new protected bike lanes on Franklin

As I passed the intersection of Kedzie and Franklin on my commute this morning, I noticed bollards have been added to recently-painted bike lanes.  I was in a rush, so didn't really get a chance to look at it very closely.

While I don't know that I've seen more than a handful of people riding on Franklin in the past ~4 years, I suspect that if nothing else this will slow down drivers in that stretch which in the past has done double duty as a drag strip.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 3, 2012 at 1:03am

Response from CDOT via Twitter on connections to Franklin: "Yes, that's why Kedzie and Sacramento are part of the SFC 2020 Plan. Franklin Blvd connections will soon be made."

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 4, 2012 at 11:12am

The draft plan shows a Sacramento connection going north to Humboldt Park.  It also shows California north of Grand as a designated route, as well as Grand and Chicago continuing east from there.  I see at least one bike route location that's changed from the version I saw at one of the recent meetings, so Kedzie near Franklin may be a recent addition.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 4, 2012 at 1:02pm

This sure looks like a bridge on Albany crossing the Ike.  I haven't tried Albany in that area, but it's worth checking out as an alternative to the bigger streets.  On closer inspection, it looks like this is strictly a bike and ped bridge.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 4, 2012 at 4:49pm

There are similar ped/bike bridges at Lavergne, Kildare, and Springfield.  One concern I have is whether the approach to the Albany bridge and others is actually bike friendly.  If anyone checks this out in the near future, please report back about whether it's reasonable to take a bike through there, and whether the sightlines of this approach give you concerns about personal safety.

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 5, 2012 at 10:23am

Several of those pedestrian bridges over the Eisenhower have steep ramps with tight 180° turns. They are covered in weeds and have broken concrete. They don't all have good curb cuts, nor transition areas (a sidewalk) to go from a ramp to a street. Check out Van Buren at Maplewood.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 6, 2012 at 3:29am

Lavergne (just west of Cicero) is somewhat like what Steve describes below at Maplewood. I saw the Lavergne bridge recently, and that ramp on the south side is steep.

That one at Albany looks level, but may have tight turns.  Not sure when I'll get to that 'hood next, but I plan to check it out at some point.

h' said:

Well, the one at Albany must be OK then since it's included in the plan.

Steven Vance said:

Several of those pedestrian bridges over the Eisenhower have steep ramps with tight 180° turns. They are covered in weeds and have broken concrete. They don't all have good curb cuts, nor transition areas (a sidewalk) to go from a ramp to a street. Check out Van Buren at Maplewood.

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