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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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Duppie on June 7, 2011 at 2:24am

I agree. We need to pre-empt every possible complaint by putting up another sign. Can I make a minor addition to your suggested sign? The sign would be better if it read like this:

”Slower cycles please use lane. (This sign is only meant to educate drivers who, as is generally known in the bicycling community, do not posess the mental capacity to deal with changing traffic situations.)"



H3N3 said:

Semi-connected thought.

There should be signage making it clear to motorists that use of the protected lane by bicycles is not a requirement.  E.G. "slower cycles please use bicycle lane."

Otherwise we'll end up multiplying driver harassment, and making bitter enemies of the cyclists who are unable to ride at less than 20 mph.

Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on June 7, 2011 at 2:30am
Great news.  Great blog.  I was hoping to see a map of the design.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 7, 2011 at 2:35am
I could see this aspect becoming more problematic as more lane space is dedicated to bikes. I've certainly seen the bike speed conflicts happening in bike lanes.

In a slightly different variant, I've occasionally had problems with drivers when riding Dearborn through River North, where the bike lane is on the left side. Some of them took exception to me riding outside the bike lane. In heavy traffic (such as evening rush hour), I usually feel safer riding on the right and avoiding the left turn mess at a few major intersections, especially Grand and Ontario. Because of those two intersections and hotel entrances at other locations, I've never felt that having that particular lane on the left side is safe. I know that some others ride on the right there for the same reason.

H3N3 said:

Regarding signage--there is a danger that drivers will assume that bikes -have- to be in the cycle track if it's present, and an extra level of harrasment could result. This has been a danger everywhere separate bicycle facilities have been installed.  Faster cyclists will not want to use the "track"-- they'll prefer to ride in the street at automotive speeds.

Permalink Reply by ad on June 7, 2011 at 4:29am

I ride Kinzie into the loop every weekday, and I have to admit I'm a bit divided on how this will impact the route.  I'm not entirely convinced it was really needed here, and I would have appreciated more of a focus on the bridge and the light-timing on Kinzie/Milwaukee instead of a dedicated cycle track.  Kinzie is probably already one of the least stressful streets I ride on during my commute.

 

That said, not sure how much of a problem car doors and the ability to pass other cyclists is really going to be on this stretch of Kinzie with the cycle tracks installed.  Very few cars park on Kinzie and those that do are almost all parked on the stretch after the bridge.  Also, during the rush hours, traffic is generally heavy enough in both lanes that cyclists already tend to ride single file and have fairly limited room to pass each other--which is especially true in light of the overflow traffic on Kinzie lately due to the Wacker Dr revamp. 

 

The only part that really worries me with regards to not being able to pass other cyclists is the downhill portion of Kinzie before the railroad tracks, where I tend to be comfortable picking up a good deal of speed while others may hit the brakes to keep it under 20 mph.  Even then, the rather large painted median they've laid out allows you a chance to pass slow riders before you get sucked into the narrower bike lane on the downhill.  I'm also fairly worried--as many of us probably are--about winter riding.  The City already seems unwilling/unable to clear bike lanes, so I'm not convinced in the slightest that they are going to spend any time clearing and salting the cycle track.  It would be a shame to lose what was already a calmer route into the loop during the cold months.           

Anne Alt said:

I could see this aspect becoming more problematic as more lane space is dedicated to bikes. I've certainly seen the bike speed conflicts happening in bike lanes.

In a slightly different variant, I've occasionally had problems with drivers when riding Dearborn through River North, where the bike lane is on the left side. Some of them took exception to me riding outside the bike lane. In heavy traffic (such as evening rush hour), I usually feel safer riding on the right and avoiding the left turn mess at a few major intersections, especially Grand and Ontario. Because of those two intersections and hotel entrances at other locations, I've never felt that having that particular lane on the left side is safe. I know that some others ride on the right there for the same reason.

H3N3 said:

Regarding signage--there is a danger that drivers will assume that bikes -have- to be in the cycle track if it's present, and an extra level of harrasment could result. This has been a danger everywhere separate bicycle facilities have been installed.  Faster cyclists will not want to use the "track"-- they'll prefer to ride in the street at automotive speeds.

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on June 7, 2011 at 4:58am

Sorry, I'm a newbie, flame me if this isn't where I'm supposed to post news, but here is a Trib article describing the "crack down" on bicyclists at the Kinzie/Milwaukee intersection this morning, even as crews continue work on the new lane.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-police...

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on June 7, 2011 at 5:01am
It seems you're hinting at a little irony in this situation. I agree. Maybe now's not the time to have an enforcement/education campaign at this location. Move it up the block to Grand. Come back a week or two after Kinzie is finished. 

Michelle said:

Sorry, I'm a newbie, flame me if this isn't where I'm supposed to post news, but here is a Trib article describing the "crack down" on bicyclists at the Kinzie/Milwaukee intersection this morning, even as crews continue work on the new lane.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-police...

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on June 7, 2011 at 5:19am
All bike lanes in Chicago are at least 5 feet wide. Some are 6 feet wide. This one is no exception.

Stefanie Seskin said:

It's a little different in New York, as I'm pretty sure bicyclists are required to use bike lanes if present. In Illinois, they are not.

 

That said, I don't think signs are the answer. Slower auto traffic speeds, wider cycle track lanes (the piece that's done is ~4' +buffer zone), and, in the longer term, a different culture around transportation will help much more.

Permalink Reply by Joel on June 7, 2011 at 5:44am
Which honestly still isn't wide enough when there are cars parked.  The city says you should ride at least 3' from the cars to avoid doors.  Cars must pass with at least 3' of clearance.  Clearly, that's impossible when you only have 5-6' of total lane, unless you happen to be somewhere between 0" to -12" wide.

Steven Vance said:
All bike lanes in Chicago are at least 5 feet wide. Some are 6 feet wide. This one is no exception.

Stefanie Seskin said:

It's a little different in New York, as I'm pretty sure bicyclists are required to use bike lanes if present. In Illinois, they are not.

 

That said, I don't think signs are the answer. Slower auto traffic speeds, wider cycle track lanes (the piece that's done is ~4' +buffer zone), and, in the longer term, a different culture around transportation will help much more.

Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on June 7, 2011 at 5:59am
I rode through there this morning.  I didn't perceive it as a "crackdown," though I know that's what the Tribune chose to call it.  I saw CPD and CDOT getting out a strong Share the Road message (complete with large banner than said just that) to both motorists and bicyclists.  I didn't see cyclists being singled out at all.  I really wish that language hadn't been chosen; as if bicycling is something that needs to be cracked down upon.

Steven Vance said:
It seems you're hinting at a little irony in this situation. I agree. Maybe now's not the time to have an enforcement/education campaign at this location. Move it up the block to Grand. Come back a week or two after Kinzie is finished. 

Michelle said:

Sorry, I'm a newbie, flame me if this isn't where I'm supposed to post news, but here is a Trib article describing the "crack down" on bicyclists at the Kinzie/Milwaukee intersection this morning, even as crews continue work on the new lane.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-police...

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on June 7, 2011 at 6:08am
And this is why cities, this one now included, have built protected bike lanes and cycle tracks. These facilities help reduce the incidence of these issues (dooring and being passed by drivers).

Joel said:
Which honestly still isn't wide enough when there are cars parked.  The city says you should ride at least 3' from the cars to avoid doors.  Cars must pass with at least 3' of clearance.  Clearly, that's impossible when you only have 5-6' of total lane, unless you happen to be somewhere between 0" to -12" wide.
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on June 7, 2011 at 6:20am

I visited the location this morning and witnessed a lot of crosswalk riding for these box turns, but all of the people riding I witnessed riding in the crosswalk were doing so as a way to avoid waiting for the light to change for their direction.

Did they run the red light? Some might say yes, in a roundabout way, they did. 

 Box turn at the intersection


Cameron Puetz said:

I understand the intent to the crackdown, but really it was just proving how poorly designed that intersection is. The two things that they seemed to be cracking down on were cyclists riding in the cross walk while setting themselves up for a box turn onto Kinzie, or starting on red as the light was about to change to get a head start when trying to make a standard left turn onto Kinzie with the short light cycle. Also the way the police working on the crack down parked rendered the new stripping useless.
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on June 7, 2011 at 6:45am

See what happened on Day 2

Some new information:

  • Bike box
  • Not protected uphill in front of Blommer
  • Left turn lanes in both directions on Kinzie at Milwaukee/Desplaines

Chicago's first bike box 

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