The Chainlink

I've been avoiding the path in the afternoon so far this summer because it's miserable.  I was on it yesterday around 7:30p and even then there were crowds of beachgoers blocking the entire path at North Avenue Beach.  It's nothing new, but it's ridiculous how unsafe this is for EVERYONE.

 

We're getting the bike share program, more lanes, and supposedly a Navy Pier flyover (another wretched spot).  Anyone know of plans to widen the path or otherwise to make it safer for all?  Especially around North Ave Beach?  I did some searching but didn't come up with anything.

 

Thanks. 

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Good question. I've avoided that area for a long time.  A couple of friends have been hit by flying volleyballs or had a volleyball stop their bike wheels and send them flying.

It's definitely too crowded, and there should be a safety net to keep volleyballs off the path.

Its entirely possible to extend the retaining wall that begins just south of Fullerton all the way to the North Ave Beach pedestrian bridge, and then extend and pave the existing "high road" past the North Ave Beach nightmare zone.  This is a great solution because the retaining wall will keep the zombies from wandering onto the path.   If there is enough vertical clearance, you can route the high road under the pedestrian bridge and link up with the trail south of it.  If not, you'll have two ugly merging/weaving zones at Fullerton and at the bridge (They're ugly now but would get worse).

Over the coming years, there will be extensive work done on this part of the LSD.  Its during this construction that this kind of improvement should be made.

The city doesn't care about conditions on the LFP. Neither does the CPD. I suggest finding alternate routes as it isn't going to get better anytime soon.

I've also always wondered why the ATA doesn't have a "education" week (or two) in early June and July educating people on how to share the path. Or why they don't have a Share the Path program in place already.

PS-Ban those pedi-whatevers that hold 6 people (8 if you count the kids typically hanging off the front).

agreed.  I avoid that area like the plague.  I've known new cyclists to get totally turned off to riding when they end up there and are scared for their lives.

Anne Alt said:

Good question. I've avoided that area for a long time.  A couple of friends have been hit by flying volleyballs or had a volleyball stop their bike wheels and send them flying.

It's definitely too crowded, and there should be a safety net to keep volleyballs off the path.

I agree that a separate cycling path utilizing the existing gravel "high path" south of Fullerton should be extended south and under the pedestrian bridge to hook up with the North Avenue Beach bypass trail.  There would need to be some modification to create more clearance under the pedestrian bridge, but this would make this section of the LFT safer for all.  I hope this is included in the Friends of the LFT planning document.

envane x said:

Its entirely possible to extend the retaining wall that begins just south of Fullerton all the way to the North Ave Beach pedestrian bridge, and then extend and pave the existing "high road" past the North Ave Beach nightmare zone.  This is a great solution because the retaining wall will keep the zombies from wandering onto the path.   If there is enough vertical clearance, you can route the high road under the pedestrian bridge and link up with the trail south of it.  If not, you'll have two ugly merging/weaving zones at Fullerton and at the bridge (They're ugly now but would get worse).

Over the coming years, there will be extensive work done on this part of the LSD.  Its during this construction that this kind of improvement should be made.

The threat of volleyballs also terrify me as I ride through that section--seriously, who puts volleyball nets two feet from a busy pedestrian, running, cycling path? There's another reason I've been avoiding LFP. I'm horrified to hear that fear has actually happened to someone. The high path with a wall to keep out the "zombies" sounds like a great idea. Whatever happens, they really need to separate out the different kinds of traffic.

So CPD doesn't care, the city doesn't care--why aren't ATA and Friends of the LFT more active on this matter?

Be careful of the "urban youth" that seem to be growing every summer. There have been reports of bikers being knocked off their bikes and even robbed.

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