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Permalink Reply by Jordan M S on June 13, 2017 at 2:24am

Chicago ave definately needs a bike lane, not because bike lanes are so great, but because the lane system is already a mess for much of it. Many places it's wide enough for 2 lanes and many it's not, and it's poorly marked (probably because if they actually marked 2 lanes they'd see many stretches clearly can't work as 2 lanes). Drivers don't handle this ambiguity well, so you get cars weirdly weaving and trying to jump lights on right, swiping, etc. That's why it's shitty on a bike and you just have to stake your territory in what would be the right lane.
Granted, a lot of the terribleness is further west than west town.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on June 13, 2017 at 2:53am

The center turn lane helps this a lot, IMO. A common sight on four-lane roads is: a driver in the leftmost of the two lanes slows because he wants to turn left, and the driver behind him immediately swerves into the right lane to pass.

A dedicated center turn lane does a lot to address that.

Saw some discussion on Twitter by people saying that Chicago doesn't need a bike lane because Augusta has one. I don't get that argument. A bike lane on Chicago would be a terrific improvement to that stretch. (These people were saying that they should install bus lanes instead.)

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Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on June 13, 2017 at 3:00am

I can see the desire for a bus-specific lane on Chicago - that bus is packed at all hours, slow as molasses, and just an awful experience. It's interesting that the plan doesn't mention it.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on June 13, 2017 at 5:52am

Yes...in a way we cyclists have benefitted from the "ease" with which the city has been able to add bike lanes. Dedicated bus lanes take up much more space and are more "disruptive" to existing parking spaces, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on June 13, 2017 at 3:42am

On the east end of the district, they *have* to install turn arrows at Chicago and Halstead. It's a major intersection for crying out loud, and there's no turn arrows, which results in traffic backing up for blocks. I was biking eastbound yesterday afternoon, and cars were trying to squeeze by on the right, pinching what little room there is for bikes. 'A very dangerous situation.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 13, 2017 at 4:02am

That intersection has needed left turn arrows for years.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on June 13, 2017 at 4:21am

Yeah, totally agreed. I wonder how CDOT is thinking about this intersection? Luckily it's included in the WT Master plan map...might get some interest and attention. 

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