Meet Your New Advocate

The Active Transportation Alliance infomed us today they have hired Lina Hoffman as the new North Suburban Coodinator. Carolyn Helmke, Senior Transportation Planner at Active Trans said that thanks to the help of North Suburban Complete Streets in raising awareness and funds, even in these uncertain economic times, Active Trans wanted to increase their advocacy work in our area. Carolyn went on to say "Lina Hoffman lives in Skokie and is excited to help mobilize north suburban communities to walk, bike and use transit more often. She has experience working with government and non-government organizations and was a student trustee at Oakton Community College from 2002-2004. She is currently finishing up her bachelors degree at DePaul majoring in International Studies and plans to pursue a graduate degree next. She is very interested in the way that cultural values help shape communities and sees a culture of transit emerging that she will help promote."

One of Lina Hoffman's first duties will be to meet our group and hear our priorities at our next meeting, 7:00-9:00PM, Tuesday March 10 at Alberto's Cycles in Highland Park. For more information on the meeting or our group please contact us at cyclingadvocacy@gmail.com.

Barrington Hills "Response" to Crash and Cycling Issues

February 5, 2009

RE: Village of Barrington Hills Bicycle Ordinances

During the spring and summer months, large numbers of bicyclists ride throughout the Village of Barrington Hills. A 2008 Barrington Hills Police Department survey indicated that bicyclists were a major concern for members of the community. Large groups of bicyclists frequently occupy entire lanes on roadways and impede the normal flow of traffic. Complaints of bicyclists disobeying stop signs and other rules of the road were also raised in the survey. The Barrington Hills Police Department responds to a number of bicycle related complaints during the spring and summer.

In response to these issues and in the interest of public safety for all bicyclists and motorists, the Village of Barrington Hills recently adopted two new ordinances that pertain to bicycles and their safe operation on roadways. The first is the mandate of single file bicycle riding. This ordinance states that persons riding bicycles upon a Village maintained roadway are prohibited from riding side by side and shall only ride single file.

The second ordinance is negligent operation of bicycles which states that it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle upon any public roadway (Village/County/ State) in a manner which is negligent or creates a risk of bodily injury or damage to or loss of property.

These new ordinances aim to ensure that both bicyclists and motor vehicles can share the roadway in a safe and responsible manner. The Barrington Hills Police Department will be enforcing these ordinances especially during the spring and summer months as the weather gets warmer. Any requests for additional information on these ordinances may be directed to Officer Sabas Parada at (847) 551-3006 or sparada@vbhpd.net

Printable flyer for March 10 meeting

Please print for posting at your bike shop or
club. Thanks and hope to see you then!

brochure courtesy Elliot Rossen