Bike Lane Proposed for Wabash Between Roosevelt and Harrison

Wabash Avenue continues to get upgrades.  This time a bike lane has been proposed for Wabash between Roosevelt and Harrison.  This is great news as it will connect to the bike lane that was created on Wabash in 2011.

The news comes from Grid Chicago:

In addition to the Roscoe Street buffered bike lane installed last week, and a segment on Wabash Avenue installed in 2011, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has proposed these locations for buffered bike lanes, a total of 4.50 miles:

• Clark St from Walton to North 

• Ellsworth Dr from Garfield (55th) to King (51st) 

• Wabash Ave from Roosevelt to Harrison 

• Wells St from Chicago to Van Buren (originally proposed in 2010)

Mayor Emanuel promised 25 miles of protected bike lanes per year of his term. His first year anniversary is May 16, seven days away. The City has currently installed 2 miles of protected bike lanes.

So what's a "Buffered Bike Lane"?  It's essentially what we have on Wabash South of Roosevelt.  It's a wide lane with clear markings identifying where bikes belong.

This is different than a "protected bike lane".  A protected bike lane is what was installed on 18th street between Clark and Clinton last year.  The protected bike lane's have plastic pylons that create a barrier between motorists and bikers.

"Buffered Bike Lane" on Wabash
From Grid Chicago

"Protected Bike Lane" on 18th street
Image from Let's Go Ride a Bike