Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about complete streets

Davis Street Disagreement Tables Evanston Bike Plan Progress

By Melissa Manak | Jul 24, 2014 | 4 Comments

Last year, the City of Evanston started work on a 2014 Bicycle Plan Update [PDF], envisioning further improvements in its cycling infrastructure. The previous bicycle plan, adopted in 2003, resulted in 38 miles of bicycle facilities and a marked increase in bicycle ridership. The new plan will bring a new focus on “comfortable bike corridors” along Evanston’s […]

Denver’s Big Opportunity for World-Class Streets

By Angie Schmitt | Jul 11, 2014 | No Comments

Just a few months ago, Denver opened its first protected bike lane on 15th Street. But was that a one-off project or will the Mile High City change the way it designs streets citywide? The city’s approach to the redesign of Broadway will give a pretty strong indication of how serious Denver leaders are about […]

CDOT Will Add Bike Lanes to Harrison, Improve Jog at State

By Steven Vance | Jun 20, 2014 | 5 Comments

Harrison Street is often used by many bicyclists as a stealth route, particularly since it has one of the rare bridges without open metal grates, sees surprisingly light car traffic, and is the only east-west route that connects the South Loop and UIC. Harrison is marked as a “crosstown bike route” from Loomis Avenue (1400 […]

A Blank Slate: Wells St. Extension Can Embody CDOT’s New Values

By Steven Vance | May 30, 2014 | 12 Comments

The Chicago Department of Transportation has a rare clean-slate opportunity to design a Street of Dreams — a street that incorporates many leading-edge safety features. That opportunity is phase three of their Wells-Wentworth Connector between Chinatown and the South Loop, a future southward extension of Wells Street that longtime South Loop resident Dennis McClendon calls “Riverside Boulevard.” […]

To Make Streets Safer, Michigan DOT Takes the Pedestrian’s Perspective

By Angie Schmitt | May 6, 2014 | No Comments

A lot of state transportation departments talk the talk when it comes to designing streets that are safe for everyone. But Michigan — forgive the pun — is literally walking the walk. Chris Spahr at the State Smart Transportation Initiative reports today on the Michigan DOT’s “walkability reviews,” which the agency started conducting 10 years ago: […]

The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2013

By Angie Schmitt | Feb 18, 2014 | No Comments

A growing number places are adopting policies to create safe space on the streets no matter how you get around. This year 80 new complete streets policies were passed by municipalities, states, counties, and planning agencies around the United States looking to make walking and biking safer. That brings the total number of such policies […]

Eyes on the Street: The Union Station Sneckdown — Let’s Make It Permanent

By Steven Vance | Feb 13, 2014 | 6 Comments

A snowy neckdown — or “sneckdown” — is that place in the roadway where the snow sticks around because no one drives over it. Sneckdowns show where there’s too much asphalt that could easily be claimed for pedestrian space and traffic calming. As Angie Schmitt reported for Streetsblog USA, officials in Philadelphia were inspired by […]

New CDOT Guidelines Require Sustainable Design in All Projects

By Steven Vance | Oct 29, 2013 | 1 Comment

The Chicago Department of Transportation continues to expand its role in building livable streets with the introduction of the Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Guidelines [PDF]. These guidelines address much more than transportation – including issues like water quality and economic development – because streets are not just for moving people and goods. CDOT intends this document […]

CDOT Reveals Plans for Chicago’s First Raised Bike Lane on Roosevelt Road

By Kristen Maddox and John Greenfield | Sep 27, 2013 | 22 Comments

At a community meeting Tuesday at Columbia College, Chicago Department of Transportation Project Director Janet Attarian outlined plans for the new Roosevelt Road streetscape from State Street to Columbus Drive. The project will include a groundbreaking new segment of sidewalk-level, two-way bicycle lane, part of a bike-friendly route to and from the lakefront. The info […]

Diving Into Divvy Stats: Bike-Share Trips Spike on the Weekend

By John Greenfield | Jul 30, 2013 | 52 Comments

Steven Vance is the self-described “data geek” at Streetsblog Chicago, but even a right-brained type like myself couldn’t help but be intrigued by some recently revealed stats and charts about Divvy bike-share use patterns. Chicago Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Scott Kubly shared them during a talk at last week’s Complete Streets Symposium, hosted by […]

Tuesday: Can’t-Miss Public Meeting on First-Ever State Bike Plan

By Steven Vance | Jul 5, 2013 | No Comments

Next Tuesday, July 9, the Illinois Department of Transportation and its consultant, Alta Planning + Design, will host the first two public meetings to start crafting the first-ever state bike transportation plan. This is not a “bikes as recreation” plan. Judging by the Illinois Bike Transportation Plan website, it looks like the plan is going to be […]

New Bike Lane Design on Milwaukee Should Reduce Crashes and Frustration

By Steven Vance | Jun 13, 2013 | 20 Comments

The bikeway upgrades on Milwaukee Avenue between Elston Avenue and Kinzie Street were completed Wednesday, adding bike lanes separated from traffic with parking and flexible posts. Other features include green striping before intersections and the city’s first two-lane bike lanes allowing faster cyclists to pass slower ones on the bridge over the Ohio Street ramp to […]

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