New protected bike lanes announced - Elston, 18th

Our team at the MBAC meeting just let us know that Elston (Division to North) and 18th (Clinton to Clark) will be the next protected bike lanes by the end of this year!

 

Thanks, CDOT!

 

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

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Permalink Reply by Jared on September 14, 2011 at 3:45pm
Do any of these streets even have room for an actual bike lane let alone a protected bike lane?

Tim S said:
Do you think that those will ever be realized? Those are some tough streets to convert.
Permalink Reply by Tim S on September 14, 2011 at 3:51pm
That's what I'm saying.

Some of those streets are tight enough, no room to "Kinzie" them.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on September 14, 2011 at 4:35pm

My point exactly. You think the backlash against the Kinzie lane was bad? Try converting any of the ones mentioned above. Retailers will complain about loosing customers and residents will complain about losing after hours parking space. You think an alderman will risk the backlash from his/her constituents?

 

I'd like to see somebody step up and spend that political capital.

Tim S said:

Do you think that those will ever be realized? Those are some tough streets to convert.
Permalink Reply by djm on September 14, 2011 at 6:25pm
I fear that protected lanes are going to be created only where there is adequate existing room to fit them within the existing street boundaries — precisely the places where they are least needed.  Covering the grating on the 18th Street bridge will be nice, though.
Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on September 15, 2011 at 12:52am
There is plenty of room on most of that part of Elston (at least on the Division end). The truckers at Morton Salt, etc. and yahoos at McGrath probably won't like it since they have a tendency to drive and park in the existing 'ghost' bike lane. Curious what will happen in the winter, the protected lanes seems likely to be a repository for plowed snow.
Permalink Reply by Charlie Short 2.9 on September 15, 2011 at 5:00am
I believe that the Elston location will eventually be extended.  The Division to North corridor was picked first because the other stretches will be getting utility work done. I believe they can address the south portion, between Milwaukee and Division, second and then the northern sections.  Elston is getting resurfaced in large sections, and the Division to North section will be finished first.
Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on September 15, 2011 at 5:55am

I agree/hope you're right - I'd also just add that as a regular Elston rider, coming from downtown in the evening rush hour cars are often usurping the bike lane when you get to a block or two directly south of North Ave.

 

And part of that is likely due to how desperately in need of fresh paint those bike lane stripes are - so perhaps CDOT figured it made more sense to start there since they were (hopefully) going to need to freshen up the existing bike lane stripes.

 

BTW, when you hear people arguing about how much this all costs and how bikes aren't paying their share, tell them to take a closer look at the Elston bike lanes between Division and North - the striping on the side that cars often drive over is the stripe in such bad shape, it's not like bikes are wearing down the paint, it's car traffic!


 Charlie Short said:

I believe that the Elston location will eventually be extended.  The Division to North corridor was picked first because the other stretches will be getting utility work done. I believe they can address the south portion, between Milwaukee and Division, second and then the northern sections.  Elston is getting resurfaced in large sections, and the Division to North section will be finished first.
Permalink Reply by Lizzy M. on September 15, 2011 at 6:19am

I would like to see on-street parking reduced or eliminated (in favor of protected bike lanes) on thoroughfares in neighborhoods which are adequately served by public transportation (that is, buses, mostly). But I imagine (as noted above) no alderman is gong to risk outrage from residents and retail to support such a measure, but it's what I'd like to see. There's too much accommodation to personal automobile traffic in the city.

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on September 15, 2011 at 8:10am

You all have great feedback -- keep thinking about locations! The city will need your ideas.

 

These initial projects should be considered “pilots,” demonstrating that the protected lanes can be installed quickly and affordably, with minimal impact on parking and traffic, and with strong aldermanic support. It’s important to get a few miles in on the street, so Chicagoans can spend a few months getting comfortable with them and see there’s nothing to be worried about when the city rolls out another 20+ miles after winter thaws (CDOT has said they’re planning for 25 miles by next May).

 

These lanes need to be part of a comprehensive network that connects people to where they need to go and serves the need. With your help, that’ll happen with the City’s Streets for Cycling plan, which will kick off in the next few months and inform the 100-mile network the city is aiming for. You all have great ideas about where lanes need to go, and your ideas will be needed to create a strong plan. There will be a public input process, and we’ll be working to help you plug in and share your ideas with the city so we can get the best possible results. Sign on to our Neighborhood Bikeways Campaign to make sure you get our emails about how to get involved.

 

It may be hard to imagine what this will look like with just a few pilot projects here and there right now, but we anticipate the pace will pick up significantly next year, informed by your input through the Streets for Cycling plan. And the 100-mile network will be heaven when it’s done. We can't wait!

 

- Lee Crandell, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Joel on September 15, 2011 at 8:16am
Is there any public information on where the protected lanes are going to be?
Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on September 15, 2011 at 1:38pm
I can't wait either!

Active Transportation Alliance said:

It may be hard to imagine what this will look like with just a few pilot projects here and there right now, but we anticipate the pace will pick up significantly next year, informed by your input through the Streets for Cycling plan. And the 100-mile network will be heaven when it’s done. We can't wait!

 

- Lee Crandell, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on September 16, 2011 at 1:36am

To sign up for the Neigborhood Bikeways Campaign email alerts that Lee mentioned above go to the bottom of the page...it also asks what ward you're in - not a required field but if you want to look it up you can go to Chicago Alderman lookup .

 

Horray for 100 miles of additional and/or protected bike lanes, however I have to ask - are/will statistics be kept on how many pedestrian accidents occur in protected bike lanes?  I have noticed a trend as of late of people walking westward in the Kinzie bike lane alongside the Merchandise Mart as if it is a sidewalk (there is no sidewalk there so they are using the bike lane as one).  I have managed to bypass these peds with no issue but Im sure that some may not be so lucky..

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