I was sitting outside Grumpy's on Saturday about 12:30 and was amazed and the number of close calls between customers walking out of Aunt Diana's, Chew Chew and Grumpy's and bicycles. Most of the bicycle traffic on the sidewalk was kids, and I'm unsure of the law regarding bicycles as vehicles in Illinois and if there's an age where you're required to ride your bicycle in the street. Anyway, most of the traffic was kids on bikes, from about age 10 through teen. There were also some adults.
It seemed at the time that a wider sidewalk there would help with the bicycle traffic on the sidewalk. Also, maybe some of these kids need to be encouraged that riding on a busy pedestrian sidewalk requires you slow down a bit, or maybe even walk your bicycle. I did get into 'grumpy old man/get off my lawn' territory for just a minute and encourage one of the kids I knew to slow down.
Then, on Sunday, about the same time (closer to 1PM though) I took the following pictures.
And, finally, once I was at Grumpy's I heard the screech of car tires, and turned around to see a bicycle and car in close proximity in front of Riverside Bank. I don't think there was an accident, but it seemed to be a close call. It was loud enough to turn the heads of everyone in front of Grumpy's and The Chew Chew.