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May 19, 2016
May is National Bike Month, and as the weather steadily improves, more and more people can be seen biking around Lake County!
Did you know that the Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is
more than just roads? LCDOT has about 60 miles of bike paths and bike lanes as
part of the Lake County highway system and continues to consider non-motorized
travel a high priority. Watch this video to learn more!
How do bike paths fit into LCDOT's annual program? Whenever possible, bike paths are added during a reconstruction and widening project, and bike-friendly shoulders are added where appropriate during resurfacing projects. LCDOT works with municipal agencies and other partners to look for opportunities to connect the dots and fill the gaps in the non-motorized network. Overall, there are over 550 total miles of trails and bikeways connecting forest preserves and communities throughout Lake County!
Good transportation policies are based on the premise that the public right-of-way is to be shared and well-designed road corridors should accommodate all users. While some agencies prioritize bike paths as a recreation opportunity, LCDOT prioritizes a trunk network of bike paths in order to provide an alternate mode of travel. Not only does this provide more options to our residents by connecting to places of employment, bus stops, and train stations, it also helps with:
- Cleaner, healthier air
- Less congested roadways
- More livable, safe and cost-efficient communities
This year, the annual construction program includes 22 projects, 14 of which contain non-motorized travel improvements, such as sidewalk connections, bike paths, or adding bike friendly shoulders. LCDOT is committed to exploring new paths or extensions to accommodate the increasing demand for bicycle travel in Lake County.
 Mobile friendly Bike Lake County allows you to access info on the go!
LCDOT has a wealth of bike path information on our website
including safety tips, resources, information about biking to work and more.
One exciting new addition is the mobile friendly “Bike Lake County” feature.
Explore Lake County's bike path and trail network using the new app, allowing
you to access great information while you are on the go!
- Locate yourself on the map
- Measure distances
- View bike path construction updates
- View elevation contours
- Identify bike paths, trails, lanes, and nearby parking facilities
- View photos taken by fellow bicyclists around Lake County
- Share the map with others
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS! We will add them to the Bike Lake County website, the Flickr pool and use them on social media. Send photos and comments to bike@lakecountyil.gov - we look forward to hearing from you.
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is gathering feedback about the benefits of implementing different types of bicycle facility improvements, and they want to hear from you. Share your input on bicycle usage HERE. Submissions will be accepted through June 15, 2016.
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