With surveys in, bike path talk can resume in Elm Grove

Now that village officials have in their hands the results of a survey gauging residents' feelings on outdoor activities, discussion on marking bicycle trails can resume.

More than 1,100 homes received surveys on residents' interest in biking, walking, running and other outdoor activities. It also raised questions about the perception from people in Elm Grove about the safety of their community.

According to the survey, 80 percent of homes have an adult who walks on a regular basis, while about half have a child who walks or rides a bike at least once a week.

The primary destination for most of those people was Elm Grove Park, a destination on the route of the proposed bike path. According to Elm Grove Police Chief Jim Gage, between 2003 and 2007, there was just one accident on the stretch of Juneau Boulevard used to get to Elm Grove Park.

That accident involved neither a biker nor a pedestrian.

Survey respondents identified Juneau Boulevard as an area of safety concerns.

Gage said most of the avid bikers he sees use Watertown Plank Road instead of Juneau.

About 40 percent of residents said they would not favor safety improvements if they meant a tax increase.

In the spring and summer, the Public Safety Commission and Village Board discussed plans to mark official bike trails through the village to increase awareness and safety of bikers.

That measure was tabled pending the outcome of the study, based on the idea that the village wanted to see how much community interest there was surrounding outdoor activities.

Funding for the minimal signage and marking for the trail reportedly was going to come from a private source and would not include public money.

The Village Board could begin discussions about the results of the survey as early as next Tuesday at its monthly meeting.

Next Step

What:Village Board meeting

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Village Hall, 13600 Juneau Blvd., Elm Grove

Why: possible discussion on safety survey