The Chainlink

Transportation Committee talks bike lanes...Your input desired

The City of Chicago wants our input.  Check out the link.

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Posted 3 days, 22 hours ago on Apr. 15th 2011

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has looked at more than 50 ideas to make Chicago’s transportation network safer, easier, and more convenient and fun for all residents. One idea that appeals to all of us is improving Chicago's cycling network. Making it easier for Chicagoans to get around by cycling would reduce congestion, promote a cleaner environment, create healthier communities, and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

A major reason people say they avoid biking is dangerous traffic. By building protected bike lanes – which are physically separated from motor vehicle travel lanes, parking lanes, and sidewalks – Chicago can make urban cycling safer. Protected bike lanes exist in cities across the country, including New York, Portland, Ore., Indianapolis, Ind., and Washington, D.C. Seville, Spain, built a 70-mile network of protected bike lanes in four years and increased the share of bicyclers on its roads from .04% to more than 6% of all trips.

We are confident that creating a safe space to bike will get more people pedaling. Our idea is to pilot a two-mile protected bikeway along a major corridor, and we need your ideas on where to start.

Do you jump on your bike to commute to work, go shopping, or attend social events? Tell us about your experiences, good and bad. What streets do you prefer or avoid, and why?

Do you avoid riding your bike because you are concerned about safety?

What street or corridor would better serve the bicycling public if a bike lane sheltered from moving traffic were added? Why?

Have you biked on a protected lane in another city? If so, what should we replicate or change?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on April 19, 2011 at 6:28pm

Turn Milwaukee Ave into a bicycle superhighway across the city and out to the northwest.

Permalink Reply by April on April 19, 2011 at 7:18pm
That would be a beautiful thing!  Is there even a such thing as a bicycle superhighway?
Permalink Reply by S on April 19, 2011 at 9:54pm
Based on my experiences on the LFP during summer, I'd say it exists.

April said:
That would be a beautiful thing!  Is there even a such thing as a bicycle superhighway?
Permalink Reply by Amy Y on April 19, 2011 at 10:09pm
the loop is a great place to start....
Permalink Reply by Sean on April 20, 2011 at 6:59am

I know this can be a controversial topic since some argue that seperate bike lanes do not allow drivers to get used to sharing the road with cyclists.  Although this may be partially true, I believe that adding seperate bike lanes is the best way to increase the overall number of trips in Chicago by bicycle.  I know many people who bike to work, but are scared to do so because of the perceived danger of sharing the road with drivers.  As mentioned in the post, other US cities that added protected bike lanes (Minneapolis, Portland, New York, etc) have seen significant increases in the percentage of trips by bicycle.  In addition, the seperate bike systems in Denmark and the Netherlands are much of the reasons that these countries have been so successful with bicycle transportation.

My recommendation for a route would be either Milwaukee Avenue or Chicago Avenue.  The argument for Milwaukee is that it is already a popular cycle route so that we know the protected lanes would get good use.  The argument for Chicago Avenue is that there are no good East-West bike routes in the city and the popluation along Chicago Avenue is not served but public transport that effectively (there is no train route and the 66 bus is overcrowded and slow).  The population along Chicago (river west, East village, West Town, Ukrainian Village, Humboldt park) have many bicycle riders.

 

Permalink Reply by Gin on April 20, 2011 at 8:31am

Sean,

 

I agree with the east/west issue, which is further complicated by all the barriers (river, highway, etc). Chicago is an interesting example, b/c it is one of the few near north options that pretty much takes you all the way into downtown.  I also use Grand, Hubbard and Fulton.

 

We should also add our comments here: (same as the link posted above.) http://www.chicago2011.org/blog/transportation-committee-talks-bike...

 

This is what I posted:

I am not opposed to protected bike lanes, but do wonder about intersection issues and winter maintenance. That said, I support whatever it takes to make many more miles of Chicago's street network more bicycle friendly for more than the boldest riders. I ride every day, every where, but understand why many others do not.

I also hope to see some bicycle boulevards in the future. Which is easier/less expensive to implement? To me, bicycle boulevards have the advantage of offering more space for side by side cycling under shade trees with less traffic nearby. But, they might not directly serve commercial destinations.

Milwaukee Ave is such a key cycling corridor--I would love to see it improved, even if it means removing car parking or a lane of traffic. (Could it be changed to a one way?)

Tricky stuff. I am delighted to see it being discussed. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on April 20, 2011 at 8:43am
This is really, really exciting stuff!
Permalink Reply by Duppie on April 20, 2011 at 8:47am
Fully agree with Gin. Posting here does not add much to the discussion. Instead post on the actual website

Gin said:

We should also add our comments here: (same as the link posted above.) http://www.chicago2011.org/blog/transportation-committee-talks-bike...

 

Permalink Reply by April on April 20, 2011 at 10:52am
Hey guys, I agree with Gin and Duppie! I'm not sure if the the Transportation Committee reads the Chainlink Forum.  We should probably post these brilliant ideas to the Transportation Committee Website so they are read and taken into consideration!  Here's the link again.  That is, unless we want to figure out what we'd like to see most and post a comment/official statement as a united front on behalf of all chainlinkers???
Permalink Reply by Duppie on April 20, 2011 at 11:09am

You're new here aren't you? ;)

Good luck with getting agreement on the subject of bike lanes.

April said:

That is, unless we want to figure out what we'd like to see most and post a comment/official statement as a united front on behalf of all chainlinkers???
Permalink Reply by Gin on April 20, 2011 at 4:38pm

I see some familiar names in the comments section on the website . Nice work, ya'll. Keep the comments coming. We do not all have to agree on streets and strategies, but the more voices we add to the conversation, the more we show support for bicycle improvements in general.

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on April 20, 2011 at 5:05pm

This is my vision of a bicycle transportation system that can be used all year round for long distances.

It would be covered in solar panels to collect energy for the system and protect riders from the harsh summer sun. The elevated tunnels would have directional backdrafts easing the riders along.

I posted on the more official site but was unable to upload images.

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