Evanston Recognized as 'Bicycle Friendly Community"

The city of Evanston's efforts to make bicyclists feel more at home recently garnered national attention.

A representative of the League of American Bicyclists presented aldermen with a "Bicycle Friendly Community" award at Monday night's public meeting. 

Evanston is one of 242 communities to recieve the recognition nationwide and one of only five in Illinois. The others include Chicago, Naperville, Schaumburg and Urbana.

“It is gratifying to know that the work of residents, elected officials and city staff to improve Evanston's infrastructure is being recognized on a national level,” said Suzette Robinson, Evanston’s Public Works Director. “Evanston residents not only support the biking infrastructure improvements we have made, but they enthusiastically use them."

The city recently installed a protected bicycle lane on Church Street, which separates bicyclists from traffic with physical markers and green striping. The bicycle path is located flush with the curb, meaning parked cars also separate drivers from bicyclists.