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I just missed the press conference and just hung out at lunch to see how it would all work. It seemed easy enough, so I took Dearborn as my starting route home to Roscoe Village. Normally I hit Franklin to Orleans then north to Lincoln.

I have to say, it was pretty easy and relatively safe. The ambassadors were helpful with the the auto traffic. The walkers were easy enough to avoid. I had to chuckle at two riders riding side by side in the lane.

What I didn't see was any oncoming traffic; southbound riders. I am guessing that will come in time or at other times during the day.

Way to go Mayor RE! This is really making a statement.

Who else rode the new path?

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This morning in the block between Harrison and Congress I noticed some huge "P"s and "S"s painted on the parking lane to help drivers differentiate between parking and standing(?) spaces. The hotel in that block has been getting better about keeping limos and taxis such out of the bike lanes. (Or perhaps the limo/taxi drivers are just catching on?) Having a clearly marked designated space for loading and unloading seems like sensible addition during our transition to more bike friendly streets. 

A painted curb separating the cycle track from the car lane would help more.

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

Similar to more pavement makings, I wonder if colored bollards in places where a painted curb would be used on a traditional street arrangement would help drivers differentiate.



Tony Adams 7 mi (dirtbag hipstr) said:

This morning in the block between Harrison and Congress I noticed some huge "P"s and "S"s painted on the parking lane to help drivers differentiate between parking and standing(?) spaces. The hotel in that block has been getting better about keeping limos and taxis such out of the bike lanes. (Or perhaps the limo/taxi drivers are just catching on?) Having a clearly marked designated space for loading and unloading seems like sensible addition during our transition to more bike friendly streets. 

A physical barrier like a curb has downsides as well, though.  It eliminates the possibility of bailing out in that direction in an emergency.

No more than bailing into the side of a parked car.  I'll take the concrete barrier and slow down a bit.

About a couple weeks ago, I was riding southbound on Dearborn near Madison during Rush hour. A car came out of a parking garage and without looking, plowed into me. I was fine, walked away without injury but my front wheel was destroyed. The lady that hit me told me that she has worked in the building for years and simply is not used to traffic coming southbound on what has always been a one way street northbound. While her excuse is not acceptable as the lane has been there for months now, It really points out how terribly planned this design of a bike lane was. I will not be riding on this lane again.

If she did not look for you she did not look for pedestrians, either.  She had to go through the crosswalk before she got to the bike lanes.

Tim said:

About a couple weeks ago, I was riding southbound on Dearborn near Madison during Rush hour. A car came out of a parking garage and without looking, plowed into me. I was fine, walked away without injury but my front wheel was destroyed. The lady that hit me told me that she has worked in the building for years and simply is not used to traffic coming southbound on what has always been a one way street northbound. While her excuse is not acceptable as the lane has been there for months now, It really points out how terribly planned this design of a bike lane was. I will not be riding on this lane again.

What would have constituted better planning?

Tim said:

It really points out how terribly planned this design of a bike lane was.

Exactly. My guess is that it's the garage just north of Madison, where I've had many problems with selfish drivers like her over the years. Most folks are reasonable coming out of there but there are always a few who don't want to yield to anyone. 

The bike lane has been there for six months, more than long enough for her to get a clue.

Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi said:

If she did not look for you she did not look for pedestrians, either.  She had to go through the crosswalk before she got to the bike lanes.

Tim said:

About a couple weeks ago, I was riding southbound on Dearborn near Madison during Rush hour. A car came out of a parking garage and without looking, plowed into me. 

Like installing a southbound bike lane on Clark instead of a contra-flow lane on Dearborn.

Alex Z said:

What would have constituted better planning?

Tim said:

It really points out how terribly planned this design of a bike lane was.

I agree with Mark's thought.  I suspect it would have cost more to install two one-way bike lanes (NB on Dearborn or Franklin, SB on Clark), but the individual lanes would have been wider than the NB/SB halves of the current Dearborn PBL, and bikes would move in the same direction as the one-way auto traffic.

Has anyone else seen the "SLOW" signs painted in the Dearborn PBL outside the Goodman? Anyone know if it's CDOT-related or more rogue PBL modification by a dissatisfied business-owner?

I noticed them between Polk and Congress, as well as several horizontal lines.  Are we in for rumble strips in those spots?

Alex Z said:

Has anyone else seen the "SLOW" signs painted in the Dearborn PBL outside the Goodman? Anyone know if it's CDOT-related or more rogue PBL modification by a dissatisfied business-owner?

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