Oh Dearborn! A virtual tour of Chicago's first 2-way protected bike lane

Did you blink yesterday? If so you missed CDOT painting the "game-changing" new 2-way protected bike lane on Dearborn Street from Polk Street to the Chicago River. The striping is already complete, although the lane won't be ready to ride until the flexible posts, signs and bike-specific traffic signals are done. Here's a virtual tour of the new facility so far:

http://gridchicago.com/2012/oh-my-dearborn-the-2-way-protected-bike...


Keep moving forward,

John Greenfield

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on December 4, 2012 at 10:26am

Red pavement markings are not standard. It would just confuse people.

Will V. said:

I also think the line dividing the parking/loading lane from the bike lanes should be painted red or yellow, to let motor vehicle operators know they cannot cross it. Or how about putting a low curb on that line, similar to a speed bump?

Permalink Reply by Will on December 4, 2012 at 10:39am

Red is sometimes used to indicate no parking, but maybe that's not the best idea I've ever had (it's also not very visible at night). A low/soft curb though could work, or maybe a soft curb with rumble strips, like used in streets.

In any case, I don't think the solid white line is enough, especially once they start removing bollards, like they did on Kinzie.

Adam Herstein said:

Red pavement markings are not standard. It would just confuse people.

Will V. said:

I also think the line dividing the parking/loading lane from the bike lanes should be painted red or yellow, to let motor vehicle operators know they cannot cross it. Or how about putting a low curb on that line, similar to a speed bump?

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on December 4, 2012 at 10:41am

I like the curb idea best.

Will V. said:

Red is sometimes used to indicate no parking, but maybe that's not the best idea I've ever had (it's also not very visible at night). A low/soft curb though could work, or maybe a soft curb with rumble strips, like used in streets.

Adam Herstein said:

Red pavement markings are not standard. It would just confuse people.

Will V. said:

I also think the line dividing the parking/loading lane from the bike lanes should be painted red or yellow, to let motor vehicle operators know they cannot cross it. Or how about putting a low curb on that line, similar to a speed bump?

Permalink Reply by Bradford Smith on December 4, 2012 at 12:00pm

I saw this divider between a cycle lane and an automobile lane in Copenhagen.

Adam Herstein said:

I like the curb idea best.

Will V. said:

Red is sometimes used to indicate no parking, but maybe that's not the best idea I've ever had (it's also not very visible at night). A low/soft curb though could work, or maybe a soft curb with rumble strips, like used in streets.

Adam Herstein said:

Red pavement markings are not standard. It would just confuse people.

Will V. said:

I also think the line dividing the parking/loading lane from the bike lanes should be painted red or yellow, to let motor vehicle operators know they cannot cross it. Or how about putting a low curb on that line, similar to a speed bump?

Permalink Reply by Will on December 4, 2012 at 12:06pm

Looks good, and relatively inexpensive and easy to install. I like it.

Bradford Smith said:

I saw this divider between a cycle lane and an automobile lane in Copenhagen.

Adam Herstein said:

I like the curb idea best.

Will V. said:

Red is sometimes used to indicate no parking, but maybe that's not the best idea I've ever had (it's also not very visible at night). A low/soft curb though could work, or maybe a soft curb with rumble strips, like used in streets.

Permalink Reply by Mollie on December 4, 2012 at 5:14pm

I rode northbound on Dearborn tonight!  I always use the LFT because it's easiest and least congested (when it's not summer) despite having to go out of my way to get to it.  Dearborn is the best street to head northbound outside of my work, even without bike lanes, but I was quite surprised to see the new lanes, and I used them.  Even with the barricades in the lanes, there was still space (I figured I may as well!), and it was a big improvement over riding in or to the side of the car lanes.  I'm really excited about these new bike lanes.  

On the downside, there's less of an adrenaline rush in being separated from car traffic.   I think I'll get over it.  

Anne Alt said:

I saw 3 cyclists heading northbound in the lanes.

Sarah Lewert said:

Agreed. The drivers were much more aggressive this morning as compared to yesterday. Lots of driving in the striped parking lane. I also saw two bikers heading south next to the saw horses and cones. They seemed to be pretty cautious, but still a risky idea.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 5, 2012 at 4:12am

I saw something this morning that gave me a laugh.  As I walked past the Monadnock Building, I saw a driver break out of the lefthand traffic lane to pass in the parking lane.  When he got halfway down the block, he came to a sudden stop.  Those cars ahead of him in the parking lane were actually *parked* - doh!  Then he had to back up a little and find an opening to get back into the traffic lane.  *snicker*

Permalink Reply by John Wirtz on December 5, 2012 at 4:15am
Could be an option if it doesn't create a plowing problem.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 5, 2012 at 4:43am

?? Are you referring to this?



John Wirtz said:

Could be an option if it doesn't create a plowing problem.
Permalink Reply by John Wirtz on December 5, 2012 at 6:15am
Yes Anne.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 5, 2012 at 6:28am

Sounds like Channel 5 needs to hear from us.  Ethan, folks at Active Trans - Hope you're reading this, too.

h' said:

I saw some coverage of this lane on channel 5 news this morning. They found three drivers to disparage the lane from their car windows. One described it thusly: "it's garbage." The word dangerous came up about 27 times in a 60 second piece.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on December 5, 2012 at 6:34am

Howard, was this it?

http://www.nbcchicago.com/traffic/transit/chicago-protected-bike-la...

I cannot get the volume loud enough on my computer to hear what they are saying.  It appears they interviewed some cyclists.  I saw the reporter guy and a camera standing in the bike lane in front of Petterinos yesterday at about 4:30, but there does not seem to be any footage from that.

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