Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on October 13, 2009 at 8:41am

Check out our recent newsletter (link below). We did a three-part story on the political will, funding and engineering needed to get new bike and pedestrian facilities like bike lanes.

For example, some streets are not wide enough for bike lanes (this is the reason Milwaukee Ave has bike lane, marked shared lane and no bike lanes at different places along the street).

Here is the link: http://www.activetrans.org/modeshift/02_07

Scroll down to "Get the inside scoop in 3 parts"

Thanks,
Ethan, with Active Trans

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Amber K on October 13, 2009 at 8:44am

Grand Ave. west of Ashland is definitely wide enough. Why not one there?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Juanito on October 13, 2009 at 8:55am

Hi Ethan.

While the articles were thorough and well written most of them referenced wealthy communities not in our dear County of Cook. I'm not just asking for the guys with the paint to slap down a few lines, however it shouldn't take much political wrangling to make it happen either.

And hey, now that we lost the Olympics I'm sure we can do something about Chicago Ave before we get doored or run over by the CTA.



Active Transportation Alliance said:

Check out our recent newsletter (link below). We did a three-part story on the political will, funding and engineering needed to get new bike and pedestrian facilities like bike lanes.

For example, some streets are not wide enough for bike lanes (this is the reason Milwaukee Ave has bike lane, marked shared lane and no bike lanes at different places along the street).

Here is the link: http://www.activetrans.org/modeshift/02_07

Scroll down to "Get the inside scoop in 3 parts"

Thanks,
Ethan, with Active Trans

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ad on October 13, 2009 at 9:54am

Not that I disagree with adding a bike lane on Chicago, but there is a bike lane on Augusta (which is parallel to Chicago and only four short city blocks north) that runs both directions from Central Park to Milwaukee Ave. Augusta is also generally a much quieter street and does not have a bus route. Could be a good alternative for people who currently ride on Chicago either east or west from the loop to the west town/hp area.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by heather s on October 13, 2009 at 10:22am

Juanito, I think the first thing to do is get your alderman on board. Pretty sure they have the final say, or a lot of influence.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Juanito on October 13, 2009 at 10:42am

Yes, Augusta is good. Thanks for the reminder. Though it ends at the highway -- no good way across.

Adrian Rohrer said:

Not that I disagree with adding a bike lane on Chicago, but there is a bike lane on Augusta (which is parallel to Chicago and only four short city blocks north) that runs both directions from Central Park to Milwaukee Ave. Augusta is also generally a much quieter street and does not have a bus route. Could be a good alternative for people who currently ride on Chicago either east or west from the loop to the west town/hp area.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ad on October 13, 2009 at 11:39am

When it dead-ends (right before the interstate), turn right onto Milwaukee You can then head south for three blocks and turn left onto Chicago heading east. Chicago from Milwaukee into the gold coast seems much better to me than the parts of Chicago west of Milwaukee. IMHO, it seems to be a much safer route each day with only a minimal amount of detouring.

Juanito said:

Yes, Augusta is good. Thanks for the reminder. Though it ends at the highway -- no good way across.

Adrian Rohrer said:

Not that I disagree with adding a bike lane on Chicago, but there is a bike lane on Augusta (which is parallel to Chicago and only four short city blocks north) that runs both directions from Central Park to Milwaukee Ave. Augusta is also generally a much quieter street and does not have a bus route. Could be a good alternative for people who currently ride on Chicago either east or west from the loop to the west town/hp area.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on October 14, 2009 at 1:20am

Yes, Jaunito, Heather is correct. Aldermanic support is needed.

You can also attend a Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council meeting (usually posted on Chainlink) and ask about your specific bike lane request.

CDOT's bike program has a website, Facebook page and Twitter. http://www.chicagobikes.org/

There is also a staff page with contact info.

Chicago Avenue (if it fits the requirements) may be in the 2010 or 2011 lane plans already. If it's not, aldermanic support is definitely needed as is the other political will elements we wrote about (Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council is Chicago's bike task force essentially).

Hope this (and the alternate route suggestions above) help. Good, safe routes are obviously key for bicycling and there are ways to push for them.

Thanks,
Ethan, with Active Trans

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Juanito on October 14, 2009 at 4:10am

Thanks for all the information. In the meantime I will do my best to imagine a bike lane!!
BTW, I did contact the alderman yesterday too.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on October 14, 2009 at 5:43am

Good to hear, please keep us posted! Meanwhile, you could always invest in this, from another CL thread:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/your-own-lighted-bike-lane

Thanks,
Ethan, with Active Trans

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by jen on October 14, 2009 at 1:38pm

For suggesting bike lanes, I would start with ATA. Here's what I find for "bike lane" query on the City of Chicago website:

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalDeptCategoryActi...

An email to the corresponding Alderman(s) might be worthy of your time too.

I think that all the major arteries running east -west and north - south should have bikes lanes. What I would love even more, developed commuter lanes. Buses and bikes only. This would give us wheelers space and prob gear more towards mass transit ... win, win!!!

If there's a petition to sign, count me in.

• ▶ Reply