ATA asks: Where would you like a bike blvd?

Copy and Pasted from my inbox: 

 

So where YOU put a bike blvd?

 

Where would you put a bike boulevard?

City looking for suggestions in your community
 

Dear Joseph,

The City of Chicago is interested in piloting a bike boulevard and the Chicago Department of Transportation is asking for your input and suggestions on locations.

Bike boulevards are roads that are made comfortable for all bicyclists by slowing car traffic and reducing the amount of car traffic on the street. That might be through speed bumps, traffic diverters or signs. Local traffic can still maneuver, but high-speed cut-through traffic is discouraged.

Bike boulevards are usually parallel to arterial roads and oftentimes become major thoroughfares for bicyclists and havens for families to walk and play.

Here is an example of one in Portland.

We’ve been asked to reach out to our members and collect feedback.  So we want to hear your suggestions for specific street locations that would be a good fit for a bike boulevard in Chicago. Keep these criteria in mind:

  • Minimum one-mile stretch
  • Controlled crossing at all intersections – stop sign or traffic light
  • Residential roadway
  • Low motor vehicle traffic
  • High number of cyclists using the route and in the neighborhood
  • Aldermanic support

Send us your ideas to adolfo@activetrans.org by Friday, April 9.

Your voice strengthens the movement around active transportation. Thank you!
 

Active Transportation Alliance
9 W Hubbard St. Suite 402 • Chicago, IL 60654
312.427.3325 www.activetrans.org

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe TV on April 6, 2010 at 10:09am
Ugh. Where would YOU put a bike boulevard.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 6, 2010 at 11:19am
N Glenwood from Foster to Ridge gets a high volume of bike traffic at all hours. This section isn't quite a mile, but many cyclists prefer it to Clark or Ashland because it's much safer - low to moderate traffic volume and speed. There is no other good N-S bike route that works for all cyclists in this area. Glenwood is a lot less safe than it could be, due to the number of cyclists who ride the WRONG way on this one-way street.

It would be a great route if it could be two-way for cyclists, whether or not it's reconfigured as a bike boulevard. Edgewater people - what do you think?
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 6, 2010 at 11:23am
N Greenview from Pratt to Sherwin would benefit from curb bumpouts and other non-stop sign and non-speed hump methods of traffic calming. It could make a nice bike boulevard. Like Glenwood, it gets a high volume of bike traffic at all hours.

Rogers park people - your $0.02?
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 6, 2010 at 11:24am
How about Lunt from Ravenswood to California? West Ridge people - do you think Bernie would say yes?
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 6, 2010 at 11:27am
Oakley from Fullerton to Roosevelt would make an awesome bike boulevard, but parts of it are currently one-way. West Town people - do you like this idea?
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 6, 2010 at 11:29am
W 19th St. from Halsted to Ashland - residential, low traffic volume. Useful location for an E-W connector. Pilsen people - que dicen?

21st is also a good route, but much of that segment is industrial.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 6, 2010 at 11:31am
S Wallace from 26th to 35th - residential, low to moderate traffic volume. Nice place to ride. Bridgeport people - would you like this as a N-S route?
Permalink Reply by Jared on April 6, 2010 at 11:51am
Isn't Lunt a bus route? Would that be doable?

Anne Alt said:
How about Lunt from Ravenswood to California? West Ridge people - do you think Bernie would say yes?
Permalink Reply by Craig S. on April 6, 2010 at 12:11pm
I have to say I'm with Clark on this matter. I am a hell of a lot safer on Michigan Ave. with buses and cabs going the same way at the same speed then I am with a bunch of other bikers not paying attention on some Bike Boulevard -- we already have this on the lake front -- although many times I do think a lane on LSD each way should be bike only and perhaps all of Clark Street as well? Just my 2 cents.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 6, 2010 at 12:50pm
Oops! I was forgetting about the bus. Sorry 'bout that. It doesn't run that often, so I've rarely encountered it while riding.

Jared said:
Isn't Lunt a bus route? Would that be doable?
Anne Alt said:
How about Lunt from Ravenswood to California? West Ridge people - do you think Bernie would say yes?
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 6, 2010 at 12:52pm
I lived in Rogers Park for 10 years before I moved to Beverly. I've spent time riding in all areas of the city before and after the move. (In my lifetime, I've lived in a few other Chicago neighborhoods as well.)

Clark said:
Gee Anne...thanks for all the ideas on the Northside...and I thought you were a dyed-in-the-wool Southsider. :-)

But I don't get the concept...who needs "bike boulevards?" I watched the Portland video in the link provided by ATA, and all I can say is keep them away from my neighborhood! That street didn't look safe for cyclists at all!

Too many weird curbs and unexpected mid-street obstructions, too many wobbling kids on bikes, too many cross streets. I prefer cranking at 20+ mph down Clark, Halsted, Fullerton, etc. The average speed in the video looked to be about 10mph. Cars may be big and ugly, but at least they usually follow traffic laws. So I guess I'd rather bike alongside cars than packs of unpredictable cyclists on a "bike boulevard."
Permalink Reply by heather s on April 6, 2010 at 1:57pm
Yes, with the cavet that the number of speed bumps is a bit off-putting. If this was a BB, I'd prefer some other traffic-calming measure, although I didn't get the sense from ATA's email that there was tons of funding available for this project.

Anne Alt said:
Oakley from Fullerton to Roosevelt would make an awesome bike boulevard, but parts of it are currently one-way. West Town people - do you like this idea?

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