The Chainlink

Milwaukee Ave. Complete Streets Meeting 7/2 - Lawrence to Elston

Ok, so last time Alderman Arena had a meeting, it seems it was packed by hostile nimbys.  This time, I'm trying to see how many willing participants we can bring to even things out a bit.

What: Public Open House, Milwaukee Ave Complete Streets Project, between Lawrence and Elston

When: Wednesday, July 2nd, 5pm - 8pm

Where: Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=747957738601237

Who can make it?

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Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on June 25, 2014 at 4:13pm

This is really a 'complete streets project' where the improved conditions for biking are just one of several goals. Other potential improvements include creating safer conditions for pedestrians, improving transit service, addressing speeding issues etc.

There have been something like 900 crashes up there between 2008-2012, so first and foremost I think the city is targeting this corridor to enhance safety for everyone, including folks riding bikes.

You can check out the presentation from the first meeting here, it gives a good overview of the rationale and some of the options we might be hearing about next week: http://chicagocompletestreets.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Milwau...

Jim Merrell - Active Trans

envane (69 furlongs) said:

Out of all the fights to pick, why this one?  Why a far-flung stretch of Milwaukee?  For local riders there are other options and anyone going downtownish can take Elston.

Permalink Reply by Madopal (16.5 mi) on June 25, 2014 at 7:51pm

envane (69 furlongs) said:

Out of all the fights to pick, why this one?  Why a far-flung stretch of Milwaukee?  For local riders there are other options and anyone going downtownish can take Elston.

I personally see it as making Milwaukee complete up to the North Branch trail.  In addition, there are plenty of other areas of the city that can use cycling infrastructure, and after moving to the NW side, I'm seeing how badly starved it is.  *Any* help up there would be appreciated, and if other areas can get a safe passage up to the trails in the process, it's a plus.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 26, 2014 at 10:24am

Getting a more complete network of rideable routes AND Complete Streets to benefit all non-motorized users would be a win-win.

Madopal (2.4 mi) said:  I personally see it as making Milwaukee complete up to the North Branch trail.  In addition, there are plenty of other areas of the city that can use cycling infrastructure, and after moving to the NW side, I'm seeing how badly starved it is.  *Any* help up there would be appreciated, and if other areas can get a safe passage up to the trails in the process, it's a plus.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on June 27, 2014 at 8:01am

This comment sounds like a variation:  "Just in my back yard only!"  Everybody else should just take a different street.

envane (69 furlongs) said:

Out of all the fights to pick, why this one?  Why a far-flung stretch of Milwaukee?  For local riders there are other options and anyone going downtownish can take Elston.

Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on June 27, 2014 at 9:27am

This comment sounds like a variation of "I'm a hippie who knee-jerkingly supports any "pro-bike" scheme without consideration of need, demand and finite resources and anyone who disagrees with me is a RethugliKKKan bigot on the wrong side of history"

Bob Kastigar said:

This comment sounds like a variation:  "Just in my back yard only!"  Everybody else should just take a different street.

envane (69 furlongs) said:

Out of all the fights to pick, why this one?  Why a far-flung stretch of Milwaukee?  For local riders there are other options and anyone going downtownish can take Elston.

Permalink Reply by Madopal (16.5 mi) on June 27, 2014 at 11:01am

Wow, what is it about this stretch of Milwaukee that seems to bring out the best in people? Did they pave over a native burial ground or something?

Seriously, though, there are many parts of the city that have gotten no real attention as far as Complete Streets, and the more sections of Milwaukee that are done, the more of a standout the remaining sections will be.  It's going to be pretty hard to argue for not redoing from Logan up to Irving if north of Lawrence is actually better.

And Anne is correct, this will help everyone in the area, not just cyclists. It's a perfect case of low hanging fruit, and I can see why CDOT would target it. They just may not have considered the political factor with the last aldermanic election being so close.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 27, 2014 at 11:21am

;)

Wow, what is it about this stretch of Milwaukee that seems to bring out the best in people? Did they pave over a native burial ground or something?

Permalink Reply by April on June 27, 2014 at 2:18pm

I'll be there. I live in JP. 

Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on June 27, 2014 at 2:27pm

How about the locals going to Avondale, Logan, Wicker, Bucktown, or Humboldt?  Everybody who lives in area are not just biking to an area Elston can take us. But thanks for the comment.

envane (69 furlongs) said:

Out of all the fights to pick, why this one?  Why a far-flung stretch of Milwaukee?  For local riders there are other options and anyone going downtownish can take Elston.

Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on June 27, 2014 at 3:09pm

You could easily make the case for improvement on Milwaukee all the way up to Foster, but after that Milwaukee turns into a wide highway that, short of eliminating two lanes and then picking up all the buildings and moving them closer in, will never achieve any kind of "urban-ness". Some completist obsession with "fixing" all of Milwaukee is a weak excuse to radically remake a street into something it will never be in an area that doesn't lack for decent bike routes.

Madopal (2.4 mi) said:

Wow, what is it about this stretch of Milwaukee that seems to bring out the best in people? Did they pave over a native burial ground or something?

Seriously, though, there are many parts of the city that have gotten no real attention as far as Complete Streets, and the more sections of Milwaukee that are done, the more of a standout the remaining sections will be.  It's going to be pretty hard to argue for not redoing from Logan up to Irving if north of Lawrence is actually better.

And Anne is correct, this will help everyone in the area, not just cyclists. It's a perfect case of low hanging fruit, and I can see why CDOT would target it. They just may not have considered the political factor with the last aldermanic election being so close.

Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on June 27, 2014 at 3:19pm

Elston->Kedzie->Logan.   Wow, such an complex, incovenient route!   It increases my ride by 0.3 miles and I'd need a GPS to figure it out.

 

 

Apie (10.6) said:

How about the locals going to Avondale, Logan, Wicker, Bucktown, or Humboldt?  Everybody who lives in area are not just biking to an area Elston can take us. But thanks for the comment.

envane (69 furlongs) said:

Out of all the fights to pick, why this one?  Why a far-flung stretch of Milwaukee?  For local riders there are other options and anyone going downtownish can take Elston.

Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on June 27, 2014 at 3:52pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez-NsShMK74

You don't know where I live, so why guess on the best route for me. 


envane (69 furlongs) said:

Elston->Kedzie->Logan.   Wow, such an complex, incovenient route!   It increases my ride by 0.3 miles and I'd need a GPS to figure it out.

 

 

Apie (10.6) said:

How about the locals going to Avondale, Logan, Wicker, Bucktown, or Humboldt?  Everybody who lives in area are not just biking to an area Elston can take us. But thanks for the comment.

envane (69 furlongs) said:

Out of all the fights to pick, why this one?  Why a far-flung stretch of Milwaukee?  For local riders there are other options and anyone going downtownish can take Elston.

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