Oak Park pedestrian mall

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Peenworm Grubologist on May 8, 2012 at 12:28pm

Well that's interesting because the strip of Marion between Lake and North Blvd used to be a pedestrian mall until two or three years ago when they tore it up and turned it into a through-street.

It's a cool development and would work pretty well down there I should think but at the same time I'm wary given how caught on flight of fancy this town gets and the probability that if this ever does get finished it'll just get undone shortly thereafter.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 8, 2012 at 12:41pm

Yes, it seems rather ironic to me that they're doing yet another makeover on Marion in such a short time.  It also seems odd that they're banning bikes in this zone, which includes the Lake Theater, Book Table, several favorite restaurants, Starbucks and other popular destinations. Trader Joe's is on the periphery, so it doesn't appear that bike access there is affected.

I wonder how they're planning to address the issue of bike parking in this area.

Permalink Reply by Peenworm Grubologist on May 8, 2012 at 2:34pm

Yeah it's funny how they consistently come right up to the edge of multi-use streets and then go all screwy. It'll be a bit of a pain to get my groceries if that whole area is no-bikes.

Maybe that's how drivers feel but there's a lot less sense to banning mixed pedestrian and bike traffic.

Permalink Reply by Bill Watson on May 8, 2012 at 5:23pm

Anne - when I first read this I was surprised that I hadn't heard about it because it would be a big change.  When I look at the Oak Park village code document, I think it dates back to long ago when in fact Lake Street was closed to cars.  It reopened to cars in 1988.    Marion, south of Lake, was remade and reopened to cars last year or in 2010.  I'd be curious to know who your source is. 

Permalink Reply by Legacy Frameworks on May 8, 2012 at 5:47pm

I, like Bill, am doubtful that is still in effect. It still is in the village code, but is probably just a holdover. I get around Oak Park by bike and actually avoid that area when traveling to WF and TJ's because the car traffic on lake between Forest and Harlem is usually pretty bad. They do close Marion when they have a festival on it, but I've never seen that whole area closed - OP loves its cars.

There are some good biking streets, I have explored most of them. Usually the second and third level streets that have lights and some four way stops are what I like traveling on. And any tour would not want to miss at least going by some of the Frank houses.

Permalink Reply by Ash L. on May 8, 2012 at 6:27pm

It's already so nice with the pavers there. Every time I ride my bike west through Oak Park I have to stop and sit on the patio of that little french patisserie and people watch. 

Permalink Reply by Bill Watson on May 8, 2012 at 10:53pm

As for the pavers...they are smooth.  For some rougher ones, head across Harlem ave to Forest Park for some not so smooth ones...   I was thinking on the ride home tonight Forest Park should try having a mini race on some of those cobbled streets...

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 8, 2012 at 11:01pm

This came from a municipal employee of Oak Park this week.  

It still is in the village code, but is probably just a holdover.

Given the source and timing, it's even more puzzling.

Marion St. south of Lake was under construction all of last year (or at least it seemed like it lasted that long).  I agree with Bill's assessment about those pavers being pretty smooth, much smoother than most of the cobbled streets I've ever encountered in various places around the Chicago area.

Bill Watson said:

Anne - when I first read this I was surprised that I hadn't heard about it because it would be a big change.  When I look at the Oak Park village code document, I think it dates back to long ago when in fact Lake Street was closed to cars.  It reopened to cars in 1988.    Marion, south of Lake, was remade and reopened to cars last year or in 2010.  I'd be curious to know who your source is. 

Permalink Reply by Davo on May 9, 2012 at 10:18am

When I first moved near the City 10yrs ago, I lived in Oak Park. I remember that pedestrian mall area (their was a mexican place, and some boutiques) and thought it was very "European". I thought it was pretty cool. Is that what became Marion street? Thats super weird to take it away only to bring it back. Maybe they have a bunch of mony that they need to "get rid of."

 

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on May 9, 2012 at 3:07pm

This is an old, obsolete ordinance from when there was a "pedestrian mall" in downtown Oak Park.  The pedestrian mall is no more, and the ordinance is not enforced. You can bike on downtown streets, and I do it all the time.  We've let the village know they should delete the ordinance.

Ron Burke, Active Transportation Alliance and Oak Parker

 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 9, 2012 at 8:18pm

Ron - Thank you very much for your assistance in clarifying this muddy situation and asking them to delete the ordinance.  Much appreciated.