The Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest reports that the Village of Oak Park has amassed a small fleet of bicycles for Village workers to use when on the job and traveling around town.  The Village began offering the bikes as a way both to save money on gas and to give employees a chance to exercise when at work.

Public Works Director John Wielebnicki praised the program, which began in 2008, saying, "It's a great way to find parking in downtown Oak Park; it's great exercise; and it's amazing what you can see as a public works director when you're riding around on a bike," explaining that spotting a pothole or damaged sign from a bike is much easier than from an automobile.

Village streetlight technician, Kevin Norris (photo courtesy of Wednesday Journal staff, M. Stempniak)

The employee bike program was first suggested and outlined in Oak Park’s bikeway plan, adopted in 2008.  According to the Village manager, other aspects of the bike plan will be implemented later this year, including bike route signage and bike rack installations.  "We know that bicycle use is growing in Oak Park because we keep adding additional bike racks around town, and as soon as we put them out there, many times, they're filled up," he said.