Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about protected bike lanes

IDOT’s Protected Lane Ban Overshadows Development of State Bike Plan

By John Greenfield | Jul 9, 2013 | 30 Comments

As the Illinois Department of Transportation launches the public input process for the state’s first-ever statewide bicycle transportation plan, the elephant in the room is IDOT’s prohibition of protected bike lanes on state jurisdiction roads in Chicago. Protected lanes have been proven to improve safety for all road users, based on several years worth of […]

Marshall Bike Lanes Are Getting Correct Signs Seven Months After Installation

By Steven Vance | Jun 18, 2013 | 4 Comments

In November, Chicago Department of Transportation crews installed bike lanes on Marshall Boulevard from Sacramento Drive in Douglas Park to 24th Boulevard in Little Village, near Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy. On most of this stretch the lanes are protected by parked cars on the west side of the street; to make room for the protected […]

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 […]

Hamstrung by IDOT, City Plans Buffered Lanes Where Cann Was Killed

By John Greenfield | Jun 12, 2013 | 18 Comments

Last Thursday, about a week after the May 29th death of cyclist Robert “Bobby” Cann, killed by an allegedly drunk, speeding driver at Clybourn and Larrabee, the Chicago Department of Transportation announced plans to stripe buffered bike lanes on the entire 3.5-mile length of Clybourn, from Division to Belmont. Construction should start either this week […]

Bike Writer Elly Blue Discusses the Economic Value of Safe Streets

By John Greenfield | Jun 6, 2013 | 6 Comments

On Monday, the month-long Dinner & Bikes tour, featuring bicycling author Elly Blue, writer and filmmaker Joe Biel, and vegan chef Joshua Ploeg, documented by Chicagoist contributor Aaron Cynic, made its final stop at Chicago’s Heritage Bicycles and Coffee. The event featured a vegan buffet prepared by Ploeg, a discussion of transportation planning and utility […]

Driver Kills Cyclist on Clybourn, Where IDOT Is Blocking Protected Bike Lanes

By Steven Vance | May 30, 2013 | 43 Comments

Police are questioning the driver of a Mercedes who was involved in a head-on collision with an Inifiti and then fatally struck cyclist Robert “Bobby” Cann, 26, from behind. The crash took place while the Mercedes driver and Cann were traveling southeast on Clybourn Avenue near Larrabee Street in Old Town. The driver, who stayed […]

Eyes on the Street: Milwaukee Repaving Done, Protected Lanes Taking Shape

By John Greenfield | May 24, 2013 | 8 Comments

The Chicago Department of Transportation’s Milwaukee Avenue protected bike lane project, which will connect existing PBLs on Kinzie and Elston is rolling along at a rapid pace. Yesterday white thermoplastic stripes were visible in the central section of the project, which is not being repaved. After riding the street this afternoon, I’m pleased to report […]

Eyes on the Street: Milwaukee PBL Construction Starts Sooner Than Expected

By John Greenfield | May 23, 2013 | 19 Comments

It was quite a surprise to come upon fresh white thermoplastic stripes on Milwaukee Avenue Thursday evening. Many Chicagoans have been eagerly anticipating new protected bike lanes on Milwaukee, the city’s busiest bike street, which will be the missing link between existing PBLs on Kinzie and Elston. At a public meeting about the bike lanes […]

CDOT Unveils Bold Vision for Milwaukee Bike Lanes; Drivers Grouse

By John Greenfield | May 1, 2013 | 40 Comments

At last night’s community meeting at Intuit arts center, the Chicago Department of Transportation discussed its vision for innovative bike lanes on Milwaukee between Kinzie and Elston. The plan, which is actually much more ambitious than what was outlined on the CDOT website prior to the meeting, involves removing about half of the car-parking spaces […]

CDOT Discusses Plans for Buffered and Protected Lanes on Milwaukee Tonight

By John Greenfield | Apr 30, 2013 | 2 Comments

If you live or work on the Near Northwest Side and/or bike commute regularly on Milwaukee Avenue, try to stop by tonight’s community meeting on the city’s proposal for buffered and protected bike lanes on Milwaukee between Kinzie and Elston. The meeting takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Intuit arts center, 756 North […]

How to Create Protected Bike Lanes That Confident Cyclists Will Enjoy Riding

By John Greenfield | Mar 20, 2013 | 16 Comments

As Steven Vance wrote recently, protected bicycle lanes will be crucial for boosting Chicago’s bike mode share because they attract the “interested but concerned” set that doesn’t yet feel comfortable riding on city streets. But as the city installs protected lanes on roadways that are already popular bike routes, such as Milwaukee Avenue, it will […]

It’s Official: It’s Legal to Ride Outside of Protected Bike Lanes

By John Greenfield | Mar 15, 2013 | 9 Comments

The following conversation from Wednesday’s Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council meeting is a great example of what can be accomplished when you get some of Chicago’s key transportation planners and advocates in a room together. Many people in the local bike community have been wondering about the legality of cycling outside of a protected bike lane […]

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