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?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 27, 2009 at 1:37am
It would be a huge improvement to get adequate lighting under this viaduct and several other long dark ones, such as the one on Vincennes just south of 83rd.

GEORGE VANDERFOR said:
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 Anne Alt on August 27, 2009 at 1:41am
Bike lanes and signage would be a good idea on Archer.

GEORGE VANDERFOR said:
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.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 6, 2011 at 8:55am
Who's seen the horrendous conditions on Vincennes south of 83rd recently?  Please check out this discussion thread and feel free to speak up.  I'd really like to see this area get fixed this year.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on November 29, 2011 at 2:27am

The Streets for Cycling 2020 Plan is about to get its public launch at an open house on 12/10.  Have you been frustrated with all the places where our south side bike route network is less than adequate?  Have your friends or family members said they wished they could ride to a particular destination but didn't feel safe riding there on the streets due to traffic and street conditions?  This plan is your opportunity to speak up!

There are 3 additional public meetings scheduled from January to early February.  (Don't get me started about the timing of these meetings - in the middle of winter.)  I hope that you can attend at least one of the public meetings.  If not, you can send ideas to me for inclusion in the information we gather and provide to CDOT.

Please take a few minutes to read this blog post about the plan.  If you haven't seen my recent blog posts about south side cycling on Grid Chicago, I'd welcome your comments there.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 15, 2011 at 9:24am

Now we may finally get our wish through the Streets for Cycling 2020 Plan.

If you are comfortable collaborating online via an interactive Google Map, jump on over to the Far South Side map and check it out.  Any of you who have ridden the Perimeter Ride or otherwise explored the south side are welcome to contribute ideas.  I've just set this up.  I'm not a wiz at Google Maps, so borders are not 100% right, but it's pretty close.

The main south side public meeting for the project is scheduled for Wed. 1/25, 6-8 p.m. at Woodson public library (95th & Halsted).  There may be additional public meetings added - dates/times/locations TBD.

Permalink Reply by olloyd1 on December 15, 2011 at 10:28am

  Hey folks,

  Thanks for putting that up Ann.  It reminded me to announce what we have going on in Bridgeport

  We have hard copy maps at Blue City Cycles and worksheets put out by CDOT, for marking destinations, barriers, bike lane gaps and assets.  Also we have definitions for those terms.  There will be a meeting here at Seven P.M. next Wednesday (the 21st) snacks will be provided.  Blue City Cycles 3201 S. Halsted Street.

  Any questions feel free to give us a ring 312-225-3780.

Cheers

Owen

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 15, 2011 at 10:42am

Outstanding.  Thanks for sharing that info.

olloyd1 said:

 Thanks for putting that up Anne.  It reminded me to announce what we have going on in Bridgeport

  We have hard copy maps at Blue City Cycles and worksheets put out by CDOT, for marking destinations, barriers, bike lane gaps and assets.  Also we have definitions for those terms.  There will be a meeting here at Seven P.M. next Wednesday (the 21st) snacks will be provided.  Blue City Cycles 3201 S. Halsted Street.

  Any questions feel free to give us a ring 312-225-3780.

Cheers

Owen

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 10, 2012 at 8:00am

Woodson Library is accessible by CTA's South Halsted 8A bus (connects to the #8 at 79th St.) or 95W, 352, 112, 381 and 108 buses (from the 95th/Dan Ryan red line station).  Bike parking is available near the library entrance on Halsted.

If you're coming by car, there's a parking lot south of the library (enter from northbound Halsted or 96th St. only).  Driving tip - continuing south past 95th St. onto I-57 and exiting at Halsted (2nd exit) could save you 5+ minutes and a bit of aggravation compared to exiting I-94 at 95th St.  When you reach the stoplight at Halsted, turn right (north).  Library parking will be on the right 1/2 block before the next stoplight.

If you're coming from 95th St., you'll need to turn left (east) on 96th to access the parking lot.  That can be a TOUGH place to make a left turn.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 20, 2012 at 12:05pm

C'mon... I know that some of you will come to next week's S4C meeting.  I hope to see a bunch of you there.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 6, 2012 at 7:58am

Our far south side team has developed a preliminary set of ideas for bike boulevard/neighborhood greenway routes in our area of the city.  If you are familiar with neighborhood streets in our area (south of 87th, west of I-94), please visit this page to read more about the concept and take a pair of brief surveys to help us prioritize our recommendations to the city.

These routes could be especially valuable to those of you who ride with young children and to those hesitant friends and family members who you try to persuade to ride with you, but are afraid of traffic.  The boulevard/greenway concept is aimed at creating safer routes where they can ride.

Please share this page with other cyclists you know who ride in our area of the city, and people who might want to ride on our neighborhood streets if they felt safer doing so in traffic.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 5, 2012 at 4:45am

Have you taken the new far south side bike lane survey yet?  If you're familiar with streets south of 87th and west of I-94, we could really use your input on this.  

Please respond by Wednesday afternoon 3/8 if you can, otherwise ASAP.  The boulevard/greenway survey mentioned in the previous post is still open, but only for this week.

Thanks!

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