Kinzie. It's what's next.

Hopefully you've heard by now that CDOT will begin construction this week on the city's first protected bike lane: Kinzie Street from Milwaukee Avenue/Desplaines Street to Wells Street. 

 

Full story on Steven Can Plan. 

 

I want to know what you think about this.

  • What do you feel will need special attention?
  • Is this the right or wrong location for such a facility? Why?
  • Are you going to thank/congratulate Rahm, Gabe, and the CDOT Bicycle Program?
  • Will you use it?

 

Cycle track and protected bike lane naysayers, this isn't the post for you. But if you've ridden in protected bike lanes before, then I welcome your constructive comments and criticism based on your actual experiences. 

Big intersection

The new beginning. Looking southeast at the intersection of Kinzie/Milwaukee/Desplaines. 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on July 5, 2011 at 10:29am

I feel much more protected than ever from the motorists due to the bollards on the bridge. So much looking forward to its deck. Never have I experienced this sort of safe feeling when riding on the other bike lane streets.

 

Still, these drivers want to park their pizza delivery cars right at Clinton and Kinzie.

Steven Vance said:

News via Grid:

-Bridge deck schedule

-Discussing the location for the next protected bike lane

-Cost of building Kinzie Street protected bike lane

 

Read about it on Grid.

 

 Kinzie Street protected bike lane

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 5, 2011 at 10:35am
Let's advocate to make this standard policy on bridges, and work with CDOT to develop a plan to retrofit, over the next 5 years, the remaining 30 or so metal grate bridges without bike-friendly decks.

Juan said:

I feel much more protected than ever from the motorists due to the bollards on the bridge. So much looking forward to its deck. Never have I experienced this sort of safe feeling when riding on the other bike lane streets.

 

Still, these drivers want to park their pizza delivery cars right at Clinton and Kinzie.

Steven Vance said:

News via Grid:

-Bridge deck schedule

-Discussing the location for the next protected bike lane

-Cost of building Kinzie Street protected bike lane

 

Read about it on Grid.

 

 Kinzie Street protected bike lane

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 11, 2011 at 11:27am
I still haven't made it out yet..... hopefully soon.
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 11, 2011 at 1:17pm

How can that be?!

It's worth a special trip!

 

I rode it again today. It's so weird. 

It looks like left turns from westbound Kinzie to southbound Canal are especially difficult. 


Julie Hochstadter said:

I still haven't made it out yet..... hopefully soon.
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 15, 2011 at 9:17am
USPS vans blocking Kinzie protected bike lane

Yeah, thanks, USPS.
Permalink Reply by jennifer james on July 15, 2011 at 9:22am
Agreed.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 15, 2011 at 9:36am

Through sleet or snow...

 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on July 15, 2011 at 1:56pm

I don't like this even though there's no stop sign and you clearly have the right of way cars parked along the side block cars view that want to turn.

 

I can swerve around faster than I can stop from a car turning in front of me.

I want it back the way it was. No joggers, pedestrians, rollerbladers, cars parked in the lane... with drivers side lanes.

Permalink Reply by Elihu Blanks on July 16, 2011 at 5:08am

NO,

 

I would like to see this project on Stony becasue Stony is a bigger street and could use this improvement. It may also encourage more bikers on my side of town. I take stony to the lakefront trail to get to work once a week and would love to have this protection.

 

However, the painted green areas seam to give me a false impression that I can ride through them and not look out for cars there. I'm sure this isn't true so I will look out for my safety but the paint may give a false since of security.

 

Back to the Stony Island path. It would be a great way to link Southeast siders to their local comunities (shopping) that they may not frequent since we drive to Indiana and suburbs a lot. I was so happy to hear this project coming to my comunity that I had to try the Kinzie sample. Now I'm hurt that it isn't comming to Stony but they're right I'm one of a few riders who commute down Stony. Maybe if ATA (since they are so big) would hold events on the southeast side there would be more interest.

Duppie said:

This Tribune article gives some more detail. Apparently the Kinzie cycle track is being paid for by money originally designated for the cycle track on Stony Island. That project has been cancelled.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-bike-track-0606-201...

Permalink Reply by Elihu Blanks on July 16, 2011 at 5:28am

Please don't be "glad" that a project is cancelled. I altered my way to the north side yesterday becasue I wanted to try this new route.

 

IT IS BEAUTIFUL, in that cars can park and drive along side bikes. Yes, it is a little congested for bikers and autos but the system seams to flow safely.

 

This system may encourage more people to find better ways to get around becasue it apears safe.

 

In my opinion, to be "glad" that a safe idea is cancelled is just wrong. However, to be glad that it was moved so that it may be expanded is a good thing in my mind.

 

 

...Always Forward,

Steven Vance said:

I read this only moments ago.

I'm glad that project is being cancelled. 


Duppie said:

This Tribune article gives some more detail. Apparently the Kinzie cycle track is being paid for by money originally designated for the cycle track on Stony Island. That project has been cancelled.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-bike-track-0606-201...

Permalink Reply by Elihu Blanks on July 16, 2011 at 5:47am

Yea,

 

That's my argument abuot the paint seaming like a special permission for Bikes to go through the stop sign without worring about the cars. This is a false security, I'm sure, and I will stop for heavy cars, truck and other bikers if its their turn.

 

:)

Duppie said:

I've been riding it the last few days (with all the bollards installed) and so far I'm impressed. Fewer car interactions, and even the left turns onto Clinton and Franklin aren't too hard to navigate.

One of the things I didn't expect is that the roadway for cars is not only single lane, but also narrow. It forces cars to slow down, and pay more attention to their driving

 

Now if bicyclists only could stop for stop signs when cars are present: This morning I saw 6 bicyclists in a row blow the eastbound stop sign at Clinton, while a westbound truck is trying to make a left turn onto Clinton and gets stuck halfway into his turn.

Permalink Reply by Mike Keating on July 16, 2011 at 6:16am
Illinois bicycle riders are required to ride "as nearly as is practicable" to the curb. By default, if there is a bike lane next to the curb, then Illinois law essentially requires the rider to be in the bike lane.

Stefanie Seskin said:

It's a little different in New York, as I'm pretty sure bicyclists are required to use bike lanes if present. In Illinois, they are not.

 

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