Editor’s note: This is an edited version of Ralph Banasiak’s Oct. 27 Along For The Ride column in the Daily Herald.
Visible are bike rodeos, community rides, and bike information booths. Behind the scenes are the unsung community heroes — local volunteers planning, organizing and often staffing various events.
Over a dozen biking/pedestrian groups exist throughout Chicagoland, some officially established by ordinance with funding, others simply made up of motivated individuals relying on grants/donations. Many originated from an official bike plan recommendation. Other groups helped kickstart bike plans or update existing ones.
Alliance helps suburbs plan, educate, push
Maggie Czerwinski, director of community building and leadership for the Active Transportation Alliance, has viewed suburban advocacy from many perspectives, having started her career in 2013. She has served on multiple bike planning teams, plus consulted with groups focused on implementing plans and holding municipalities accountable.
“The plan is important to achieve, but the (local) commission helps ensure that plan tasks get done,” Czerwinski said. “They report on the status of improvements each year and nudge a municipality to keep going.”
In turn, bike/ped group members share their knowledge with the public. Sitting at tables at farmers markets, festivals and community-wide events, they are approachable and willing to address questions, complaints and issues related to biking and walking.
Libertyville’s advisory commission
Chalking a parking lot at 6:30 a.m. for a morning bike skills course was just one task Libertyville Bicycle Advisory Commission volunteers performed for mid-September’s annual community bike ride.
Established by ordinance in 2010, the seven-member commission coordinates community outreach and public education efforts, and reports to Libertyville’s Public Works Committee. It helped deliver the 2023 Libertyville Bicycle Plan, a 2030 comprehensive plan goal.
“Our focus is to improve village infrastructure and provide encouragement and education so that the average middle school student can ride anywhere — library, school, church, parks — safely, confidently and not have too much trouble navigating their way,” chair Elliott Hillback said.
Commissioners work with police and school groups to coordinate Libertyville biking events, like Rockland Elementary’s Bike and Roll to School Day Sept. 16, which had an estimated 170 bikers.
In Des Plaines
Bike Walk Des Plaines was founded in 2013 as the Des Plaines Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee after city approval of its 2011 Active Transportation Plan. The name was shortened in 2020. The group meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Des Plaines Public Library and welcomes participation.
The 2011 plan’s recommended commission was never acted on, according to original committee chair Wharton Sinkler in a 2020 Active Transportation Alliance interview. Instead, interested biking advocates formed their own independent organization to work with the city’s staff regarding transportation issues, such as the city’s Active Transportation Plan Update now underway.
Current chair Colin Tysoe said about 300 residents support their work, primarily promoting safe bike and pedestrian access through awareness and education efforts. That includes information tables at Taste of Des Plaines and National Night Out events, promotion of bike/walk to school days, and surveys of the 2025 Des Plaines municipal candidates on biking/walking issues.
The group also has held “small, often impromptu, community rides, like the recent tour of park district sites or Halloween ride,” Tysoe said. Its Sept. 27 community ride drew 120 participants, including walkers.
In Batavia
Batavia’s Active Transportation Advisory Commission originated in 2009 as the Batavia Bicycle Commission, created by ordinance after adoption of the 2007 bike plan, and replaced by ordinance after unanimous adoption of the updated 2023 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
The commission’s scope expanded to include walking, rolling mobility and “obviously now e-transportation,” according to chair Regan Boll.
The commission has had a voice in numerous projects: additional sidewalks, placement of bike racks and repair stations, pedestrian counters and the Route 31 road diet.
“Our commissioners bring a wide variety of experiences and expertise with e-bike/scooter commuters, individuals experienced in city planning and local community outreach, plus industry experience,” Boll said.
While the commission advises, “the city does all the heavy lifting.”
• Find all of Ralph Banasiak’s Daily Herald columns here.
