I had the pleasure to meet Mayor Moylan in person last year at the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove. He was walking the event, taking in ideas on how to make Des Plaines own fledgling event (Tour de Des Plaines) even better for coming years. He took time to speak with several cyclists and really took great interest in what they had to say. It was great to witness this on the back of the many other initiatives I've seen him involved in regarding public safety and accessiblity since moving to Des Plaines.
I was able to thank him personally for an event involving the DP Police Department that occured about a month prior on a training ride not far from my home. Long story short, I had been run off the road by a Fed Ex semi while I rode down Oakton Street. I phoned local authorities and told them I'd like to speak to the driver and ask what was the motivation for his actions was. Des Plaines police flagged down the semi and held him roadside to allow me confront the driver. I wanted to ask him what more I could do than hug a curb, wear a helmet, keep to a reasonable speed, and stay highly visible to avoid being mowed down like a bug. The police officer mediated the convo to make sure it stayed constructive and didn't become a shouting match. It blew me away that the Des Plaines Police Department cared enough to take these actions for a cyclist.
The river walk that has been constructed in Des Plaines is also a great bike friendly renovation that has been completed in recent years. It has played well in to the late summer widening and chip graveling of a large portion of the Des Plaines River bike trail that now offers better access for all those wishing to ride, jog, or go for a casual stroll.
The odds of a world-class velodrome landing in one's city of residency are uncanny. There are only 19 velodromes in the U.S. currently in operation. Many are unaware of what velodrome even is, let alone the abandoned popularity of track racing in the Chicago during the early 1900's. There is also a valiant, and well developed effort put forward to construct a Chicago Velo Campus on Chicago's South-side Lakeshore. Hey, an indoor velodrome would be a great addition to the Chicagoland area regardless of where it is constructed.
However, I still feel there are strong advantages for one of the three proposed Des Plaines proposed locations:
- Not far from O'Hare International airport. This would be conducive for national and international events. The Rosemont area is spilling over with great hotels and restaurants. Des Plaines won't be far behind once it's proposed casino is constucted.
- Easy access from all directions: The proposed locations of the velodrome would be a stone's throw away from both East/West I-90 (In from chicago and the NW Suburbs) and I-294 (down from the North suburbs and up from the West and South Suburbs) Metra runs out from the city in no longer than a 40 minute ride.
- Also Des Plaines is only a 15-20 drive from the existing Ed Rudolph Velodrome. The folks living in the immediate area of this velodrome have helped to keep track racing alive in the Chicagoland area for years. A cross association of any kind between the two velodromes would be beneficial to the track racing community living nearby.
- I LIVE HERE!!!
Check out these linked articles for more detail on the plan for the Des Vegas Velodrome...
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