Why the new bike facilities in Humboldt Park aren't "the white lanes of gentrification"

In 2003 when CDOT first proposed striping bike lanes on Division Street along Humboldt Park's Paseo Boricua business strip, neighborhood residents opposed them as a symbol of gentrification and the alderman vetoed the project. Yesterday the lanes were finally striped and the neighborhood seems to be embracing them. What happened over the last decade to change attitudes about bicycling in Humboldt Park, and what lessons does the story of the Division Street bike lanes offer as the city moves forward with the Streets for Cycling plan?:

http://gridchicago.com/2012/bike-facilities-dont-have-to-be-the-whi...

Keep moving forward,

John Greenfield

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Permalink Reply by Andrew on May 10, 2012 at 8:15am

I'd very much like for this to happen.  I ride this stretch of Division several times a week and it's currently a drag strip.

Support for biking in Humboldt Park is so strong nowdays that the committee is looking into installing protected bike lanes on Division west of the Paseo, Morales says. This stretch, between California and Kedzie Avenue, runs through the middle of the large park and, in addition to encouraging biking, a protected lane would calm traffic because it would require removing a travel lane, AKA a “road diet.” This would also shorten pedestrian crossing distances, making it easier to walk from the north side of the park to the south side.

Permalink Reply by Liz on May 10, 2012 at 8:38am

I agree, I used to ride that stretch daily and as soon as division becomes 2 way drivers get super aggressive. In general the both the Blvd and division surrounding the park itself are used as drag stretches since the lanes double just for the length of the park. 

Andrew N said:

I'd very much like for this to happen.  I ride this stretch of Division several times a week and it's currently a drag strip.

Support for biking in Humboldt Park is so strong nowdays that the committee is looking into installing protected bike lanes on Division west of the Paseo, Morales says. This stretch, between California and Kedzie Avenue, runs through the middle of the large park and, in addition to encouraging biking, a protected lane would calm traffic because it would require removing a travel lane, AKA a “road diet.” This would also shorten pedestrian crossing distances, making it easier to walk from the north side of the park to the south side.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 10, 2012 at 4:26pm
It's a nice gesture but it didn't work on Kedzie people will only drive over them.
Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on May 11, 2012 at 4:23am

Do you think the bikes work on Division east of Western in Wicker Park?

If so, any reason to believe they won't work west of Western in Humboldt Park?

Permalink Reply by Matt Ales on May 11, 2012 at 5:34am


I think that they work fine in Wicker on that stretch of division (just not after 7pm around all the bars). However, I truly despise the conditions of the road which totally spoils the fact that there is a protected lane, I'd rather (and most often) ride down North just for the fact that the road is a lot nicer. 

 
John Greenfield said:

Do you think the bikes work on Division east of Western in Wicker Park?

If so, any reason to believe they won't work west of Western in Humboldt Park?

Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on May 11, 2012 at 5:48am

By conditions, are you talking about potholes?

Permalink Reply by Matt Ales on May 11, 2012 at 5:53am

basically yeah, I feel that most of the time I'm either dodging potholes, drunks, and the occasional ambulance or two.

Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on May 11, 2012 at 5:56am

Yeah, North Avenue in bike-crazy Wicker Park was repaved and streetscaped recently but *without* bike lanes. I believe this was dues to rush-hour parking controls on that section. RHPCs often thwart bike lanes.

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