Thought we would share a couple quick links for you this afternoon in case you didn't already see them.
First, as we posted about last week, the bike lanes on Dearborn were striped and are reportedly on schedule to be up in running sometime mid-December. The city is apparently getting some negative feedback on this project and Mayor Emanuel took to the mike to defend his biking plan (via the Sun-Times):
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday defended his decision to constrict traffic on a popular street that runs through the heart of Chicago’s congested downtown area — by installing 12 blocks of protected bike lanes along Dearborn between Polk and Kinzie.
Image from Sun-Times
“I made a pledge that we were gonna do 25 miles of protected bike lanes throughout the city each year, so we could [reach] 100 miles by the time my term was done. And we’re on course to achieving that,” the mayor said.The article goes onto to give some more rationale as well as a quote by the Mayor saying it was partially a play to recruit start-ups and entrepreneurs to the city. Seems like a stretch to us, but it's fine...we like bike lanes here at Sloopin.
In other news, more controversy and complaints are being directed at the discussion around a new proposed stadium in Motor Row. The primary use is for the DePaul men's basketball team. We've tried to keep our finger on the pulse on the topic (see post two weeks ago) and also linked to a survey that the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance was conducting about this proposal.
Well the results of that survey are in and the Chicago Tribune provided some city wide amplification for the group:
The prospect of a DePaul University men's basketball arena being constructed on land just north of McCormick Place is drawing strong opposition from the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance, a South Loop residents' organization, according to a letter released Tuesday.
A survey of 700 neighbors of the site, conducted by the community group, found more than 70 percent oppose construction of a Blue Demons arena there, Tina Feldstein, president of the organization, stated in the letter.Does the city or DePaul care what the neighbors say? Who knows...
39 comments:
The Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance survey was total crap! It was so obvious that they were looking for public outcry against this. I have never seen a survey so biased...
I live about 2 blocks from the area in question... bring it on! Let the Demons play in the S. Loop!
The Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance survey was total crap! It was so obvious that they were looking for public outcry against this. I have never seen a survey so biased...
I live about 2 blocks from the area in question... bring it on! Let the Demons play in the S. Loop!
Whats the deal with the bike lane on roosevelt. I feel like it just disappears at key points. And being sandwiched between a bus and regular traffic doesn't feel very protected at all!
I agree the survey was very biased, and I should know since I work for a market research company. But am I surprised, no, because every survey I've seen them do has been this way.
I welcome the Demons to the area as long as historical buildings are kept mostly intact. I hate how Soldier Field looks with the addition and would like to prevent similar things from happening.
The bike lanes and car lanes on Wabash south of Roosevelt need some paint as well. Seems like there should be two car lanes headed south on Wabash, but it's only one after Jewel. Cars use the bike lane and then there's the weird not-really-a-right-turn lane onto 13th. It's f'ed up. Happy to see the stoplight doing in that intersection though! But a little paint on the asphalt depicting turns and such would help.
Horrible idea which would create a traffic nightmare...State South of Cermak is far better and will soon be close to two train stations and multiple car access points... easier for pedestrians, neighbors and visitors. Of course PDNA is biased of a Cermak location. It's fantastically stupid.
Listen, an arena for DePaul hoops will NOT cause any traffic or crowding problems. Nobody goes to DePaul games! Trust me, the Sloop is not going to bust at the seems when DePaul hosts Seton Hall in a Big East match-up. That being said, this is why that arena adds NOTHING to the sloop. Do I want empty, unused lots? No. However, are there far better uses for that land than an area for DePaul and the occasional winter concert? Heck yes! This is nothing more than a land grab by the city, looking to increase its footprint around McCormick ahead of the inevitable casino.
Has anybody in the Mayor's office or the planning department even walked down here? It's as if the Mayor saw McCormick Place and DePaul in same sentence and proclaimed it a good idea with zero thought to the community or traffic patterns.
Bike lanes on Dearborn are a joke. Wait until it snows and people try to park on the west side lanes. They'll block one lane of traffic attempted to parallel park, which will force traffic into one lane...down from the prior three. Also, how many of those bikers are going to be out and about when the snow comes? Chicago is a northern climate - ridiculous that a busy street such as Dearborn gets hit with this red herring move.
I agree that the arena wouldn't be the greatest use of the land. But I would also say that the land as it sits today - arguably one of the ugliest blocks near-downtown Chicago - needs to change. If the arena gets that stupid eyesore abandonded warehouse taken down, bring it on.
With McCormick Convention to South, Soldier Field to north..we have enough congestion east of S Michigan. No to stadium.
BIKE LANES??? Were talking about bike lanes!!! Unreal that a few lousy bums riding ten speeds blowing through red lights get their own lane? Im slowly coming to grips that Rahm Emanual could be the worst mayor this city has seen.
I think they Arena supporters need to take a step back and look at the big pciture. Let's not foreget there are a host of issues to address whether it be the Prairie Blocks project, or a DePaul arena. If the survey was biased, they could have pitted photos of the Prairie Blocks proposal vs. the arena plan and the results would have been 95% to 5%.
I think they are very smart to get the community involved now vs. later, when all the horse trading is done and the community is stuck with the state-run turd and gaping issues not addressed.
At the same time, realize that we suckers would be paying for all of this misery. Again, we would be paying for this misery. According to the articles, State bond funds would pay for the Arena, and then additional TIF money would also be used. More taxpayer money down the drain. (except the city can't account for the missing TIF funds)
If you want to see what a state run Arena at McCormick Place would look like, just remember how much Madigan and his stooges are costing the taxpayers now, and imagine this with an arena subsidized by Taxpayers. wow.
http://www.examiner.com/article/mike-madigan-cost-illinois-taxpayers-half-a-billion-dollars
Traffic congestion from a 12,000 seat arena? How about some of the conventions that bring in over 100,000. Or Soldier Field at 60,000. The access point will be from the south I55 up to the parking structure at McCormick. Most of the students will travel by Green Line stop. Not adding a ton of congestion.
Ya know Sears(willis) tower sure does cause a lot of congestion perhaps we prevent anything similar from being build ever again. Also, Navy Pier causes a headache with traffic can we replace it?
Come on people lets grow this neighborhood. Should we fight to preserve our vacant store fronts and stagnant real estate. Lets add some energy and a nice vibe. I love Bears Sunday and to have that feel throughout the winter on DePaul game days would be great.
Traffic congestion from a 12,000 seat arena? How about some of the conventions that bring in over 100,000. Or Soldier Field at 60,000. The access point will be from the south I55 up to the parking structure at McCormick. Most of the students will travel by Green Line stop. Not adding a ton of congestion.
Ya know Sears(willis) tower sure does cause a lot of congestion perhaps we prevent anything similar from being build ever again. Also, Navy Pier causes a headache with traffic can we replace it?
Come on people lets grow this neighborhood. Should we fight to preserve our vacant store fronts and stagnant real estate. Lets add some energy and a nice vibe. I love Bears Sunday and to have that feel throughout the winter on DePaul game days would be great.
McPier has 100 million in bonds already available there wouldn't be new bonds issued for the arena. DePaul is putting up 75 million, its a Private University. How would we be stuck paying the bill?
Any first year student in urban planning would tell you this is a crummy spot. Apparently the Mayor doesn't have any on staff.
Why shoe horn it in when there are vast open tracts of land nearby?
Ahhhhh, Yes Anon at 5:16PM, the proverbial 'McPier has $100MM in bonds'. Must be free money right?
Who do you think has been on the hook for these bonds? The taxpayer. So we are going to let the Govt Cronny Capitalists just determine who get's to build, and run that into the ground also?
Just get out of the way and let the private entities fund and build it. $75MM is not a fraction of the real cost, and the taxpayers are going to get stuck eat DePaul's other $150 - $200 million.
I hope the Sloop does not become a NIMBY community
Bike Lane on Dearborn - Best thing ever! I look forward to watching the frustration on the drivers expecting to fly down Dearborn... Rahm promised 100 miles of protected bike lanes and is delivering... you pissy drivers can sit in traffic!
Depaul arena on Prairie - bad idea, use Ickes Homes site.
there's a kerfuffle brewing in the south loop because of a potential arena. Relax sloop! no wonder there's not much development going on here in the neighborhood with such hostility from NIMBYs: we don't want an arena because of traffic, we don't want sports bar because i don't like d-bags, we don't want the British school because we want to preserve the abysmal cps... Just STFU!! you want lincoln park amenities but can't even support the few remaining businesses that are open. yet we celebrate a hot dog place at a gas station and throw a parade because 5 stores are opening in late 2013 at roosevelt collection. what a bunch of twisted whiners!!
I enjoy anger, horn blaring, and road rage so I look forward to upcoming lane closure as a welcome addition to new noise within the city
city is in deep debt, crime rate is massive, but rahm and his obama cronies are busy laying down bike paths for the 500 bums in this city who cant afford a car
The bike lanes are part of what is driving the future of this city. It's not just the kids that are smart enough to use them... I'm in my 40's and ride my bike to work all year(as most sloopers should). I take my kids via bike everywhere and I appreciate the additional safety with these lanes.
It is laughable reading the comments from belligerent drivers who cry about losing their 'right' to plow over everything so they can arrive :30 seconds quicker. Now instead of cars having 99.8% of paved roads, in Chicago they have 99.7%.
Honk away as you are mired in traffic whlist I peacefully pedal past in my safety bubble-bliss. Thank you Rahm for modernizing our city.
yesterday I was crossing at roosevelt and state heading North and a car was legaling turning right going very slow ( cautious ) and a 30-35 yr old male flying on his ten speed darted right by the car as it was to turn right. The motorist honked and in front of everybody the cyclist turned around and flicked off the driver. I have seen this type of behavior before for cyclist. The city is just throwing gas on the fire of an already growing problem.....please prioritize better!
I am shocked and almost scared at the amount of people that feel motor traffic is superceded by bikes. I like the bike lanes because it keeps the random bike traffic very safe, but please the motor traffic in this city should be priority number 1. wow
The bike lanes are already causing problems at Dearborn/Harrison and Dearborn/Congress, so I can imagine what they're doing in the actual Loop.
I cannot wait to see what these "Bicycle Traffic Lights" are all about, too. I think it's sort of ridiculous but at the same time am happy about it as a regular motorist.
This way when some entitled bicyclist blatantly ignores the universal rules of the road they can be punished. It may not happen as often as it should but at least they must respect something now.
And if I have the right-of-way and some a-hole on a bike unexpectedly darts in front of me I can't be screwed in court.
i literally hate all street bike riders.
Old Ickes site would be best for the arena. Traffic would not need to come into the neighborhood as that site is right off of the highways. Also, it's much closer to the new eL station, and it's adjacent to Chinatown for pre-game Sake bombs!
Putting an area in the Prairie District? TERRIBLE IDEA. Especially an area for a school that has ZERO FOOTPRINT IN THE SOUTH LOOP. While DePaul's business and law schools are based at State and Jackson (which is NOT the south loop), the undergraduate school is in Lincoln Park - nowhere near the Prairie District!
I literally love hearing drivers whine...
I sort of hope that most bike riders break their legs
I sort of hope that drivers break their horns...
IMO, the lanes on Dearborn (Polk to Congress) are awful. They close up the street (because the parking is moved over) and make for even more horrible traffic congestion. What are they going to do with those little barriers during the book fair? Why not have parking off to the sides like it is on Wabash? And why on earth do you have bike lanes going two ways on a one way street?
It's sad, most people complaining about bike lanes haven't been on a bike in years and have no idea what it is like to commute via bicycle.
Those of us smart enough to understand the benefits of biking also know how lacking Chicago's bicycle infrastructure is compared to other metropolis'. In a few years' time, with the huge expansion of bike lanes in Chicago, we will all forget how this city was dominated by cars and trucks at the expense of everything else... remember when parking was free?
It would be great if the city started charging bikers to park their bikes. That would help pay for all these new bike lanes being used across the city. Something like $2 an hour to park your bike would be nice.
I welcome the additional bike lanes. I would like to be able to ride my bike to work, but I'm afraid of getting run over by one of the "cars rule" psychos on this board. Until then public transportation, taxis, and my feet get me to where I need to go. We live in one of the most walkable cities and communities in the country. Why deal with the hassle of owning a car. I would love to see the traffic downtown become so bad it barely moves and the parking become so expensive, that those that choose to drive, feel the negative affects of their choices.
Fair is fair. Bikers who utilize Chicago's traffic infrastructure should have to pay a usage fee (license plate, "vehicle" tax, etc...). The cost is only being borne by the motor vehicle drivers, who are required by law to share the road with bikers, who pay no such cost. Make it fair and I'll treat bikers with less scorn.
Yes, Tim! And let's tax pedestrians and eight year olds riding their bikes on the sidewalk. They are using our infrastructure too. And how about suburbanites and tourists? We should set up toll booths surrounding the city and charge them too, since they don't pay for a city sticker, but benefit from using our roads to get around. Fair is fair.
Really, the "costs" bikes impose on our infrastructure are miniscule compared to cars. In fact, drivers do not even fully pay for our roads through gas taxes, license plates, and city stickers. So maybe drivers aren't paying enough. Maybe they should pay the full cost of their transportation mode. Fair is fair.
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