How the Lakefront Trail should be...

 

This is Virginia Beach. It's how the LFP should be, only with wider bike lanes. The LFP is a victim of it's own success and We, The People, of Chicago, need to get our heads around the idea of a radical remodel. Such a remodel would be necessarily expensive, but hey the LFP is that popular the remodel would surely be worth it, huh? Yes, it surely would!

I originally posted this as a reply to the 'Death of a Cyclist' discussion, but on reflection, I think the Virginia Beach model deserves a discussion of it's own.

 

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Permalink Reply by Charlie Didrickson on August 5, 2011 at 10:45am
I think that is the "plan" for Chicago going forward. I will post if I can find the link.
Permalink Reply by S. Cathi on August 5, 2011 at 3:48pm
I think they should paint the pavement with rules of the path.  For instance, slow traffic keep right and arrows indicating which side/lane is Northbound vs Southbound.  I actually avoid the lakepath because of the chaos of tourists bumbling around, those weird 4 wheeled hummer like behemoths bikes - should be outlawed for taking up the entire lane, speed demons cutting you off with nary a "on your left" or any other kind of warning.  I just feel safer (gulp) in the streets with the traffic.  At least people have a clue about the rules there.
Permalink Reply by Joe Willis on August 5, 2011 at 8:30pm
When I was in Warsaw this is the set up they had and it worked pretty well.
Permalink Reply by ambimb on August 6, 2011 at 4:22am
I agree completely that a separate path for pedestrians and joggers would be ideal. Short of that, S. Cathi has it right — the LFP needs signs! They may not do that much good, but it would be a start. This is especially true on the part of the "path" that goes over the river. This is just a sidewalk and all the tourists look at us cyclists as if we have no business being there. Normally, they'd be right, but since it's the only possible way to go there (w/o a huge detour), we have no choice. The pedestrians need signs to warn them that this is a multi-use sidewalk and they better be careful. Even if cyclists are going slow and being careful, that's not enough to prevent accidents when pedestrians aren't aware that the cyclists are there and have a right to be there.
Permalink Reply by Bike Bloke on August 6, 2011 at 6:07am
A few years back (5, 6, 7 - can anyone else remember?), there were grandiose plans coming from City Hall to include a separate LFP bridge at Lake Shore Drive. Since then, nothing. Predictable. Over to you, Chainlink investigative journalists....

ambimb said:
I agree completely that a separate path for pedestrians and joggers would be ideal. Short of that, S. Cathi has it right — the LFP needs signs! They may not do that much good, but it would be a start. This is especially true on the part of the "path" that goes over the river. This is just a sidewalk and all the tourists look at us cyclists as if we have no business being there. Normally, they'd be right, but since it's the only possible way to go there (w/o a huge detour), we have no choice. The pedestrians need signs to warn them that this is a multi-use sidewalk and they better be careful. Even if cyclists are going slow and being careful, that's not enough to prevent accidents when pedestrians aren't aware that the cyclists are there and have a right to be there.
Permalink Reply by Bike Bloke on August 6, 2011 at 6:11am
Those 4-wheeled contraptions are called 'surreys'. At least, that's what they're called in Virginia Beach.

S. Cathi said:
I think they should paint the pavement with rules of the path.  For instance, slow traffic keep right and arrows indicating which side/lane is Northbound vs Southbound.  I actually avoid the lakepath because of the chaos of tourists bumbling around, those weird 4 wheeled hummer like behemoths bikes - should be outlawed for taking up the entire lane, speed demons cutting you off with nary a "on your left" or any other kind of warning.  I just feel safer (gulp) in the streets with the traffic.  At least people have a clue about the rules there.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on August 6, 2011 at 6:19am

Never let the facts get in the way of a good rant against a supposedly dysfunctional government...

 

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2011/02/city-poi...


Bike Bloke said:

A few years back (5, 6, 7 - can anyone else remember?), there were grandiose plans coming from City Hall to include a separate LFP bridge at Lake Shore Drive. Since then, nothing. Predictable. Over to you, Chainlink investigative journalists....


Permalink Reply by Tim S on August 6, 2011 at 9:53am

While the LFT is a serious pain in the ass the LSD Bridge over the River is dangerous. Had a jogger turn on a dime to head back south, good thing I was going slower and was able to stop with a tap rather than a thud.

 

It would be nice to see the bridge shown in the Trib article, and looks like they have funding? I hope that in building the bridge they will make it to open so it will not impede boat traffic down the river.

Permalink Reply by Bernard Joseph Hannigan on August 6, 2011 at 12:12pm

That dreaded bridge over the river section is up for what will be a three year overhaul, they are going to re-configure the whole deal...The section that is right next to traffic is the most dangerous section of the LFP IMHO. I often wonder how many injuries occur there every year, esp when you throw the tourist factor in there going to the Pier. I have had MANY of them step right out in front of me, and that is one heck of a narrow,high cliff to jump into traffic. I walk my bike thru that section.

 

Permalink Reply by S. Cathi on August 6, 2011 at 12:23pm
Wow, you too Brian.  I too have been riding for years and my first and only crash was on LFP.  I was traveling Northbound coming up on a blind turn near Oak Street beach.  Well this lady staring at her watch or something was riding in MY lane  Not enough time to stop or swerve I let out a yell before we crashed head on.  Ambulance had to come out and everything.  No jokes now, but I did hit my head on the cement.  Thank God I had a helmet on so I was not seriously hurt.  More so dazed, bloody, and messed up a knee that I also landed on.  Other lady was pretty cutup as well but more so dazed.  Anyway, I still have that dented helmet as a reminder to myself to wear my hot helmet not for me but the other yahoos out there.  Since that time, I avoid that path like the plague and use the streets.  If I feel like communing with nature, I head to the suburban trails.  Anyway, this long story is why I think the city could at least afford to paint yellow arrows on the path.  LFP is a death trap!

Brian P. Morrison said:
I've been riding for years and the first and only real accident I ever had was on the LFP while on my way to class in the south loop in 2009. A teenage kid on one of those low-seated bikes (that make your knees go up to your face) crashed into me head on when he swerved into my lane to pass someone. I went flying off my bike and the lifeguards on duty helped me up. The kid took off. I ended up breaking some bones in my hand. It's incredibly dangerous- now I only use it late at night, never on weekends. The streets are safer. I remember reading somewhere that they don't even keep any records of the accidents that occur on the LFP. If they did they could use that information to make it safer. Right now it's totally unregulated and chaotic. And I agree S. Cathi - those 4 wheel buggy bikes have got to go. Those things cause all kinds of trouble. You would think if Virginia Beach could get it right, why can't Chicago?
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 6, 2011 at 12:37pm

I'd like to see something like a limited-access highway for bicycles-only with multiple lanes, on-ramps and off-ramps.  A pedal-expressway that runs down the lakeshore as part of a human-powered-vehicle super-highway grid for the city.   Add in a few bike-boulevards here and there going North/South & East/West -and maybe even a couple of diagonal streets would be cool as well.   There are quite a few unused rail corridors that could be made into bike-expressways which could link neighborhoods together with each other and to downtown.  

 

It'll probably never happen, but it is fun to dream about. 

Permalink Reply by Paul Bracht on August 7, 2011 at 9:42am
I still think back to my time in the Twin Cities and the excellent greenways. They were safe spacious bike and pedestrian friendly human powered inerbelts to get around the city sans traffic.

They were also a fun rat maze to try and figure out. Because most were converted rail corridors. It was great and they did take you to most of the places you wanted to go safely peacefully and most important it was fun.

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