Well it appears that our skepticism about the bike lane on Dearborn being done in 2012 (
see post here) was unfounded. We got an email from Lee Cardwell, Director of Campaigns at the Active Transportation Alliance,
letting us know that the city will be move forward with bike line striping this weekend:
The Active Transportation Alliance, Chicagoland’s voice for better biking, walking and transit, praises Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly and 2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti for installing the Loop’s first protected bike lane on Dearborn Street. The Chicago Department of Transportation announced today that it will stripe the new 1.15-mile bikeway this weekend.
After the announcement of the Dearborn bikeway in August, nearly 4,700 people signed a petition supporting the project. By staying on schedule to complete the project before the New Year, the mayor is keeping his commitment to create safer streets where Chicagoans of all ages can bike safely and comfortably in their neighborhoods.
While it's getting a little cold for us to ride bikes, we're excited to see this happen and look forward to using the bike lane... albeit probably in the spring!
11 comments:
So excited for this, as well as the Franklin and Des Plaines bike lanes! Lots of great routes developing for getting into and out of the loop.
I love on Dearborn, and as of this morning, the bike lane has made this already dangerous one way street even worse. The fact that the bike lane is between the "parking" and traffic on the west side of the street is insane. I know they have done this in other area's of the city, and I'm curious how residents, of those buildings feel it's working. Because right now, it looks like several accidents waiting to happen. While I was on Dearborn I saw a biker, NOT using her newly painted lane. And when I said "Why aren't you using the bike lane?" She shouted, " THOSE ARE DEATH TRAPS". Also...why do this at the beginning of Winter?? Why no wait till Spring?
Can't wait for this to be done! Safer streets for biking in the Loop are long overdue.
Anon Dec. 1: People *can't* bike in the newly painted lane until it's completed and open in mid-Dec. It's still under construction and is closed to bike traffic, with barriers in the bike lanes. The city needs to finish adjusting the traffic signals to account for the new bike traffic patterns before it opens. It'll take a little patience, but we should withhold judgment until we see the finished project. That said, protected bike lanes have been proven to reduce injuries for all street users, including pedestrians and drivers, by creating more order and predictability on the roadway. A study recently published in the American Journal of Public Health found that risk of injury is 90 percent lower biking on protected bike lanes compared to major streets with no bike infrastructure: http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/10/dedicated-bike-lanes-can-cut-cycling-injuries-half/3654/ . New York City's similar protected bike lane on 9th Avenue led to a 56 percent reduction in injuries to all street users and an 84 percent reduction in sidewalk riding (safer bike lanes help lure people off of the sidewalk).
Lee, Do you know if Dearborn will have bollards installed to delineate the three areas (bike lane, auto parking, and traffic) similar to what was done on the 18th Street bridge and also on Kinzie/Hubbard?
I'll reserve me judgement until I see all the bikers riding northbound stop for the light when red at Harrison as required by city code. (yeah, right, THAT will happen.)
Tony, there will be bollards.
Jim, there will also be bicycle traffic signals. Design that speaks directly to people biking can help improve behavior. Looks like this: http://www.bikesbelong.org/assets/images/uploads/NYC_bike_traffic_signal.jpg
This is my direct route to work!!! I couldn't be happier. Plus I will get a perfect view of frustrated drivers as I head back home biking south on Dearborn.
There is mention of this change being an "accident waiting to happen," well IT HAS BEEN for the last 100 years! Not anymore... the lane-less free-for-all of driving on Dearborn has finally been tamed.
I walked along the unfinished stretch on Dearborn this morning and it already makes it feel so much more inviting and pedestrian. For some reason having the car parking set off from the sidewalk makes the whole street feel more safe too. I like it, and maybe it will be good for businesses along the route as well to have slower moving traffic along the way as opposed to the three lane taxi highway it used to be.
right because cars in streets is just soooooo annoying!
Yes, "cars in streets" is annoying when they're speeding and run people over, maiming or killing people. Considering the number of people hit in this town by cars every day, I'm glad this will slow down drivers on Dearborn a little bit. Maybe people will even start driving within the speed limit.
I agree it now feels much more inviting and pedestrian-friendly.
LOLOLOLOL
I didnt know we were under attack from these cars that were killing the masses! Face it, you lose
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