Identification of park and restroom facilities located near Kane County's bicycle and pedestrian trails and other major destinations is among the updated features included in the latest, recently-released update to the Kane and Northern Kendall County Public Bicycle map.

 

The Public Map identifies all the existing local and regional trails throughout Kane and Northern Kendall Counties and provides updates to the Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS) system which rates the perceived �comfort level� of experienced adult bicyclists sharing the road with traffic, according to planner Mike Sullivan of the Kane County Division of Transportation (KDOT).

 

Kane County recognizes walking and biking not only as great recreational activities, but as excellent alternative forms of transportation and taken action to improve conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians. KDOT has a full-time staff member dedicated to bicycle and pedestrian planning, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations are now incorporated into all road improvements. Planning for and accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians in all development and construction projects is among the efforts made by KDOT to provide the county with safer biking and walking opportunities.

 

Sullivan is KDOT's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator and Regional Planning Liaison, Kane/Kendall Council of Mayors. Bicycle and pedestrian planning in the two counties, of which the map is a product, is done through the Council of Mayors and implemented by its member agencies. The overall effort is guided by the KKCOM's 2002 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.

 

The 2011-2012 version of the map includes all the new trails built in the past year, such as the three miles of new multi-use paths constructed throughout the Stearns Road Bridge Corridor, according to Sullivan. The map's first-ever identification of the various park and restroom facilities along and near the trail system is designed to promote Kane County's Healthy Living Vision and Fit Kids 2020 initiative, he said. The new map is available on the Bicycle and Pedestrian website at www.co.kane.il.us/dot/COM/BikePed/. To request a copy, contact Mike Sullivan at 630-444-3142 or sullivanmike@co.kane.il.us.

 

The regional trail system in Kane County is one of the most developed in Illinois, with

connections to McHenry County in the north and Kendall County to the south via the Fox River Trail and connections to DuPage County in the east via various branches of the Illinois Prairie Path. The network includes more than 130 miles of regional trails and 246 miles of local trails.

 

About 25,000 copies of the public bicycle map are printed and distributed annually.