A Protected Bike Lane on Clybourn

This in my e-mail from Active Trans:

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Active Transportation Alliance - Chicagoland's voice for better biking, walking, and transit,

  [BREAKING] Ald. Burnett Announces First Protected Bike Lane on State Road

At Ceremony to Unveil Honorary Street Named for Bobby Cann, Alderman Says State Will Allow Protected Bike Lane on Clybourn Ave.

We wanted you to be the first to hear the big news.

After months of pressure from grassroots advocates like you, it’s been announced that protected bike lanes will be installed for the first time on a state-controlled roadway, Clybourn Ave.

        The announcement came from 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. during a ceremony to unveil an honorary street named for Bobby Cann, a bicycling advocate who was killed in a crash on Clybourn Ave. in May of this year.

        As a state-controlled roadway, Clybourn Ave. was previously subject to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s ban on protected bike lanes.  But the tragic crash that claimed Bobby’s life also inspired an upwelling of grassroots voices calling for the state to change its  policies.

        Today, those efforts have paid off.

        Thank you for every letter you sent, each phone call you made, and all the public meetings you attended.  When we work together, we can make big things happen.

        We still have a long way to go to achieve our shared vision for safer and better streets for all.  But today be sure to take a moment to savor this victory, you’ve earned it.

Active Transportation Alliance       312.427.3325 www.activetrans.org

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sean Phalen on October 25, 2013 at 9:47am

Fantastic news. 

Permalink Reply by Steve Courtright on October 25, 2013 at 9:57am

Chapeau.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on October 26, 2013 at 12:52am

???????--protected bike lanes are crazy? Active Trans is crazy? Passing along the story is crazy? Steve saying "hat" in French is crazy? Sean thinking this is good news is crazy?

Jennifer on the lake said:

Man, the crazies sure do come out earlier and earlier. It's not even next winter yet!

Permalink Reply by Not too hip on June 29, 2015 at 1:55pm

Just stumbled across this article from the tribune.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-bikes-lane...

As both a driver and a cyclist I think his observations are good. When I'm cycling I'm thinking about what drivers would do. I run red lights early in the morning when nobody is around. At rush hour I hold my lane at lights and move when I feel comfortable with drivers passing. And sometimes I've just screwed up and been fortunate.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on June 29, 2015 at 3:40pm
Great so with all the cabbies that WILL park,drive in it now cyclists are forced into a smaller zone becoming even more dangerous. These "protected" bike lanes are not that, Dearborn, Kinzie not to mention in the Winter they're not maintained. BTW where are all the pylons going?
Permalink Reply by Rich S on June 30, 2015 at 3:45am

In the meantime northbound Clybourn has been fantastic. You basically have over 50% of the street to yourself from Division to Halsted. Southbound in the morning not so much fun. 

Chicago does not have any protected bike lanes at this time. Clybourn will be the first. I just hope pedestrians stay out of it. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 30, 2015 at 4:52am

Chicago does not have any protected bike lanes at this time. Clybourn will be the first.

Not quite. Concrete barrier-protected lanes were installed through Douglas Park recently.

Permalink Reply by paulcycles on June 30, 2015 at 5:14am

Any they are NICE but how long will the pavement be maintained as NEW and SMOOTH?

WE Slow rollers rode this last Sunday, Slow-Roll!

Permalink Reply by Rich S on June 30, 2015 at 5:18am

Ah I was not aware of that! Good to know. In general I just bristle a bit whenever I hear someone refer to the bollard separated bike lanes as protected. 

Permalink Reply by Jeremy on June 30, 2015 at 8:34am

I think they are considered protected because parked cars separate the cyclists from moving cars.

Of course, the entrances to the lanes on Broadway in Uptown are often blocked by idling cars and nothing is ever done about it.

Permalink Reply by SixtyTwoPercent on July 1, 2015 at 4:13am

Does anyone know why Clybourn is a state-protected route? Are there other like-protected routes in the city (Elston, Lincoln?) Am curious why the state is involved in what appears to be a municipal matter. 

I ask the above because my understanding is that getting protected lanes is not as simple as lobbying the city. It seems there are other interested-parties that need to be aware or even authorize. I would like to start working on getting Elston established from Damen to Milwaukee the same way. We are almost there, but not quite. Maybe even get Damen done from say Lawrence down to Milwaukee.

Permalink Reply by This PBL dosnt make me feel safe on July 1, 2015 at 4:52am

States and the federal government have an interest in building and maintaining long-distance road networks.   They provide funding  for the maintenance and improvement of these roads but also dictate the roadway design.  Why is Clybourn state owned?  Probably for historical reasons that are no longer relevant.  Chicago could take jurisdiction of Clybourn if IDOT felt this route was now unimportant to its interests, but this could lead to a loss of funding.  So, its all a money issue.   There are many, many state-owned roads in Chicago.

Also, lol @ continuing to fuck up Elston while ignoring the genuine stress point at NB Elston and Ashland.  Keep PBL shit out of the northwest side.

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