Transportation experts say northeastern Illinois is on the cusp of completing a system of bicycle routes that could soon allow safe and nearly continuous biking across the region — from Indiana north to Wisconsin and west past the corn fields.

"We're close to that being complete," said Tom Murtha, senior planner with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. "There are still gaps, but the gaps are very small compared to what's been completed. We're very close to being able to go, mostly by trail, across the region." Full article here.