Naperville has seen the number of crashes between vehicles, bike riders and pedestrians cut in half over the last five years.
Riding a bike or taking a walk are great ways to stay active but those activities are not without some risk of peril, especially when vehicles traveling much faster are involved.
In 2010, 59 car crashes involving a cyclist or pedestrian occured in Naperville, but there were only 36 in 2014.
“In recent years the city has added to the pedestrian and bicycle network through the addition of on-street bicycle routes, paths and sidewalks,” Jennifer Loudon, transportation team leader for Naperville’s Transportation, Engineering and Development Business Group, said in an email. “We also look for opportunities to make intersections easier to use for all modes. For example, we have installed countdown pedestrian signals at many locations.”
The city was also awarded a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists in 2009, and it was renewed in 2013.
Nonetheless, car crashes are still a concern for many cyclists and pedestrians in Naperville.
Members of the Naperville Bicycle Club say they make an effort to stay away from busy streets because of the concern.
“We try as much as possible, as soon as possible, to get away from traffic,” said Dietmar Rempfer, president of the Naperville Bicycle Club. “None of the groups go to heavy populated areas like South Washington Sttreet for our safety and to not inconvenience anyone going to and from work.”
About six years ago Rempfer was involved in a car crash while he was riding his bike on 103rd Street east of South Route 59. A woman in a vehicle was waiting to pull out of a subdvision and Rempfer thought he made eye contact with her, so he contintued on. However, she had not seen Rempfer and pulled out him without giving him enough time to stop.
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Remfer broke two ribs and tore three ligaments in his shoulder in the accident.
“Some drivers don’t pay enough attention to cyclists, because they are less visible,” Rempfer said. “Now I try to be extra careful and never assume someone sees me. I try to pay attention and anticipate what others might do wrong.”
Some streets in Naperville are more dangerous that others for cyclists and pedestrians, statistics show. Four of the city’s five most dangerous roads for cyclists and pedestrians are in south Naperville.
Andrew Zusko takes the Metra’s BNSF line into Chicago for work. For the last year, Zusko has been riding his bike from his house in south Naperville to and from the Naperville Metra Station.
Zusko said he usually takes side streets through the neighborhoods and checks for cars at the intersections during his ten-minute ride to the station.
“I stop and check,” Zusko said. “Some people don’t, but I have kids so I have to be worried about myself.”
Some of the most dangerous streets for cyclists and pedestrians include South Route 59, Aurora Avenue, 95th Street, North Washington Street and South Washington Street.
More than 30 accidents involving a cyclist or pedestrian occurred on South Washington Street over the last five years, which was nearly double the amount of crashes on any other street in Naperville.
Loudon said that when the DuPage River Trail was extended south of 87th Street to Royce Road five years ago, there was a significant increase in pedestrian and bicyclist activity in the area. The trail crosses Washington Street at two intersections.
“TED and police continually monitor this area, and we have made improvements to the intersections to provide additional guidance and improve compliance by all users,” Loudon said in an email.
In order to maintain a low number of crash crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists, city officials are always considering the safety of active transportation modes in project plans, said Loudon.
Naperville is developing construction plans to widen the South Washington Street bridge, south of Ring Road, and add sidewalks on both sides. Federal funding has been secured and the improvements will be constructed next year.