Wells Street at Merchandise Mart

Last week on our way to the MBAC meeting, we noticed cones.

Are those still there?

It was mentioned during the MBAC meeting, but I don't remember what they said about it. 

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on June 28, 2012 at 7:22am

its an imperfect solution that is better than nothing.  cyclists are often confused about whether to ride in the lane or to th eright of the stanchions for the elevated trains. This lets them know its ok to ride in the lane. It lets drivers know that cyclists are going to be there.  I drove in today and there were a host of cyclists properly using the lane. The drivers were allowing the cyclists to ride.  Of course, in the loop the cars really can't go much faster than the bikes.  Everybody was going where they had to go.  The only thing that reminded me that it wasn't utopia is that I was in the friggin' car.

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 28, 2012 at 7:33am

I like the sharrows under the "L" on Wells.  Better than nothing.

We'll see how drivers respond in short order...

Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on June 28, 2012 at 7:53am

IMO the last few days they are pretty aggressive in taking the lane before you do.  Because they know those sharrows mean we can if we so choose.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 29, 2012 at 5:37pm

I haven't had a chance to go downtown for a few days and rode it tonight on the way to CCM.

The new markings are a HUGE improvement IMHO.   They are not 8-80 infrastructure by any means but they really do help.  The spot by the MerchMart is great.    This made wells a much more rideable section than before  I feel.  I guess the next time I ride down there with my wife I'll get  her opinion on it as well.  She is not a regular rider and more of what I would call the average occasional commuter.     My gut reaction is that she will like it.

One thing I'd like to see dded is a sign on the bridge that says something like "allow bicyclists to merge left before Right Turn Only lane."    That is a lot to put onto a sign but somehow it needs to be said.

I don't think a lot of cars understand this or think to leave enough room for bikes to get over and  effectively out of their way.  It actually HELPS them for us to get over at that point but by some of the reactions when I move though that area is only hostility that we are saw-bucking in front of their hoods like that when they are jammed up tight to turn right onto Wacker.

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 2, 2012 at 8:04am

Cars can only understand their drivers' instructions. 

The Wells Street bridge deck will be replaced (eventually) and a new lane design will be made. The right turn lane will stretch the entire length of the bridge and the bike lane will be a centered design, between the bike lane and two travel lanes. 

James BlackHeron said:

One thing I'd like to see dded is a sign on the bridge that says something like "allow bicyclists to merge left before Right Turn Only lane."    That is a lot to put onto a sign but somehow it needs to be said.

I don't think a lot of cars understand this or think to leave enough room for bikes to get over and  effectively out of their way.  It actually HELPS them for us to get over at that point but by some of the reactions when I move though that area is only hostility that we are saw-bucking in front of their hoods like that when they are jammed up tight to turn right onto Wacker.

Permalink Reply by Andrew on July 2, 2012 at 8:15am

Like James, heading to CM this past Friday was my first chance to check this out.  Unfortunately, the cluster of ~10 riders I found myself with all decided that they'd rather weave in and out of the stanchions on the right side of the street and run red lights/dodge traffic prior to turning on to Washington.  I stayed in the lane and waited for the lights...and arrived at the exact same time as the group.  I'll look forward to riding it again during more routine conditions.

James BlackHeron said:

I haven't had a chance to go downtown for a few days and rode it tonight on the way to CCM.

The new markings are a HUGE improvement IMHO.   They are not 8-80 infrastructure by any means but they really do help.  The spot by the MerchMart is great.    This made wells a much more rideable section than before  I feel.  I guess the next time I ride down there with my wife I'll get  her opinion on it as well.  She is not a regular rider and more of what I would call the average occasional commuter.     My gut reaction is that she will like it.

One thing I'd like to see dded is a sign on the bridge that says something like "allow bicyclists to merge left before Right Turn Only lane."    That is a lot to put onto a sign but somehow it needs to be said.

I don't think a lot of cars understand this or think to leave enough room for bikes to get over and  effectively out of their way.  It actually HELPS them for us to get over at that point but by some of the reactions when I move though that area is only hostility that we are saw-bucking in front of their hoods like that when they are jammed up tight to turn right onto Wacker.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 2, 2012 at 8:17am

That would be a much better arrangement.  

If the new "no parking/no stopping" lane with the bike lane inboard of that at the Merchmart were to extend onto the bridge past the stop light/entrance it could transition to a right-turn only lane.  This would create a situation where the cars drivers  had to merge across the bike lane rather than the other way around -and I think that would make them more aware of the bikes and hopefully not have clueless drivers using their  ton-and-a-half weapons to punt bikes off the side of the bridge as they wander across the bike lane.  If it is made really visible and obvious they will hopefully be a little careful getting over.

As weird as this sounds, this would still be better a better arrangement than the way it is now with bikes left to fend for themselves at the far side of the bridge when the turning lane starts before Wacker.

Is there any timeline for this bridge resurfacing Steven? I can't wait.  It should help.  Not a perfect solution but at least a big improvement like the sharrows further south.   I have to admit that they seem to be working. 

Oh, and I see what you did there ;)  It's one of my own pet peeves and I did it myself!   Cars don't drive themselves!


Steven Vance said:

Cars can only understand their drivers' instructions. 

The Wells Street bridge deck will be replaced (eventually) and a new lane design will be made. The right turn lane will stretch the entire length of the bridge and the bike lane will be a centered design, between the bike lane and two travel lanes. 

James BlackHeron said:

One thing I'd like to see dded is a sign on the bridge that says something like "allow bicyclists to merge left before Right Turn Only lane."    That is a lot to put onto a sign but somehow it needs to be said.

I don't think a lot of cars understand this or think to leave enough room for bikes to get over and  effectively out of their way.  It actually HELPS them for us to get over at that point but by some of the reactions when I move though that area is only hostility that we are saw-bucking in front of their hoods like that when they are jammed up tight to turn right onto Wacker.

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on July 3, 2012 at 1:59am

Riding the Wells shared lane this morning and some jacknut in their big silver SUV started honking at a couple of us bikers in the lane.  When I turned around to point at the nice paintings on the ground and saw the person making wild hand gestures and yelling something I couldn't hear through the windshield, I lost a couple of gears and couldn't seem to pick my pace back up for a couple of blocks  ';-)

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 5, 2012 at 10:41am

I don't know of the bridge's timeline. The two Halsted bridges were supposed to have been repaired six years ago, if that gives you any indication. You can see what else the city is up to in the Capital Improvement Program for 2010-2014, and 2012-2016 (I haven't looked at them yet). 

Cars, indeed, do not drive themselves. #robotcar

James BlackHeron said:

That would be a much better arrangement.  

Is there any timeline for this bridge resurfacing Steven? I can't wait.  It should help.  Not a perfect solution but at least a big improvement like the sharrows further south.   I have to admit that they seem to be working. 

Oh, and I see what you did there ;)  It's one of my own pet peeves and I did it myself!   Cars don't drive themselves!


Steven Vance said:

Cars can only understand their drivers' instructions. 

The Wells Street bridge deck will be replaced (eventually) and a new lane design will be made. The right turn lane will stretch the entire length of the bridge and the bike lane will be a centered design, between the bike lane and two travel lanes. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 8, 2012 at 2:21pm

Thanks Steven!

This is good stuff.   I can't wait until these improvements are implemented.   But I won't be holding my breath.  

I've been out camping and recharging my batteries for the past week so that's why I haven't replied earlier.  



Steven Vance said:

I don't know of the bridge's timeline. The two Halsted bridges were supposed to have been repaired six years ago, if that gives you any indication. You can see what else the city is up to in the Capital Improvement Program for 2010-2014, and 2012-2016 (I haven't looked at them yet). 

Cars, indeed, do not drive themselves. #robotcar

James BlackHeron said:

That would be a much better arrangement.  

Is there any timeline for this bridge resurfacing Steven? I can't wait.  It should help.  Not a perfect solution but at least a big improvement like the sharrows further south.   I have to admit that they seem to be working. 

Oh, and I see what you did there ;)  It's one of my own pet peeves and I did it myself!   Cars don't drive themselves!


Steven Vance said:

Cars can only understand their drivers' instructions. 

The Wells Street bridge deck will be replaced (eventually) and a new lane design will be made. The right turn lane will stretch the entire length of the bridge and the bike lane will be a centered design, between the bike lane and two travel lanes. 

Permalink Reply by Derek on July 9, 2012 at 10:32am

Yeah, the drivers have been winning the sharrows battle in front of Merchandise Mart.  At least twice a week (out of 5 commutes) I'll hear a someone floor it to pass me after turning from Kedzie.  It seems pretty clear they are upset a cyclist is in 'their' lane.... and they are winning, I've stopped trying to take the lane.  I'd rather dodge the pedestrians stepping out to hail a cab than get clipped from behind.



Andy Pielet said:

IMO the last few days they are pretty aggressive in taking the lane before you do.  Because they know those sharrows mean we can if we so choose.

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 9, 2012 at 5:57pm

Derek, I'd like to clarify for all readers that the lane in front of Merchandise Mart (just south of Kinzie*) is a buffered bike lane, and doesn't have sharrows. The sharrows don't begin until south of Wacker Drive. (None of this changes what you're experiencing, of course.)

Derek said:

Yeah, the drivers have been winning the sharrows battle in front of Merchandise Mart.  At least twice a week (out of 5 commutes) I'll hear a someone floor it to pass me after turning from Kedzie.  It seems pretty clear they are upset a cyclist is in 'their' lane.... and they are winning, I've stopped trying to take the lane.  I'd rather dodge the pedestrians stepping out to hail a cab than get clipped from behind.

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