Public input sought as Wheaton draws up bike plan

By Ted Villaire

By the fall, the City of Wheaton will join the ranks of a growing number of communities in the region that have a bike plan in place.

The city invites Wheaton residents to share their thoughts at a public hearing on June 9. City officials will ask residents about common road routes they use and potential bicycling programs that the city could establish.

“The bike plan is going to benefit the community in a variety of ways,” said Ted Witte, chair of the Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission. “It will mean more people biking in Wheaton and better health among residents. It also will create safer streets for our cyclists.”

Community bike plans serve as a planning tool that helps guide future developments, policies and programs. Also, having a plan in place allows communities to access a variety of grants aimed at improving cycling infrastructure and developing cycling programs.

Active Trans has been contracted to by the City of Wheaton to help develop the bike plan, which is expected to be completed during fall 2010. The funding for the plan comes from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

Ted Villaire is a ModeShift contributor.