The Chainlink

improving south side bike routes

I've been thinking for a while about ideas we could pitch to CBF to improve the network of bikes routes here. Right now there's no route south of 95th St. to go east of I-94 that doesn't involve serious traffic risk to one's life.

I would love to see a safer route along 103rd St. east of Pullman, from the expressway interchange over to Torrence. I haven't figured out a good solution by the ramps. It's tough with that section of 103rd being such a major truck route. The speedway bridge over the rail yard could be improved with wider sidewalks to be used as off-street paths. The current sidewalks are an average width, not quite wide enough for riders who are not strong hill climbers. East of the bridge, on-street lanes or sharrows could do the trick, as traffic slows down due to more intersections, stoplights and stop signs.

We previously had bike lanes on Vincennes, which were removed during the Dan Ryan construction and never restored. This could be useful to so many people as a commute route if it could be made safer. A fast street like this could be a great test location for raised bike lanes or bike lanes separated from traffic by a curb.

Does anyone else have ideas for 103rd St., Vincennes, or other locations?

Views: 140

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ali on November 6, 2008 at 4:53pm
I agree Daley is more of an sign on the dotted line kinda guy. Perhaps someone in CBF would know where to start?

-Ali
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on November 7, 2008 at 9:30am
elle said: The Vincennes ones where removed for construction on a highway that isn't right next to that street? ...still doesn't make sense

They removed all the bike lanes from north-south AND east-west streets within a mile or so of the Dan Ryan because so much of the traffic that was normally on the Ryan detoured to those streets. I don't think any of us were happy about this, but the traffic on those nearby streets WAS a lot heavier during the construction.

Hey, you going to the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council Meeting?

Seems like they're always in the middle of the day when I'm normally at work.

Anyone want to discuss SoutSide issues further at the bar night? I think it could be fun if we had a bar night just for those issues somewhere southish.

Maybe we should have a few South Side bar nights in the not-too-distant future. Skylark in E. Pilsen? Somewhere in Bridgeport? Somewhere in Beverly? Other ideas?
Permalink Reply by Ali on November 9, 2008 at 6:51am
As far as bar placement Bridgeport sounds good to me as I live there...We certainly can go to Schaller's Pump or something...

-Ali
Permalink Reply by olloyd1 on January 13, 2009 at 1:10pm
Bridgeport Bar night would be best at Bernice's in my opinion, but then again Schallers might get us closer to The Machine . . . .
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 16, 2009 at 11:18am
Ah, it's a new year. Time for more ideas to offer to CDOT and ATA(CBF). I'd love to see bike lanes restored on Vincennes. Having the basic striped lane did not work well in this location, because too many drivers did not respect the lane. I think this would be a great place to try a lane separated from car traffic by a curb. What do you all think?

Do you have ideas for other areas that do NOT currently have bike route designations where there's a big gap in the bike route network? I'm thinking of places like Cicero (add wide sidewalk striped/signed for use as sidepath?), Columbus or 103rd. Bring on the ideas! I know you've got some.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 16, 2009 at 11:24am
Ah, a new year. Time for some new ideas to suggest to CDOT and ATA/CBF. Let's think more about solutions where we currently have big gaps in the existing bike route network.

The basic striped bike lane on Vincennes didn't work out so great, because too many drivers did not respect the lane. I think this would be a great location to try a lane separated from car traffic by a curb.

Do you have ideas for other places where we lack lanes or routes? I'm thinking Columbus, Cicero (add a wide sidewalk striped/signed for use as a sidepath?), 103rd, etc. Bring on those ideas! I know you've got some.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 14, 2009 at 4:10pm
There's a new group effort getting started with the goal of regular clean-ups and events on the Major Taylor Trail to improve riding conditions there. Our first workday is scheduled for May 2. Stay tuned for more details.
Permalink Reply by niconico on May 12, 2009 at 10:18pm
the skylark!! i live above it and we could kick it upstairs pre/post. word.
Permalink Reply by Jane Healy on July 27, 2009 at 2:41pm
I ride 95th sometimes to get to the Red line terminus. I prefer 87th from Vincennes (I'm coming up from Blue Island on the far south side of the city), but it's hard to get a bike on the train there with no elevators. 95th is fine at night, but gnarly during the day. Y'all have any suggestions for getting that far north and East safely when riding from Western Ave?

Preferred streets on the south side for bike travel (as per Jane Healy):

-Vincennes (even without the bike lanes, it's still a good route)
-Longwood (looooove it! so pretty)
-115th Street (as opposed to 111th--which I don't generally like, even tho' Active Trans considers it a good route)
-Damen
-King Drive
-71st
-State Street

I agree with Anne that a bike lane on 103rd would be good. I'd add one on 119th street--especially between Western and Ashland, but it'd be nice if it ran all the way to State. The new Target/Jewel/shopping plaza at Marshfield (just off I-57) is drawing a lot of traffic by foot and bike. One very good thing about the green initiatives of the city of Chicago is the bike racks and bike friendly set up of this new plaza. Caveat: they need bike racks at Jewel. I presently lock up on the park bench in front, or on one of the shopping cart corral thingies. I wish the city would clue in to the need for bike lanes or shared lanes in the area. FYI: 115th is a great way to access this plaza; MUCH better than 119th St, even with all the construction going on at the bridge over the interstate.

Does anyone else feel uncomfortable on 63rd Street? That street gives me the creeps, esp. at night.

Also, any recommendations for riding east on the FAR south side? I would love to be able to ride 127th to 130th, from Western to the IN border, but I'm just not comfortable around Altgeld gardens or the areas South of it. I haven't tried 111th around Lake Calumet by bike. Anyone here done that before? I'd be interested in checking it out.

Jane
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 27, 2009 at 5:10pm
Preferred streets on the south side for bike travel (as per Jane Healy):
-Vincennes (even without the bike lanes, it's still a good route)
-Longwood (looooove it! so pretty)
-115th Street (as opposed to 111th--which I don't generally like...)

I like 111th and 107th going east from Western. Either is a nice way to get over to Pullman.

-Damen
-King Drive
-71st
-State Street

Also Cottage Grove, Jeffery and South Chicago.

I'd add [a bike lane] on 119th street--especially between Western and Ashland, but it'd be nice if it ran all the way to State. The new Target/Jewel/shopping plaza at Marshfield (just off I-57) is drawing a lot of traffic by foot and bike. One very good thing about the green initiatives of the city of Chicago is the bike racks and bike friendly set up of this new plaza. Caveat: they need bike racks at Jewel.

119th would be a good street for bike lanes. The existing lanes are narrow, and riding in that tight space with fast traffic can be hairy. Lots of people could ride to shop and/or work at that plaza if it was easier to get there by bike.

Jewel is generally terrible about bike racks. The store at 95th and Ashland has none. The closest are across the parking lot by the new Harris Bank. (Way to go, Harris!)

Does anyone else feel uncomfortable on 63rd Street? That street gives me the creeps, esp. at night.

YES!!!!

Also, any recommendations for riding east on the FAR south side? I would love to be able to ride 127th to 130th, from Western to the IN border, but I'm just not comfortable around Altgeld gardens or the areas South of it.

That's a more of a challenge. I'm not crazy about riding on 127th due to speed/heaviness of traffic. I don't like 130th any better, either around Altgeld Gardens or further east. Lack of foot traffic, narrow lanes (east of the expressway) and heavy truck traffic don't make for nice bike riding.

I haven't tried 111th around Lake Calumet by bike. Anyone here done that before? I'd be interested in checking it out.

It makes a cool bike route, but I don't recommend it as a solo route because it is VERY isolated. Also, there are low spots that flood after heavy rain. Most of the bad craters in the road have been patched.

Anyone want to do a far south side expedition from Blue Island and/or Beverly over to Wolf Lake?
Permalink Reply by GEORGE VANDERFOR on August 26, 2009 at 7:30pm
I RIDE DOWN DAMEN AVE AND THE LOND VIDUCT JUST NORTH OF 18TH ST SOMEONE PUT SIGNS ON BOTH ENDS READING WATCH FOR BIKES. SOMEONE WAS HIT UNDER THERE IT IS A VERY DARK VIDUCT VERY POORLY LIT NEEDS SOME BIKE FRIENDLY HELP O HAVE CITY IMPROVE SAFETY THERE TOO
Permalink Reply by GEORGE VANDERFOR on August 26, 2009 at 7:33pm
NEED BIKE LANES ALL THE WAY DOWN ARCHER AVE FROM STATE ON SOUTH THIS IS ALWAYS A BIG BICYCLE TRAFFIC ROUTE

Anne Alt said:
Ah, it's a new year. Time for more ideas to offer to CDOT and ATA(CBF). I'd love to see bike lanes restored on Vincennes. Having the basic striped lane did not work well in this location, because too many drivers did not respect the lane. I think this would be a great place to try a lane separated from car traffic by a curb. What do you all think?

Do you have ideas for other areas that do NOT currently have bike route designations where there's a big gap in the bike route network? I'm thinking of places like Cicero (add wide sidewalk striped/signed for use as sidepath?), Columbus or 103rd. Bring on the ideas! I know you've got some.

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