CDOT is now defining buffered bike lanes as "protected" and counting them towards its 100-miles goal

In his Chicago 2011 Transition Plan, Rahm Emanuel set the extremely ambitious goal of installing hundred miles of protected bike lanes, defined in the document as “separated from traveling cars and sit[ting] between the sidewalk and a row of parked cars that shield cyclists from street traffic,” within his first term. Since then the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been doing yeoman's work installing protected and buffered lanes, completing or starting construction on a total of 12.5 miles of protected and 14.5 miles of buffered lanes by the end of 2012.

Recently CDOT began referring to protected lanes as "barrier-protected" and buffered lanes as "buffer-protected," and counting buffered lanes towards the 100-mile goal, changing its definition of what a protected bike lane is. I think it would be terrific if the city installs, say, 65 miles of protected and 35 miles of buffered lanes by 2015. The question is, would it make more sense for CDOT to acknowledge the shift to a more realistic goal, rather than changing the definition of "protected"? CDOT deputy commissioner Scott Kubly gave me the department's perspective on the issue:

http://gridchicago.com/2013/redefining-protected-a-look-at-cdots-ne...

Keep moving forward,

John Greenfield

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Permalink Reply by Eli on January 15, 2014 at 11:13am

The problem is that (a) "strong and fearless" and friends continue to be applied long after the people to whom these phrases refer have made it very clear that they find them derogatory, and (b) anyone who voices skepticism about bike lanes that are hemmed in by parked cars is dismissed as "strong and fearless" regardless of their actual level of cycling experience, skill, or fearlessness, because the parking-protected bike lane partisans are unable to imagine that there are people who fall into their "interested but concerned" category whose concern in part comes from the idea of being trapped in a narrow bike lane on the wrong side of the street with no way to avoid obstacles or safely make turns at intersections. Which in fact there are.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on January 15, 2014 at 1:24pm

I was aware of the categories.  They are used by organizations that advocate improved cycling infrastructure, including, I think, League of American Bicyclists.  I did not realize that it came from that analysis from Portland.  Reading the article, it really appears flawed.  And many of you whom I know I would not call "strong and fearless" but would agree that you are "educated and skilled" or "competent and confident"  I hope to be you some day! :-)

I don't know what I am right now.  I started commuting and riding regularly for recreation not quite two years ago, and I venture to say that at 59 years old I am a bit older than many if not most of you.  I started out pretty much scared to death in traffic (although I thought Milwaukee was safe because I saw so many people riding there!).  I am now comfortable in most traffic situations.  I am slow, so I wait until there is a pretty big gap in traffic before I will go out into a lane to avoid something, but I have no problem doing it on my terms.  I like the lanes on Kinzie and on Dearborn, although I wish they had better barriers so cars/trucks could not park in them.  Sorry, guys, but I think that the problem of not being able to "bail" is a concern that arises out of wanting to go fast in those lanes.  They are not intended for going fast.  I agree, however, that DesPlaines is a nightmare.

Whatever I am, the longer I have been riding, the more I have come to realize that the way we are doing "protected" lanes in Chicago gives a false sense of security to the riders that those lanes are supposed to attract.  Many of the hazards of riding like doors, right hooks, cars suddenly pulling across intersections, and cars pulling out of driveways and alleys, are actually accentuated in certain of the "protected" lanes.  So I think better planned infrastructure and more widespread education is what will really get people from "interested and concerned" to something a little more advanced and will help them enjoy riding their bikes for all kinds of reasons.

Davis Moore said:


From thence.

mike w. said:

Whence this "strong and fearless"? i've seen it used elsewhere and find it off-putting.

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 15, 2014 at 5:54pm

I can't speak for what others mean when they use the word "bail," but for me, it means always having a "plan B" in the likely event that something "unexpected" may present itself during your ride which requires evasive action. "Bailing" could include getting out of the lane you currently occupy or traveling at a slow enough speed that you are able to simply apply your brakes and stop before impact.

It sounds like your proficiency and situational awareness have progressed to the point where any opinions you may have about deficiencies in "as built" bicycle infrastructure can be cheerfully disregarded.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

[snip]  Sorry, guys, but I think that the problem of not being able to "bail" is a concern that arises out of wanting to go fast in those lanes.  They are not intended for going fast.  I agree, however, that DesPlaines is a nightmare.

Whatever I am, the longer I have been riding, the more I have come to realize that the way we are doing "protected" lanes in Chicago gives a false sense of security to the riders that those lanes are supposed to attract.  Many of the hazards of riding like doors, right hooks, cars suddenly pulling across intersections, and cars pulling out of driveways and alleys, are actually accentuated in certain of the "protected" lanes.  So I think better planned infrastructure and more widespread education is what will really get people from "interested and concerned" to something a little more advanced and will help them enjoy riding their bikes for all kinds of reasons.

 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on January 16, 2014 at 1:15am

Well, yes:  traveling at a slow enough speed that you are able to simply apply your brakes and stop before impact.

Since my opinions and statements are often disregarded, and not always cheerfully, I guess I am in the right place here. :-)


Kevin C said:

I can't speak for what others mean when they use the word "bail," but for me, it means always having a "plan B" in the likely event that something "unexpected" may present itself during your ride which requires evasive action. "Bailing" could include getting out of the lane you currently occupy or traveling at a slow enough speed that you are able to simply apply your brakes and stop before impact.

It sounds like your proficiency and situational awareness have progressed to the point where any opinions you may have about deficiencies in "as built" bicycle infrastructure can be cheerfully disregarded.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

[snip]  Sorry, guys, but I think that the problem of not being able to "bail" is a concern that arises out of wanting to go fast in those lanes.  They are not intended for going fast.  I agree, however, that DesPlaines is a nightmare.

Whatever I am, the longer I have been riding, the more I have come to realize that the way we are doing "protected" lanes in Chicago gives a false sense of security to the riders that those lanes are supposed to attract.  Many of the hazards of riding like doors, right hooks, cars suddenly pulling across intersections, and cars pulling out of driveways and alleys, are actually accentuated in certain of the "protected" lanes.  So I think better planned infrastructure and more widespread education is what will really get people from "interested and concerned" to something a little more advanced and will help them enjoy riding their bikes for all kinds of reasons.

 

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on January 16, 2014 at 4:23am

Yes! 

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

Well, yes:  traveling at a slow enough speed that you are able to simply apply your brakes and stop before impact.

...


Kevin C said:

I can't speak for what others mean when they use the word "bail," but for me, it means always having a "plan B" in the likely event that something "unexpected" may present itself during your ride which requires evasive action. "Bailing" could include getting out of the lane you currently occupy or traveling at a slow enough speed that you are able to simply apply your brakes and stop before impact.

It sounds like your proficiency and situational awareness have progressed to the point where any opinions you may have about deficiencies in "as built" bicycle infrastructure can be cheerfully disregarded.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

[snip]  Sorry, guys, but I think that the problem of not being able to "bail" is a concern that arises out of wanting to go fast in those lanes.  They are not intended for going fast.  I agree, however, that DesPlaines is a nightmare.

Whatever I am, the longer I have been riding, the more I have come to realize that the way we are doing "protected" lanes in Chicago gives a false sense of security to the riders that those lanes are supposed to attract.  Many of the hazards of riding like doors, right hooks, cars suddenly pulling across intersections, and cars pulling out of driveways and alleys, are actually accentuated in certain of the "protected" lanes.  So I think better planned infrastructure and more widespread education is what will really get people from "interested and concerned" to something a little more advanced and will help them enjoy riding their bikes for all kinds of reasons.

 

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