Active Mobility

Naperville Bikeability

A Demonstration Plan for Making Biking Safer and Better Connected

As is the case in many suburbs and small cities, Naperville is built for cars - roadways, parking lots, garages, driveways, intersections, signals, and signage are all car-oriented. Pedestrian infrastructure is a secondary priority, with some great places to walk and others that are downright frightening. But bike infrastructure that is safe and connected is sorely lacking, which is why we created the Naperville Bikeability report.

Interns were a big part of researching, writing, and publicizing this report, resulting in a win-win: Our high school and college students learned valuable skills and gained the satisfaction of being part of improving their community. In turn, this project kicked off a coalition of community groups and individuals who are demanding active mobility infrastructure that benefits all.

Improving access to biking will also be a big win for the climate! Cities with great biking infrastructure prove the adage, "Build it and they will come!"

Bike infrastructure = More people choosing to bike = Fewer cars on the road = Reduced carbon and air pollution

Benefits

Economic

Bikeability can improve sales at local businesses and property values, and reduce transportation costs. In addition, while adding bike infrastructure does require investment, the costs should be considered within the context of modifying and maintaining car infrastructure. Taken together, the economic benefits of bike infrastructure typically outweigh the costs.

Benefits

Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Motor vehicles are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing significantly to climate change. Biking, on the other hand, is a zero-emission mode of transport, directly reducing an individual’s carbon footprint. Regularly biking instead of driving can reduce transport-based carbon emissions by up to 67%, making it a powerful personal action against global warming.

Benefits

Health

Incorporating cycling into one’s routine offers countless benefits beyond physical fitness. It elevates emotional health, plays a crucial role in addressing common health concerns, and emerges as a powerful solution to improving muscular strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity. Biking supports overall well-being and lifestyle in a community.

Benefits

Safety and Equity

Improving bike infrastructure improves the safety of bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike. Low-income residents and workers are more likely to commute by bike than those with higher incomes. By making biking safer and more accessible, Naperville can create greater equity of access to employment.

Solutions

Road Diets

Road diets can transform streets from dangerous, high-speed corridors into vibrant, multi-modal spaces that support local businesses and improve quality of life. Road dieting consists of reallocating the space on the street to reduce the number of lanes and can include the addition of bike lanes.

Solutions

Traffic Calming

Traffic calming comprises many different solutions, including lane width reduction, speed limit reduction with enforcement, narrowing roadways, chicanes, speed bumps, protected intersections, and more.

Solutions

Bike Lanes

To improve safety and comfort for cyclists, Naperville should implement protected bike lanes where feasible, but not all bike lanes provide the same level of comfort and protection. The greater the separation or barrier between cyclists and motor vehicles, the more effective the bike lane at protecting cyclists and motorist alike. Protected bike lanes benefit motorists, who are often unsure of how to share the roadway with cyclists.

Solutions

Multi-Use Paths

A multi-use path is a path placed similar to a sidewalk. It is wide and inviting enough for both cyclists and pedestrians. It is separated from the road with landscaping and often a curb and may run through areas where motor vehicles are prohibited.

Win-Win

Intern Skills

During the summer of 2024, a team of 7 interns helped create the Naperville Bikeability report. This project was a win-win for the interns and the community. Our high school and college students gained valuable skills: teamwork, data collection, surveying, data analysis, autocad, GIS mapping, research, writing, public speaking, graphing and data presentation, and more. The community got a valuable resource to move forward policy and infrastructure changes to make everyone in the community safer while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Next Steps

Coalition Building

Building on the Naperville Bikeability plan, Accelerate Climate Solutions worked with the Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force (NEST) to lead a coalition of organizations and individuals pushing for Vision Zero - a goal of zero serious or fatal traffic accidents. To join this coalition, please contact info@sustainnaperville.org.