Flagg Creek Greenway Bike Path

Please put in sidewalks so I have somewhere safe to drive my wheelchair and neighbors can safely walk their dogs and elderly people are safe! Bicycles are fine on the streets, but sidewalks are better for pedestrians and people with needs.

I oppose having a bike path and having another place for people to go that is not easily accessible for police to patrol. We have enough problems with poor lighting and police patrolling our current streets. For the safety of our current community, Western Springs needs sidewalks.

It is in the best interest of those who live in the areas to have sidewalks before a bike path. I’m frustrated that a public bike path would be considered before sidewalks for the safety of our own community members.

Please work on finding grants to support sidewalk expansion throughout our village.

I oppose having a bike path for all of the reasons stated above. There are many blocks throughout all sections of Western Springs that need sidewalks. Having another place for people to go that is not easily accessible for police to patrol is the last thing residents want.

This is an unnecessary, irresponsible project which also endangers and displaces some wildlife along the creek. PLEASE vacate any further planning and discussion. There are many better uses of our Village funds and attention.

Western springs does not need this bike path, especially when there are so many other higher priority needs for taxpayer funds in the village. “Grants” do not represent free money for the village, as these reflect tax dollars collected from village residents by other taxing bodies.

I live along the creek and I would feel unsafe having stranger walking/riding through my back yard ... and would bring our property value down...

We need sidewalks not bike paths. Thanks

This path is completely unnecessary and quite detrimental to the neighborhood. The Forest Hills section of the proposed path would provide a place to ride that is already quite easy to traverse safely on either Commonwealth Ave. or Forest Hills Ave., which both have very little traffic. The streets in Ridgewood and Indian Head Park near the creek also are very clear of traffic. I have ridden my bike on these streets countless times. Money spent on a dedicated bike land should be reserved for areas which have no reasonably safe alternative.

We need sidewalks on our streets. We need better lighting on our streets. We DO NOT a bike path to bring down our property values and invite crime to our neighborhood!

Forest Hills lacks sidewalks up and down Fair Elms and all along busy 55th street – forcing our residents, including children and people with disabilities, to walk in the street. My son, Justin, has cerebral palsy and relies on a power wheelchair for mobility. Due to lack of sidewalks on Fair Elms, he is forced to “drive/walk” in the street – which is dangerous, especially in the snowy winter months. I find it ridiculous and an extreme waste of money, time and energy to pursue a paved bike path west of Fair Elms, when Fair Elms is now an unusable “patch-work quilt” of sidewalk! Fix the sidewalks! Our streets in Western Springs already serve as SAFE BIKE PATHS! Our streets cannot and do not serve as safe sidewalks! Please get your priorities straight. There is no need for a bike path. Western Springs residents want safe, well lighted sidewalks in FRONT of our homes – not a bike path, hidden behind our backyards, unmonitored and at risk for increased crime.

Do not invite more criminal activity into our neighborhood by giving them a clear path to move about freely

I am opposed to the bike path for many reasons but mainly concerned for safety. The bike path would be behind houses and cannot be properly monitored. I also believe the money allocated for this project can be used for better purposes.

I am opposed to the bike path because giving strangers full blown access to our neighborhood is a safety concern not just for Forest Hills but for the entire community of Western Springs.

I am opposed to the bike path.

The residents who LIVE in these neighborhoods do not want a bike path, nor do they see the need for a bike path as being a higher priority than other needs of their community. Shouldn't that be enough to abandon this project? If it isn't then the following considerations should be enough: Safety - this would be adding multiple access points to any resident whose home backs up to the path. These entry points cannot be effectively safeguarded and will pose a threat to children, property and schools. Village budgets - the path would cause an increase in expenses related to policing the bike path. Significantly more bike and foot patrols must be added if residents are to feel safe in their own homes. Ignoring existing community needs - our neighborhoods already have safety issues related to transportation: we don't have consistent sidewalks which leads to foot traffic on streets, we don’t have ADA accessibility along streets and intersections, we have inefficient and ineffective lighting creating low visibility in large areas of neighborhoods.

I am concerned about the impact on the environment. More paving means drainage issues and runoff. Many valuable trees will be cut down or suffer injury to their root system. Wildlife will not be able to freely access the creek due to the fence. Lighting at night will cause light pollution. Look up the Dark Sky Initiative for info on this problem.

I am opposed to the bike path

I am against this project for safety and security reasons. It is my understanding that the Village of Burr Ridge has removed some existing bike paths due to the same concerns and the Village of Indian Head Park has ruled out any participation for the same reasons. The $300,000 to $500,00 of village money required to complete this project can be better used in other areas.