Grab Your Helmet and Ride Chicago
Local Biking Trails
Chicago has among the best bike trails in the country, and while many are closed right now during COVID-19, biking is still a great way to get active outside now. With the warmer weather, be sure to get out there. Of course, maintain a social distance, which is easier to do on a bike. Check out our suggestions below and read the bike safety myths and facts.
Northshore Channel Trail: The trail in Skokie, from Touhy to Greenbay Road is open. And in Chicago, pick up the trail where Kedzie Ave. meets Lincoln. It’s on the right side of the street and runs along the river straight to Lawrence Ave., going under a bridge at every major street. There are playgrounds along the way, and even a splash park and free Chicago swimming pool (when it’s not all closed!).
Greenbay Trail: If you’re ambitious, you can continue from the Northshore Channel Trail all the way toward the Botanic Gardens along the Greenbay Trail. This one is a lot of fun and runs along the Metra railway tracks for miles.
Cook County Forest Preserve: Weave your bike through the woods in the Cook County Forest Preserve system, which has more than 100 miles of paved bike trails. Note, some of the parking lots are currently closed during COVID-19, so check ahead.
Botanical Gardens: While unfortunately closed now, the Botanical Gardens are a great place to ride once our area opens up again. The Gardens are free, but they make you pay $25 to park, which is not so free after all. Beat the system and have a better time taking the train there. The Garden is located near the Braeside Metra train station on Metra’s Union Pacific North Line (see my train instructions above, but take the train on the other side of the platform that heads north to Waukegan. It’s about a mile to the gardens from there, but guess what? You can bring your bikes on the train.
Lakefront Bike Path: This too is closed right now but when it opens, park at Wilson Ave. or Montrose Harbor and ride south to the zoo. Lock your bikes there, bring a picnic and have a blast.
Skokie Lagoons: The Lagoons are part of the North Branch Trail, a trail that runs from Devon to the Botanic Gardens. Take 94W to Willow Road to reach the trails. When everything opens up again, you can bike for as long as you want and rent a canoe to boot! Rentals are inexpensive and fit two adults and three young kids.
Bicycle Safety: Myths and Facts
Learning to ride a bike is a developmental milestone in the life of a child. The bicycle, a child’s first vehicle, is a source of pride and a symbol of independence and freedom. Yet all too often children are seriously injured, or even killed, when they fail to follow basic bicycle safety rules. The following is a list of common bicycle safety myths, coupled with the correct information you need to teach your children about safe bike riding. These facts will help you and your children make every bike ride safe.
Myth: My child doesn’t need to wear a helmet on short rides around the neighborhood.
Fact: Your child needs to wear a helmet on every bike ride, no matter how short or how close to home. Many accidents happen in driveways, on sidewalks, and on bike paths, not just on streets. In fact, the majority of bike crashes happen near home. A helmet protects your child from serious injury, and should always be worn. And remember, wearing a helmet at all times helps children develop the helmet habit.
Myth: A football helmet will work just as well as a bicycle helmet.
Fact: Only a bicycle helmet is made specifically to protect the head from any fall that may occur while biking. Other helmets or hard hats are made to protect the head from other types of injury. Never allow your child to wear another type of helmet when riding a bike.
Myth: I need to buy a bicycle for my child to grow into.
Fact: Oversized bikes are especially dangerous. Your child does not have the skills and coordination needed to handle a bigger bike and may lose control. Your child should be able to sit on the seat, with hands on the handlebars, and place the balls of both feet on the ground. Your child’s first bike should also be equipped with footbrakes, since your children’s hand muscles and coordination are not mature enough to control hand brakes.
Myth: It’s safer for my child to ride facing traffic.
Fact: Your child should always ride on the right, with traffic. Riding against traffic confuses or surprises drivers. Almost one fourth of bicycle-car collisions result from bicyclists riding against traffic.
Myth: Children shouldn’t use hand signals, because signaling may cause them to lose control of their bikes.
Fact: Hand signals are an important part of the rules of the road and should be taught to all children before they begin to ride in the street. They are an important communication link between cyclists and motorists. Any child who does not have the skills necessary to use hand signals without falling or swerving shouldn’t be riding in the street to begin with. Many accidents involving older children occur when they fail to signal motorists as to their intended actions.
Myth: Bike reflectors and a reflective vest will make it safe for my child to ride at night.
Fact: It’s never safe for your child to ride a bike at night. Night riding requires special skills and special equipment. Few youngsters are equipped with either. Never allow your child to ride at dusk or after dark.
Myth: I don’t need to teach my child all of this bicycle safety stuff. I was never injured as a child. Biking is just meant to be fun.
Fact: Riding a bike is fun – if it’s done safely. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize hundreds of thousands of children are seriously injured each year in bicycle falls. Worse still, more than 600 children die from them each year. While you may have been lucky enough to survive childhood without a serious bicycle-related injury, you shouldn’t count on luck to protect your child.
Teach your child these basic safety rules:
- Wear a helmet.
- Ride on the right side, with traffic.
- Use appropriate hand signals.
- Respect traffic signals.
Basic safety measures like these can keep bicycle riding enjoyable and safe for your child.
Bike Safety Source: HealthyChildren.org
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