Saturday, October 29, 2011

Arlington Heights Strives to be a "Bicycle Friendly Community"

The Village of Arlington Heights is making a strong effort to be designated a Bicycle Friendly Community. The title, which is given out by the League of American Bicyclists, would make Arlington Heights only the 5th community in Illinois to have such a distinction. The only other areas in Illinois with the designations are Champaign, Chicago, Naperville and Schaumburg.
Arlington Heights is pursuing two programs in order to help gain recognition from the League. They plan on instituting a Safe Routes to School initiative and a Complete Streets Policy. Safe Routes to School is a federally funded program that includes education and infrastructure changes that encourage all students to walk or bicycle to school. The Complete Streets Policy is a concept that requires safe, attractive and comfortable access for all bicyclists. Further, the Policy requires that all new roadwork or road renovation be made in consideration of bicycle traffic.

With more and more people using bicycles as a means of transportation, Keating Law Offices fully supports the efforts of communities such as Arlington Heights. Attorney John J. Walz stated “Our firm hopes that many more suburbs and townships will adopt policies like those enacted in Arlington Heights. Safe and accessible roads for bicyclists helps cut down on the number of collisions and accidents between motorists and bicyclists that occur daily throughout Illinois.”
Keating Law Offices is currently handling several cases involving bicyclists struck by negligent drivers. If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Keating Law Offices at mkeating@keatinglegal.com or 312-239-6787. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.