Committee Wants to Encourage, Not Mandate, Bicycle Parking

Elmhurst's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee will not recommend to the City Council that businesses be required to set aside areas for bicycle parking on their properties. But the committee does want the city to look for other ways to promote bike use.

The city's Bicycle Task Force, which brings together residents and representatives from organizations to promote biking, asked the committee earlier this year to consider an ordinance mandating bike parking.

Third Ward Alderman Susan Rose asked Monday if bike parking could be encouraged as part of the planned development process, which is implemented for large projects. Sixth Ward Alderman Steve Morley recommended the city work with Addison LLC, the group redeveloping the Addison Avenue corridor of the central business district, to see if bike racks can be added to plans for new buildings in that area. The committee will recommend the bike rack issue be added to pamphlets describing the requirements of a development that are given to builders and developers.

Even without any city mandates, the Bicycle Task Force, working with individual businesses and business organizations, has been successful in getting the city and private property owners to offer more biking amenities. The city recently agreed to construct a pad for a bike rack that U.S. Bank, 536 S. York Road, will install in an effort to increase bike parking in the York and Vallette area.