Rabchuk Defends Bike Hub Plan for St. Charles

St. Charles mayoral candidate John Rabchuk on Wednesday responded to his opponents’ criticisms of his plan to make the city a hub for bicyclists, even thanking 3rd Ward Alderman Ray Rogina for correcting his remarks about an abandoned rail line.

“I have received tremendous support for the concept of making St. Charles a cycling hub, including many new ideas from residents that would greatly expand on my original concepts,” Rabchuk said in a release issued Wednesday. “Once elected, I intend to create a cycling commission made up of cycling enthusiasts and business leaders that can identify and review what other cycling hubs around the country have successfully implemented and then make recommendations to our city staff and council.”

In announcing his bicycle hub plan, Rabchuk said consideration is being given to acquiring an abandoned railroad right of way for public use. He identified the rail line as running through the city from near the DuPage Airport to where it ends west of Randall Road. Rogina on Monday criticized that as inaccurate, noting that east of Tyler Road, the rail line remains a functioning spur upon which some businesses rely.

“I want to thank Mr. Rogina for correctly identifying that the railroad line under consideration for acquisition by the city and the St. Charles Park District, which is referenced in my proposal to make St. Charles a regional cycling hub, would end at Tyler Road,” he wrote in the Wednesday’s statement. “Once a cycling path connected the downtown area to Tyler, there are a number of alternative routes that could be designated trails to link to the existing trail along the southern edge of DuPage Airport.”

Rabchuk’s plan would have residents and the city planning now to make infrastructure improvements such as water and air stations, cycle repair stands and an electronic mapping system with downloadable GPS instructions for bike routes.

“While cycling can have a significant economic impact in its own right, it should also be viewed as just a portion of a comprehensive effort to create vitality and energy throughout the city,” he wrote Wednesday. “We can leverage the energy created by cycling, my proposed STC Corps volunteer resource center and other initiatives that I envision as additional tools to attract new business and new residents.

“I encourage everyone visit my website www.rabchukformayor.com on a regular basis as I post more information about the additional initiatives that I envision as key components of a broad comprehensive plan for the enhancement of the vitality and health of St. Charles,” he wrote.

Related:

• Jan. 28, 2013: Rabchuk: Make St. Charles a Cycling Hub
• Jan. 30, 2013: St. Charles Mayoral Candidates Pan Rabchuk Bike Plan

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