Church Street Protected Bike Lanes

The safety of our ETHS Students walking and cycling to school is a top priority. Continuous, protected bike lanes along the south side of Church Street from the Channel Bridge/Trail to Dodge Ave, is a critical project for enhancing our community. Existing street conditions in the vicinity leave much to be desired at present, with no designated lanes and high volumes of car and truck traffic, discouraging cycling and increasing the chance of injuries and fatalities.

Sheridan Rd in front of Northwestern is an excellent model- ETHS students deserve a similar, high-quality solution. Just as on Sheridan, a large amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic necessitates separate facilities for all users- keeping cyclists off the sidewalks and the roadways for a better flowing and safer travel experience for all.

The City of Evanston has pledged to develop a safe, world-class transportation network for all users. This includes an emphasis on Vision Zero, protecting pedestrians, transit users, and cyclists as they are more exposed than motorists. Evanston has also committed itself to CARP, the Climate Action and Resilience Plan, to reduce carbon emissions from transportation. That goal is achievable only if we improve bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure to a standard safe enough for our families and children, the most vulnerable (and more easily distracted!).