Wed meeting re: traffic in/around Humboldt Park

I just found out about this meeting on Wednesday. I plan to be there. I am disappointed that speed humps are being installed in the park's inner drive.  They might slow down cars, but they are a bear for people on bikes, esp those of us who travel with our kids and/or trailers for cargo.  I do not know what will be discussed at the meeting--perhaps there will be an update on the status of Humboldt Blvds through the park.  See: http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/are-bikes-getting-squeezed...

 

Humboldt Park Community Meeting
Wednesday
May 25, 2011
6pm-7pm
at Humboldt Park Boathouse

Slow down traffic within and around Humboldt Park
If you think fast moving cars make it hard to walk or bike safely to and from Humboldt Park, then you don’t want to miss this opportunity to hear some ideas for improvement.  We invite you to join us and
tell us what you think! Spanish translation provided

For more information contact:
Lucy Gomez-Feliciano
773-719-1936

This event is being sponsored by:
Humboldt Park Advisory Council
26th Ward Alderman Roberto Maldonado
Chicago Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Partnership

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 23, 2011 at 12:21pm

Given the speed some people drive through the park I'll go for speed bumps.

 

One driver a few weeks ago HAD to be going 65 mph and then lost control going around the curve it almost caught ME off guard... some wobbly kid on a bike!!!???

Permalink Reply by Gin on May 23, 2011 at 1:05pm
Mike--I hear ya and am glad you are OK. What time of day was it? Miguel and I are usually on that road early morning or late in the afternoon and I have never had any probs with speeding drivers. The lower volume traffic is far preferable to other roads. I trust there is a problem that needs to be addressed--I just wish it was not with speed humps, or at least not so many of them. Adding diagonal parking in spots could have had a similar traffic calming effect.  I wonder what other strategies were considered. More thoughts later--I don't mean to say no to something w/o offering alternatives.
Permalink Reply by Liz on May 24, 2011 at 7:04am

On the weekends, and in the evening I see many driving speeding through the park.  There are also many who don't slow down or yield for pedsetrians crossing.  The number of reckless drivers has increased as the weather has gotten nice in the last few weeks.  I'm honestly more comfortable riding on Division, Kedzie, California or North than riding along the ring road on a nice weekend day.  A 15 mph enforced speed limit, greater stop signs, cross walks marked and even speed humps are all things I would highly consider to make that area safer.  What should be a calm park road has become a very stressful pedestrian environment.  

 

I wish I could make the meeting but I have a previous appointment at that time. 

Permalink Reply by Gin on May 24, 2011 at 7:11am
Thanks, Liz!  If possible, I will communicate these observations. Well said: "What should be a calm park road has become a very stressful pedestrian environment. "
Permalink Reply by dan brown on May 24, 2011 at 7:45am

i will plan to attend. Gin (et al) : one option is to put the speed humps in a way so there is a gap in the center (similar to alley speedbumps) so a bike can ride through there without going over the huump.

 

like this :

 

speed bumps :

------------     ------------

                 ^

                 |

bike goes here

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 24, 2011 at 2:36pm

Liz, you're more comfortable riding on North than in the park!!!??? I hate North ave. I avoid it as much as possible. Wicker Park is ok but other than that... Bleh!

 

Gin it was on my way home 5-6'ish. and they put the "calming" bumps in as of today. If we could make an alliance with the "cruisers" it may work to our advantage.

 

Just a thought.

 

My thoughts are close off Humboldt Blvd. in warmer weather besides it's a half mile why make it a filming scene for Fast Six?

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 24, 2011 at 2:38pm
They're not like the ones in the alleys but more like the ones on the streets. Still not bad.

dan brown said:

i will plan to attend. Gin (et al) : one option is to put the speed humps in a way so there is a gap in the center (similar to alley speedbumps) so a bike can ride through there without going over the huump.

 

like this :

 

speed bumps :

------------     ------------

                 ^

                 |

bike goes here

Permalink Reply by Gin on May 24, 2011 at 3:48pm

I learned a little more about the meeting today. I think the focus will be a bit more on access *to* the park than circulation issues *within* the park. I plan to show enthusiasm for the alderman's efforts to calm traffic and improve conditions for people on foot or bike of all ages, while also expressing concern about the speed humps.

 

I hope the turn out is good, and representative of the wide variety of stakeholders. I am glad I have had a chance to vent. Tomorrow, I hope to "understand before trying to be understood."

Permalink Reply by Liz on May 25, 2011 at 4:23am

I'm not a fan of North either, but at least its more predictable than the park on a busy summer weekend.  I live right on the west side of the park, and even just crossing at the STOP sign and turning to the crossing the ring road at Hirsch on foot can be one big game of chicken. 

 

While I do notice many drivers who are courtious and stop to let me turn or cross, there are also drivers who insist on hot rodding through alleys, ring roads and getting through the stop sign as quickly as possible.  It is much more frequent now than it was in the winter. 

 

Transportation issues are a major reason that I am not going to continue being a Humbolt Park resident when my lease is up.  I have previously lived in Noble Square and Lakeview as car free and found both to have much less stressful pedestrian environment.

Mike Zumwalt said:

Liz, you're more comfortable riding on North than in the park!!!??? I hate North ave. I avoid it as much as possible. Wicker Park is ok but other than that... Bleh!

 

Gin it was on my way home 5-6'ish. and they put the "calming" bumps in as of today. If we could make an alliance with the "cruisers" it may work to our advantage.

 

Just a thought.

 

My thoughts are close off Humboldt Blvd. in warmer weather besides it's a half mile why make it a filming scene for Fast Six?

Permalink Reply by dan brown on May 25, 2011 at 4:28am

I agree with Liz. I don't want to sound prejudice here (because I am not) but sometimes I believe the

crazy drivers have this attitude of "Let's see how close we can get to this <fill in the blank> on a bike *without actually hitting them". it's taken me almost two years to get used to this. they won't hit you; but they will come pretty damn close. good thing I have low blood pressure

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 25, 2011 at 4:32am
MUCH better option.  I wish that this would be done on more neighborhood streets that have been ruined by excessive numbers of speed humps.  Too many formerly good bike routes (such as Wrightwood from Logan Square to Narragansett) are now mediocre, annoying bike routes.  We can't afford lose bike routes to speed humps.  Having cuts for bikes would be a reasonable compromise.

dan brown said:

i will plan to attend. Gin (et al) : one option is to put the speed humps in a way so there is a gap in the center (similar to alley speedbumps) so a bike can ride through there without going over the huump.

 

like this :

 

speed bumps :

------------     ------------

                 ^

                 |

bike goes here

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on May 26, 2011 at 3:33am

Good news! Report from our staff about the meeting last night (via www.twitter.com/activetrans):

 

Alderman Maldonado just announced that he will create a ward transportation committee to make the ward better for walking and bicycling!

 

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

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