Sorry state of painted bike lanes in Chicago

Almost every bike lane I use regularly looks like this one (taken tonight):

 

Anyone know if the city still intends to maintain the current painted bike lanes, or are they being abandoned in favor of protected bike lanes?

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Permalink Reply by Bike Bloke on August 8, 2011 at 4:33am
Re that half mile strip of Narragansett along the east side of The Brickyard: good that the city reduced it from two lanes of (sometimes dangerously) fast traffic each way and put in a decent bike lane both directions. However, the city failed to actually stencil in the bike and rider symbols in those lanes. Result - there are some stupid drivers still attempting to speed past other traffic in what would be a perilously narrow car lane, but is actually a bike lane. Extremely dangerous! Camera enforcement might be a good idea there, too.
Permalink Reply by Bike Bloke on August 8, 2011 at 4:37am
The bike lanes along Diversey west of Milwaukee are in a parlous state, too. Pretty much invisible to motorists. In fact some of the lines on the westbound side look as though they've even been rubbed out.
Permalink Reply by Bike Bloke on August 8, 2011 at 4:40am
Question: To help motorists not stray into bike lanes, why aren't the lines painted with those horizontal raised ridges that vibrate cars when they start to stray into the emergency stopping lanes on interstate highways?
Permalink Reply by igz on August 8, 2011 at 4:46am
that stretch of diversey is in fact dangerous.  all the establishments that have sprawled there increased traffic, double parking, valet misuse, and taxis quickly jumping into the lane any time someone raises their arm tryin to be the first to pick em up.  its only from ashland to damen, but its a stretch to be traversed with caution.
Permalink Reply by igz on August 8, 2011 at 4:48am
probably $$, but moreso, it would exacerbate potholes, id imagine. good idea tho

Bike Bloke said:
Question: To help motorists not stray into bike lanes, why aren't the lines painted with those horizontal raised ridges that vibrate cars when they start to stray into the emergency stopping lanes on interstate highways?
Permalink Reply by S on August 8, 2011 at 5:59am
Increased wear probably and I'm not sure if asphalt would be able to keep the ridges intact.  The ridges I've seen have been on concrete.

Bike Bloke said:
Question: To help motorists not stray into bike lanes, why aren't the lines painted with those horizontal raised ridges that vibrate cars when they start to stray into the emergency stopping lanes on interstate highways?
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 8, 2011 at 6:35am
And good luck "taking the lane" when necessary, if it involves crossing a rumble strip to get there.
Permalink Reply by Barry Niel Stuart on August 8, 2011 at 9:49am

I believe those horizontal raised ridges that vibrate cars are called "rumble strips".  I saw an example of that when I rode to Bong Recreation Area last September.  They were in the middle of WI 142 and they are the bane of many bicyclists.

 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on August 9, 2011 at 2:03am

 

 

From Grand To Elston is a mess.

The bike lane is painted north of Chicago but then cars park in right turn lane area so the bike lane is either a car lane or they make a right turn in front of you from the left/through lane.

Permalink Reply by Kelly on August 9, 2011 at 2:37am
I know we have had recent stretches of Lawrence WIDENED and painted for cyclists due to action from our newly elected alderman. Contact your alder(wo)man to get on the "to paint" list.
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on August 9, 2011 at 5:28am

Chicago’s bike lanes are definitely in need of restriping.  Most of the money that pays for bike lanes and protected bike lanes comes from the federal government’s Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grants.

 

Unfortunately, that money can only be used to create new infrastructure and not for maintenance of existing infrastructure.  Maintenance of existing lanes relies on the city’s budget and aldermanic menu funds.

 

Projects for protected bike lanes and restripping bike lanes aren’t really competing for the same money.  Any new bike lanes, protected or not, aren’t competing with money for maintenance. 

 

Active Trans believes we should continue supporting the city investing in new infrastructure (protected bike lanes, which are safer for everyone) while finding ways to update and maintain our existing bike lanes. 

 

And many aldermen have done a great job of supplementing the city’s efforts by using their aldermanic menu funds to restripe crosswalks and bike lanes around the city.

 

Thanks,

Adolfo Hernandez, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on August 9, 2011 at 5:43am

I'm not one to make excuses for the City (usually) but last year there was a shortage of titanium dioxide, the white pigment for road paint. There were (still are?) also issues with other materials for road markings either being hard to get or crazy expensive.

 

These are old news, but it might at least partially explain why the striping got to the state it is in now.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/us/24paint.html

 

http://www.sunjournal.com/city/story/877658

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