Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 24, 2014 at 11:30am

Don't assume you know what Osterman's interest in the bike lane might be. Find out from him. Go to his Monday night office hours in the Ward, and be prepared to pitch him. Don't pitch him if he's opposed; only if he's indifferent or mildly supportive. If he's opposed, try to find out why. Thank him for his time. Absent support from the affected Alderman, the chances of getting the lane extended are virtually non-existent. 

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Permalink Reply by Eli on January 24, 2014 at 11:43am

What hours are the Monday night office hours? What is the basis of your knowledge that his office holds such hours? According to his web site, his office is only open 9-5. There is no mention of Monday night office hours in his regular ward emails either.

I have in the past attempted to visit the ward office during regular (9-5) hours and I've never been able to do anything but leave a message with the receptionist.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 24, 2014 at 11:49am

Looks like his evening office hours are by appointment only.

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Permalink Reply by Mark on January 24, 2014 at 12:17pm

Broadway north of Foster is controlled by IDOT.  It makes sense to extend the buffered bike lanes that will be installed between Lawrence and Foster north to at least Bryn Mawr.  I am confident that IDOT can be persuaded once they see the new Road Diet lane configuration south of Foster.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 24, 2014 at 1:24pm

Even better advice. (but truthfully, you still need to get something north of aldermanic opposition).

Mark said:

Broadway north of Foster is controlled by IDOT.  It makes sense to extend the buffered bike lanes that will be installed between Lawrence and Foster north to at least Bryn Mawr.  I am confident that IDOT can be persuaded once they see the new Road Diet lane configuration south of Foster.

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Permalink Reply by Sol on January 24, 2014 at 11:06pm

I live in the ward and have been talking up the road diet to several of my non-cyclist neighbors. Building political support for these things is a process. Initially, most are opposed without even giving it a second thought because they think it will make traffic worse. However, when I explain how turning four lanes into three, plus two bike lanes may actually make traffic flow more efficiently because cars will not be changing lanes to avoid left turning vehicles as there will be a dedicated left turn lane running up and down the length of the street, and that installing bike lanes will get the "annoying" cyclists out of the lanes in which they drive, they tend to come around and open up about the idea. I do not think it is a good idea to sell the road diet as "traffic calming" or even to call it a "road diet" as drivers will simply view that as being anti car. I simply refer to it as a "road lane reconfiguration." I always point out that if it does not work out, the road can easily be returned to its original configuration.

I think if the initial road diet between Montrose and Foster works out, there will be support for extending it north. At this point, the politically smart thing to do from an alderman's standpoint is to wait and see how the road diet further south works out. Harry is generally supportive of cycling, but he usually checks the direction of the local political winds before committing to anything.

I have found Harry's office to be very easy to communicate with by sending emails. You don't need to go to his office. Simply send an email with your name, address, and phone number and explain politely what you would like and why. Someone from his staff will most likely get back in touch with you very quickly by email or telephone. They will usually tell you if the alderman supports what you want and what he is doing to have it implemented, opposes it and why, or is looking into the matter but that your opinion has been noted (which is the response I predict you will get on this issue until after the road diet further south is implemented and Whole Foods has already moved into the former Dominick's store on Broadway). His office is very good about follow up and follow through.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on January 25, 2014 at 10:33am

Overall, I agree with what you say. But I think we can be more aggressive here. Now I think Critical Mass is a little over the top, but I respect what they're trying to do. We can use this web site, and other such social networking tools, to achieve what we want, more quickly than you're suggesting. Harry is a politician and as such he has to listen to his constituency to get re-elected. 

One of the problems we have in the 48th ward, is that Lake Shore Drive terminates here, and dealing with that will take some effort. We can't be hostile to vehicular traffic but supporting bike infrastructure does not have to be antithetical to that concern, either. 

Maybe we can use this web site to put our heads together and come up with some ideas that, ideally, will please everyone. Maybe we can enlist the Active Transport Alliance to help us out.

Sol said:

I live in the ward and have been talking up the road diet to several of my non-cyclist neighbors. Building political support for these things is a process. Initially, most are opposed without even giving it a second thought because they think it will make traffic worse. However, when I explain how turning four lanes into three, plus two bike lanes may actually make traffic flow more efficiently because cars will not be changing lanes to avoid left turning vehicles as there will be a dedicated left turn lane running up and down the length of the street, and that installing bike lanes will get the "annoying" cyclists out of the lanes in which they drive, they tend to come around and open up about the idea. I do not think it is a good idea to sell the road diet as "traffic calming" or even to call it a "road diet" as drivers will simply view that as being anti car. I simply refer to it as a "road lane reconfiguration." I always point out that if it does not work out, the road can easily be returned to its original configuration.

I think if the initial road diet between Montrose and Foster works out, there will be support for extending it north. At this point, the politically smart thing to do from an alderman's standpoint is to wait and see how the road diet further south works out. Harry is generally supportive of cycling, but he usually checks the direction of the local political winds before committing to anything.

I have found Harry's office to be very easy to communicate with by sending emails. You don't need to go to his office. Simply send an email with your name, address, and phone number and explain politely what you would like and why. Someone from his staff will most likely get back in touch with you very quickly by email or telephone. They will usually tell you if the alderman supports what you want and what he is doing to have it implemented, opposes it and why, or is looking into the matter but that your opinion has been noted (which is the response I predict you will get on this issue until after the road diet further south is implemented and Whole Foods has already moved into the former Dominick's store on Broadway). His office is very good about follow up and follow through.

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