Bicyclists offer mixed views of Winnetka’s tentative bikeway plans

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Barb Cornew, a Winnetka resident and north suburban coordinator of the Active Transportation Alliance, discusses the benefits of a villagewide bicyling master plan with another bicyclist at the Winnetka Park District's Open House on the topic last week. | Kimberly Fornek~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:20AM

Winnetka bicyclists and other residents shared mixed opinions Thursday on a tentative villagewide bikeway plan.

About 20 people attended an open house on the bikeway plan at the Park District Administration Center. Several expressed doubts that major roads, including Willow and Sheridan, are the safest for bicyclists and vehicles to share.

Robert Collins, who describes himself as an avid bicyclist, said, “Some of those east-west routes look challenging.”

The conditions “leave a lot to be desired,” Collins said. “Just travel down Willow Road by car; there are ruts 4 to 5 inches deep in places.”

East-west connections between two established trail systems are what Winnetka lacks. The Park District hired Hitchcock Design Group to help riders travel from the Green Bay Trail on the east side to the Cook County Forest Preserve trails west of the village. Park officials hope to improve bicycle riding in Winnetka by identifying safe routes and adding amenities to bike paths.

Existing roads

The bikeway map, developed with the help of focus groups formed of community members and bicycling enthusiasts, relies heavily on existing roads. Asbury Avenue, Westmore Road and Elm Street, along with Willow and Tower roads, are designated for east-west bicycle travel.

Hibbard Road, Provident Avenue, portions of Linden Street, and Sheridan Road are suggested for north-south travel.

Before any physical changes would be made to any roads, “way-finding” signs could be installed to help newcomers to the village, said Steven Konters of Hitchcock, the project manager.

“Signs could be done in the short term,” Konters said.

A few questioned whether the project was needed or even wanted by many.

“I’ve lived here 80 years,” one man said. “I know how to get around. The people who live here know which ways to go. What do we need all these signs for?”

The next level

“There are avid bicyclists who have their preferred routes,” Konters said. “We want to share that knowledge with the community and then take it to another level,” he said, by adding such amenities as benches and bike racks at popular spots.

Richard Kates, a member of the Winnetka Village Council, asked whether a study had been done to gauge the interest in the project.

“What type of demand are you trying to meet?” Kates asked.

Park District Executive Director Terry Schwartz replied his “intuition” told him a demand exists: “By my driving around the community and seeing an incredible amount of cyclists,” he said.

People could simply ride down Elm Street or “any one of the tree streets” to reach the Green Bay Trail, but “what’s wrong with looking at a larger picture?” Schwartz said.

Preparing and publicizing a bikeway system map “shows government supports the idea of a safe way to travel from one location to another,” he said.

“Some of the streets are already de facto bike routes,” Collins, a Winnetka resident, said. “To legitimize them would be a good idea.”

Narrow streets

Streets designated as bike routes would not be marked automatically with separate bicycle lanes because most are too narrow for that, Konters said.

Further research will determine where striped bicycle lanes are possible, but no widening of roads is proposed, he said.

“These are the routes people are already utilizing,” Konters said. “There aren’t many alternatives on local streets that are wide enough.”

Simply erecting a sign showing a street is a designated bicycle route could slow down traffic, without any other changes to the street, Schwartz said.

Others, however, said modifications are necessary first.

“Right now, I wouldn’t ride a bike down Willow or Green Bay Road,” Ryan Walsh said.

Pointing to a designated route on the map, Walsh said, “There’s a lot of traffic on Willow between Hibbard and Linden. It’s dangerous. If you’re walking, you have to wait several minutes to cross (Willow).

Middle of the road

Rockey Flintermann said bicyclists like to ride on Sheridan Road, but potholes and drainage grates near the curb hinder them, “so they bleed toward the middle of the lanes. They’re going 20 miles an hour and I’m trying to drive 40, excuse me, 35 miles an hour.

“If we can create zones for the long-distance bikers and the speed bikers, it would be wonderful,” Flintermann said. “They need a safe place to ride, too. I’m not denying anyone the right to recreate.”

It also might lessen the congestion on the Green Bay Trail. As the owner of Loving Care Pet Services in Northfield, Flintermann said he has been walking dogs on the trail for 14 years.

“It’s crowded as it is with walkers, joggers, recreational bicyclists, families with little kids on bikes, speed walkers,” he said. “The trail is one of the best things about Winnetka; it’s one of the best things about the North Shore.”

Winnetka resident Terri Lowinger said she rides a bicycle to burn calories and save gas. She said she would appreciate safer routes and more bike racks in town, “so we have some place to put our bikes when we get there.”