The Chainlink

Is the new Halsted Street bridge a scary ride?

The Illinois Department of Transportation likes big bridges, even on two-lane Chicago streets. The beautiful new Halsted Street bridge features wide sidewalks, bicycle lanes and a bike-friendly concrete surface. But does the new four-lane configuration turn what would otherwise be a very bikeable bridge into a scary ride?: 
http://gridchicago.com/2012/does-the-new-tied-arch-bridge-on-halsted-encourage-speeding/

Keep moving forward,

John Greenfield

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Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on June 5, 2012 at 6:18pm

Thanks, John.

John Greenfield said:

Yes. CDOT tells me the best way to get input to the CDOT Bike Program about this bridge and other issues related to existing infrastructure is to call 311 or email cdotnews@cityofchicago.org - both of these are tracked, which ensures that you'll get some kind of response.

Permalink Reply by Joseph Kim on June 8, 2012 at 3:19pm

I rode it last night during rush hour without even realizing that there was a car lane to my right.  Is that supposed to be a right turn lane?  Is there a sign somewhere I missed?  Yeah I am not down with the configuration; it needs to be changed.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on June 10, 2012 at 2:18pm

"Hi, I'd like to report a bike lane that's in the wrong place."  *click*

OK, show of hands- besides me, who's called it in to 311?

What exactly did you tell them? How did they respond?

Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on June 11, 2012 at 12:08pm

I rode by (not on) the other day and it looks like they've added some nice road markings, at least on the non-floating lane side.  

Permalink Reply by Chris B on June 11, 2012 at 3:20pm

We rode south on Halsted on Saturday morning and there were workers their painting bike icons in the lane.

Permalink Reply by Minh on August 17, 2012 at 5:48pm

Dudes, I just took the new painted lane for the first time over the bridge and I found it to be retarded and dangerous (during rush hour at least). People were using the bike lane to pass and I had at least 3 different sport bikes revving their engines behind me and forcing me out of there way in the bike lane. I'm just going to avoid it from now on.

At the end of the bridge a few blocks north there's still a bike lane but it looks like a faded tattoo from some bygone era so the cars just drive in it. Must have run out of paint :-/

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on August 17, 2012 at 6:20pm

Not as bad as Roosevelt!

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 17, 2012 at 8:55pm

Guess nobody could be bothered. 

h' said:

"Hi, I'd like to report a bike lane that's in the wrong place."  *click*

OK, show of hands- besides me, who's called it in to 311?

What exactly did you tell them? How did they respond?

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 17, 2012 at 8:56pm

What;s the status of the alternative design proposal?

Steven Vance said:

Meet me here at 5:45 PM Tuesday afternoon to discuss the bridge lane design with me. I'll be proposing an alternative design in the coming weeks. (Sorry for the late notice.)

An issue with 311, that Open 311 may correct, is that you cannot submit photographs with your report. 

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