PB 1st Ward 2022
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California Avenue Protected Bike Lane
This project would entail installing a protected bike lane along California Ave. from North Ave. to Diversey Ave. This lane would replace the existing marked lane from Milwaukee Ave. to North Ave.
Given the high volume of car traffic and the lack of physical barriers separating bicyclists from drivers, residents have expressed safety concerns over the existing bike lane on N. California Ave. The current bike lane (the section within the 1st Ward) extends from North Avenue to Milwaukee Avenue, and is a marked lane (not buffered or protected). This project would entail both adapting the existing lane to create a protected bike lane, and extending it to the north, to Division Ave. This project could result in the elimination of some street parking.
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14 comments
We really need more protected bike lanes around Chicago! Really hoping this gets approved.
I hope this gets approved!
Conversation with Aldona Urbutis
This is horrible for the businesses in the area if the parking is taken away. People do come from other neighborhoods to visit the restaurants and shops in the area, but if there is nowhere to park they will just choose to go elsewhere. Not everyone can get around on a bike.
Not everyone can get around by car. Many can not afford them. I bike around Chicago and do not spend money at businesses that I can't get to safely by bike.
There literally isn’t parking anyway. It’s a nightmare to even try to park. Bikes, buses, and trains must be the path forward to our infrastructure. Every modern city in Asia and Europe has figured this out.
We don't own a car, so we choose where we spend money based on how easy & safe it is to walk/bike/take transit. We would spend more time shopping and traveling along California if it were safe to bike along it.
I believe adding a bike lane on California can be done in a way that meets the needs of all Chicagoans regardless of how they get around. Bike lanes keep cyclists and motorists safer!
Conversation with Sara Ellenberger
Where can we vote against this?
What’s wrong with a bike lane?
California is already congested and there are some bike lanes. And there are alternative streets including Western Ave. and Sacramento from Palmer south to Grand avenue. If protected bike lanes means putting up barriers then drivers will have a difficult time navigating. Bikers are not paying to use the streets drivers DO and we should be given more respect than we get at the present time. A disruption in traffic flow isn't necessary and unwarranted unless bikers are also required to contribute in the form of a special license, insurance registration and city stickers. I have seen many bikers riding carelessly as if I have no right to be driving where they choose to ride. The police should be more diligent in catching these reckless bike riders. I have been almost hit while crossing the street, cut in front of from the left, forced into oncoming traffic lanes and to drive at a crawl behind them. I paid to be out there and they only bought a bike.
I want to be clear that the comment above is not my opinion. I am both a driver and a biker and bike carefully and follow traffic laws. The protected bike lanes are dangerous FOR bikers because they are not truly protected. Take the new-ish lane on Milwaukee. Cars and delivery vehicles are constantly parked IN the bike lane, making it necessary for a bike to go out of the lane into the car lane to get around them. The old lanes between the car lane and parking were much safer for bikes and much less intrusive for cars as well. It also causes a constant traffic jam at Milwaukee and California because of one car wants to turn left, it ends up being gridlock.
Lol imagine biking on Western Ave.
No protected bike lane on California. Parking is painful enough and small businesses rely heavily on the parking that is there to maximize customers.
This is would be a fantastic plan that I hope moves forward.
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