Who cares for the LFT???

As a daily bike commuter on the lakefront path on and off for years, I've often felt insulted by how long serious life-threatening surface condition problems are allowed to persist.  It feels like despite tens of thousands of daily users, we're just those little cyclist people.  Meanwhile just a fence-width away on lakeshore drive such dangers would never be left to fester so.

This year in particular though the problems are so egregious and dangerous, some now months old, I felt something had to be said.

I've tried the 311 app for several problems such as a specific huge pothole, and a boulder on the path (too large for one person to move, a construction crew left it there), and gotten "the problem has been resolved" messages back a few days later, with nothing actually done.  The boulder one I even resubmitted, and got the same reply again, though it's still there.

I figured next step is contact the appropriate agency directly, but not sure who that is.

Can perhaps an Active Trans rep followup and pester the city on behalf of this lifetime members?

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on March 21, 2016 at 4:36pm

Alright, I posted todays five photos to massup to get GPS from the exif.

Then submitted online from cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/311.html

Downed streetlight had it's own subsystem, which doesn't permit an LFT location, but I used notes and such.  We'll see.

The pothole report was straightforward and the system accepts LFT locations.  An email replied it had been forwarded to "Department: Division of In-House Construction CDOT "

The wasteland at Oak st bend was a puzzler because there's no category remotely like pavement damage.  After reviewing descriptions of all 88 categories online I picked "Street Cut Complaints" and submitted.

The boulder one I've already submitted twice before, and I didn't want to do too many in one day.  The other asphalt one I'll also hold to cut them slack.

I've always assumed eventually some lanes of LSD will be transitioned off cars.

Permalink Reply by Andrew St. Paul on March 21, 2016 at 5:39pm

The "BEAST" tears up some destruction during the wintertime for sure! Water is the most destructive force on the planet. And for Chicago to have such a large body of water on it's doorstep it can get pounded. I literally stop and stand there to watch in fascination on how powerful it can be. 

Some of your pictures Dang! That rock is huge! 

It could be a very real possibility with this year in particular, that ...

-the city may have been caught off guard with Chicago's early spring? They may operate on a set date schedule for an intensive yearly LFT cleanup and repair? Kind of like how seasonal activities prepare to open up for the up-coming busy season. And during the off season (winter in Chicago- I know "bike winter challenge") it's not technically closed but you can come to ride if you dare to embrace the "BEAST"?

But to answer your Post's question "Who cares about the LFT".. Answer- You do. and these great comment linkers

Thank's for the pics. Now I know how to report them myself. Props

Permalink Reply by blingy on March 22, 2016 at 2:27am
The section in question was 'technically' closed many times through the winter. Sometimes it is passable, often it is not. I rode all winter and fell twice between Navy Pier and Oak st., once on black ice and once walking my bike. Sometimes they put up signs closing it and sometimes they don't.
Permalink Reply by Clement Jett on March 22, 2016 at 3:44am
Blow up the park district Twitter account with photos. Tag local officials. It seemed to work last year to get them plowing. In my experience, they are much more responsive than cdot
Permalink Reply by Michelle S on March 22, 2016 at 5:05am

Yes, I've had good results tweeting photos and specific complaints about the Lakefront Trail to @chicagoparks and @activetransLFT , which is account of the ATA staffer who maintains contact with the parks people about Lakefront Trail issues. I usually include a #chiLFT onto the tweet to let others know I've filed the request.

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 22, 2016 at 10:12am

Thanks Michelle! This morning I did a Chainlink tweet to this thread and included the @chicagoparks and @activetrans accounts. 

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on March 23, 2016 at 4:26am

Wow thanx!  I was gonna individually tweet them on that suggestion.  Next time one comes up I will.

@chicagoparks @activetransLFT #chiLFT

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 23, 2016 at 4:39am

I went ahead and tweeted a bunch of the pics in separate tweets with these accounts and hashtag. People are picking them up and starting to retweet so hopefully this will grow into bigger visibility and put a pressure in all the right places so that the path is safe again soon.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 2, 2016 at 12:42am

This is a worthwhile approach for lakefront problems. A picture is worth a thousand words to illustrate the nature of the problem(s).

Permalink Reply by Jeremy on March 22, 2016 at 4:05am

Rahm has talked about privatizing 311.  Do you think that would improve responses to complaints like these?  I am skeptical.

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 23, 2016 at 3:57am

Has there been a single instance of privatizing in Chicago being a good thing? Between the skyway, the metered parking, etc. I am skeptical too.

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on March 22, 2016 at 4:13pm

I looked at that downed pole tonight on way home. They will need a large truck for that and some kind of winch as it won't fit in those pickups they go up and down the lfp in.

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