, but it was slush and not slick.

Mokena, in the suburbs, was a different story. The roads were covered and very slick. Mostly from the few cars passing over them. I took my regular route down back roads past the cemetery, pristine snow there and easy to ride through.

Coming down 195th street a cop pulled up beside me and asked if I was ok. I think after I told him I was coming from the train his fears that I was a drunk were swayed, and he told me goodnight. He was a really nice guy.

He's to seeing what the plows do tonight.