The Chainlink

Kinzie. It's what's next.

Hopefully you've heard by now that CDOT will begin construction this week on the city's first protected bike lane: Kinzie Street from Milwaukee Avenue/Desplaines Street to Wells Street. 

 

Full story on Steven Can Plan. 

 

I want to know what you think about this.

  • What do you feel will need special attention?
  • Is this the right or wrong location for such a facility? Why?
  • Are you going to thank/congratulate Rahm, Gabe, and the CDOT Bicycle Program?
  • Will you use it?

 

Cycle track and protected bike lane naysayers, this isn't the post for you. But if you've ridden in protected bike lanes before, then I welcome your constructive comments and criticism based on your actual experiences. 

Big intersection

The new beginning. Looking southeast at the intersection of Kinzie/Milwaukee/Desplaines. 

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Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 28, 2011 at 8:12am

So I checked out the ever-popular Kinzie Cycle Track this morning.  Took a small detour Westward at Wells/Kinzie.  Nice set-up.  I see some of the points earlier posts bring up; especially winter maintenance.  It was nice to see city employees with leaf blowers clearing debris off the path!  However, I wonder what this apparatus is; how long has it been there?  It's right in the middle of the path with the city "orange netting" wrapped around it.  I hate to think the city or buildings will be using the path as temporary storage for "stuff"?

Permalink Reply by notoriousDUG on June 28, 2011 at 8:22am

I have never been keen on this style of bike lane and have now used them twice.

 

Both times it was clogged with pedestrians.  Pedestrians who made no effort to move when I dinged my bell at them and, in one case, gave me an angry look when I shouted 'Bike Lane! Sidewalks on the north side!'

 

One of the times I was trapped behind a pair of cyclists setting a side by side pace that could best be described as glacial; this was after waving to put in much effort to pass a wobbler moving only slightly faster.

 

I am still not convinced this is the future.

Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on June 28, 2011 at 8:44am

That is extremely strange.  It is sitting over one of the manholes in the street which seems to be open somewhat.  The thing is very hard to see -do you have a better picture of it close up or can you zoom in on the original and crop it?

 

I almost want to say it is an electrical transformer as it is the right color and about the correct shape and size for a 75KVA unit.  -but I can't imagine them leaving such a thing right there even if there was a need for it. I wonder if it is still there and what exactly it is.  

 



in it to win it said:

So I checked out the ever-popular Kinzie Cycle Track this morning.  Took a small detour Westward at Wells/Kinzie.  Nice set-up.  I see some of the points earlier posts bring up; especially winter maintenance.  It was nice to see city employees with leaf blowers clearing debris off the path!  However, I wonder what this apparatus is; how long has it been there?  It's right in the middle of the path with the city "orange netting" wrapped around it.  I hate to think the city or buildings will be using the path as temporary storage for "stuff"?

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 28, 2011 at 8:54am


James Baum said:

That is extremely strange.  It is sitting over one of the manholes in the street which seems to be open somewhat.  The thing is very hard to see -do you have a better picture of it close up or can you zoom in on the original and crop it?

 

I almost want to say it is an electrical transformer as it is the right color and about the correct shape and size for a 75KVA unit.  -but I can't imagine them leaving such a thing right there even if there was a need for it. I wonder if it is still there and what exactly it is.  

 



in it to win it said:

So I checked out the ever-popular Kinzie Cycle Track this morning.  Took a small detour Westward at Wells/Kinzie.  Nice set-up.  I see some of the points earlier posts bring up; especially winter maintenance.  It was nice to see city employees with leaf blowers clearing debris off the path!  However, I wonder what this apparatus is; how long has it been there?  It's right in the middle of the path with the city "orange netting" wrapped around it.  I hate to think the city or buildings will be using the path as temporary storage for "stuff"?

Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on June 28, 2011 at 9:06am

Definetly sitting over a partially-opened manhole so that is why it is there.  Looks to be a Dry Transformer with structural reinforcement support built around it   These things are HEAVY* inside with coils of copper while the outside "box" is quite lightweight and not up to being moved multiple times.  If this is a temporary transformer for field use I would imagine that such a structure built around it would not be unusual.

 

Was there some sort of construction going on elsewhere where they needed a lot of power? Like something going on just off the street or some sort of street or sidewalk faire? It would have been nearby.  Or maybe they are doing work just under the street in one of the tunnels and needed 120/240v power and had to transform down a higher voltage feeder line in order to  get it there.   Maybe they needed to temporarily re-feed a dewatering pump or something in the area for some reason.  It is right next to the bridge. 

 

I don't imagine it will be there very long.  Days at the most.  If it were something that would take a few weeks or months they would have shot a line to the side underground and put it on the curbside with a more permanent installation and painted it yellow or something where nobody would have noticed it. 

 

This is all speculation from someone who does this kind of work...

 

*Heavy as in upwards of 1200lbs.  It's not GOING anywhere.

Permalink Reply by Duppie 13.5185km on June 28, 2011 at 9:16am
Barely visible to the left (on the Merchandise Mart's property) is some sewer replacement project going on. My guess it is related to that.

in it to win it said:

So I checked out the ever-popular Kinzie Cycle Track this morning.  Took a small detour Westward at Wells/Kinzie.  Nice set-up.  I see some of the points earlier posts bring up; especially winter maintenance.  It was nice to see city employees with leaf blowers clearing debris off the path!  However, I wonder what this apparatus is; how long has it been there?  It's right in the middle of the path with the city "orange netting" wrapped around it.  I hate to think the city or buildings will be using the path as temporary storage for "stuff"?

Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on June 28, 2011 at 10:38am
That would be good to post on mybikelane.com
Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on June 28, 2011 at 10:46am
Wow, MBL is actually getting used.  I should start posting to it again.  I hated being the only one so I gave up last year.
Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on June 28, 2011 at 11:15am

I'm starting a fund to fly Casey Neistat out here to crash into that for the next video.

In for the first $20. Who else?

Duppie said:

Barely visible to the left (on the Merchandise Mart's property) is some sewer replacement project going on. My guess it is related to that.

in it to win it said:

So I checked out the ever-popular Kinzie Cycle Track this morning.  Took a small detour Westward at Wells/Kinzie.  Nice set-up.  I see some of the points earlier posts bring up; especially winter maintenance.  It was nice to see city employees with leaf blowers clearing debris off the path!  However, I wonder what this apparatus is; how long has it been there?  It's right in the middle of the path with the city "orange netting" wrapped around it.  I hate to think the city or buildings will be using the path as temporary storage for "stuff"?

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 28, 2011 at 11:23am
Damn! I shoulda had those pedestrians video me with my phone while I staged a good crash...

H3N3 said:

I'm starting a fund to fly Casey Neistat out here to crash into that for the next video.

In for the first $20. Who else?

Duppie said:

Barely visible to the left (on the Merchandise Mart's property) is some sewer replacement project going on. My guess it is related to that.

in it to win it said:

So I checked out the ever-popular Kinzie Cycle Track this morning.  Took a small detour Westward at Wells/Kinzie.  Nice set-up.  I see some of the points earlier posts bring up; especially winter maintenance.  It was nice to see city employees with leaf blowers clearing debris off the path!  However, I wonder what this apparatus is; how long has it been there?  It's right in the middle of the path with the city "orange netting" wrapped around it.  I hate to think the city or buildings will be using the path as temporary storage for "stuff"?

Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on June 28, 2011 at 12:42pm

Don't hit it too hard...

 

Permalink Reply by Tim S on June 28, 2011 at 1:00pm
I have ridden this stretch a few times now and while I like it I worry that the average driver is not going to get it and turn onto the side streets without remembering the bikes may be there because the cars parked in the designated spot obscure the bicycles.

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