The Chainlink

New protected bike lanes announced - Elston, 18th

Our team at the MBAC meeting just let us know that Elston (Division to North) and 18th (Clinton to Clark) will be the next protected bike lanes by the end of this year!

 

Thanks, CDOT!

 

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

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Permalink Reply by Madopal (16.5 mi) on September 16, 2011 at 1:54pm
Is there any word on whether the lanes will use the pylons a la Kinzie or whether they'll actually do separated curbing?
Permalink Reply by Becca on September 16, 2011 at 2:16pm

The Division to North stretch of Elston isn't very far.  It's going to be a tiny island of extra safety.  I can only hope this is the first step to make a larger section of that street protected.  As others have mentioned, ideally Elston would be protected all the way from its origin point to Belmont.

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on September 16, 2011 at 3:32pm

CDOT said a bike-friendly bridge deck will NOT happen when the protected bike lane is constructed in 2011. This is because of a "manufacturing delay."


Dubi Kaufmann said:

Awesome. The bridge on 18th needs those bike friendly panels.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 16, 2011 at 3:36pm
If I remember correctly, they did say they planned to add the panels early next year.

Steven Vance said:

CDOT said a bike-friendly bridge deck will NOT happen when the protected bike lane is constructed in 2011. This is because of a "manufacturing delay."


Dubi Kaufmann said:

Awesome. The bridge on 18th needs those bike friendly panels.
Permalink Reply by K. on September 16, 2011 at 5:47pm
Rock and ROLLLLLLL!
Permalink Reply by chiearthrider on September 18, 2011 at 6:52am

Elston?  Really?  It is wide, rarely any parked cars, and a straight shot.  There are sooooo many bad areas, why pick a stretch that is low risk for biking?  How about any one of the major east-west streets north of Armitage:  Fullerton, Diversy, Belmont, Irving Park?  Because of the river that runs through it, there are no side street alternatives.  Or how about doing something about the Logan Square monument traffic circle?  It's very scary. 

- Sharon

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on September 19, 2011 at 10:58am

To Sharon, I've posted my thoughts about Elston on Grid Chicago. In essence, I like this stretch because of the Y intersection at Magnolia Avenue. 

Highlights from MBAC, and room for improvement

I've also made a map of all the existing and proposed protected bike lanes. 

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on September 19, 2011 at 12:02pm

I'd kill to see bike lanes on Belmont or Diversey, but I'd also point out that while large stretches of Elston are super-bike friendly, the nasty intersections aren't really much better than any other street.  Specifically, I've almost been flattened into roadkill going north across Ashland more times than I'd care to count.

 

It really is these "pinch points" that by-and-large are in my experience the bane of urban biking.


chiearthrider said:

Elston?  Really?  It is wide, rarely any parked cars, and a straight shot.  There are sooooo many bad areas, why pick a stretch that is low risk for biking?  How about any one of the major east-west streets north of Armitage:  Fullerton, Diversy, Belmont, Irving Park?  Because of the river that runs through it, there are no side street alternatives.  Or how about doing something about the Logan Square monument traffic circle?  It's very scary. 

- Sharon

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on September 19, 2011 at 1:59pm

Ashland/Armitage/Elston is awful. When riding through it, you are fowl in Nintendo's "Duck Hunt" for 300 feet. 

 

"Biking in Chicago: Good luck!"

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on April 13, 2012 at 12:22pm

Cameron -- Elston is currently on CDOT's list for this spring: http://www.chicagobikes.org/public/2012BikewaysProjects.php

- Lee Crandell, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Rich S on April 13, 2012 at 1:29pm

No kidding! They should have at least repainted the bike lanes for the meantime. It's been months since they re-surfaced Elston. I'm tired of cars buzzing me when I ride where the painted bike lane used to be. I've noticed a lot of drivers "reclaiming" that lane.  


Cameron Puetz said:

Has anyone heard any news on when the Elston lane will be built?

Permalink Reply by Naomi Ruth Jackson on April 13, 2012 at 4:11pm

I think this is great. I have used Elston to get downtown for over a year now. I think this will really be helpful to downtown commuters from the Northside

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