Editor\u2019s note: Here is a selection of letters from Tribune readers sharing thoughts on Chicago\u2019s bike lanes. We will publish additional letters in the following days.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s approach to bike lanes has been a disaster for three reasons: lack of consistency, insufficient design and lack of enforcement.<\/p>\n
Lane design changes from street to street, and even block to block, create chaos for both drivers and cyclists.<\/p>\n
The chosen designs then use cheap materials such as flexible plastic posts and pre-cast curbs, both of which are routinely displaced and destroyed by cars, giving the lanes the appearance of being trash and rubble along the side of the street.<\/p>\n
But most importantly, the designs are almost never sufficient to prevent cars from entering the lanes. The curbs are low and easily driven over. The posts are just plastic. Bike lane curbs have tire marks on them as proof of this. The beginning and ending of curb-protected sections are routinely blocked by cars parked in the painted bike lane, causing cyclists to have to swerve into car traffic for extended lengths until they can reenter after the next break in the curb.<\/p>\n
Finally, no system can succeed without penalties for scofflaw drivers, who always find new and creative ways to block the lanes, whether that is parking at their entrances and exits or simply driving over the curbs. Since city authorities do not seem interested in enforcing bike lane laws, I believe we need an automated enforcement system.<\/p>\n
Protected bike lanes, as currently built by the city, create more discomfort and danger for cyclists than the painted stripes they have replaced. This is a tragedy. The city must consistently apply a more robust design that is actually capable of keeping cars out and cyclists safe, such as extending the sidewalk curb to include the bike lane and\/or using real barriers capable of stopping a vehicle.<\/p>\n
A consistent row of concrete or steel bollards, spaced so that cars are physically unable to enter, would do the trick, without taking up as much space as many of the current concrete solutions. We do not need to reduce lanes or even parking to make this work. We just have to care about actually keeping the cars out. The current approach pleases no one, and is grinding money and political capital into dust.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Nelson Trautman, Chicago<\/p>\n
What Riley O\u2019Neil\u2019s death tells me<\/p>\n
I woke up on June 6 to news notifications and social media posts about Riley O\u2019Neil, a Chicago Department of Transportation employee who was killed while cycling home from work. Despite plenty of exposure, I haven\u2019t been desensitized to crashes involving cyclists, but this one hit me especially hard. A public servant, living and breathing his passion and dedication to a better city and a better home, was killed in a disgustingly ironic way.<\/p>\n
Collective apathy and, in some sick cases, victim-blaming disdain toward cyclist fatalities are a position of entitlement and lack of imagination for something better. The same tired reasons for deprioritizing safe cycling infrastructure are pushed out by vested interests in car dependency and parroted by people (including elected officials) who have been convinced they have something substantial to lose.<\/p>\n
These arguments have been repeatedly debunked, and yet we are begged to believe that we couldn\u2019t possibly thrive in a neighborhood with fewer parking spaces or traffic lanes. Forget even narrowing traffic lanes! How could we cope? No, don\u2019t think about opportunities for robust transit or pedways or public and economic infrastructure that isn\u2019t designed around cars! It\u2019s too late for all that.<\/p>\n
While people are raging over these imagined slights and petty inconveniences, our dedication to making life as convenient as possible for masses of able-bodied drivers is genuinely resulting in real loss. A loss of public beautification, air quality, noise control, increased affordable housing (amid a housing crisis, no less), opportunities for connection and community, public safety and, yeah, human life.<\/p>\n
What could have happened on June 5 if Riley\u2019s route home was bike-friendly? What could have happened if there were concrete barriers or bollards between traffic or parking spots and where he was riding? Riley wouldn\u2019t have been doored. He wouldn\u2019t have been thrown into traffic. The driver of the truck that subsequently hit him wouldn\u2019t be horrified and traumatized.<\/p>\n
Riley probably would have returned home safely. He would have maybe enjoyed his weekend and showed up at City Hall the next Monday ready to continue his work. Maybe his actions over the next few years would have led to increased bikeways, greater cyclist protection, community cycling events, bike buses, and better bike access for residents and visitors.<\/p>\n
Add that to the things we\u2019ve lost.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Jadie Oldfield, Chicago<\/p>\n
Investment in city\u2019s future<\/p>\n
Chicago has long been known for its vibrant neighborhoods, beautiful lakefront and diverse transportation system. However, as the city continues to grow, it must invest in safer and more efficient ways for people to travel. Expanding the network of protected bike lanes is one of the smartest investments Chicago can make. New bike lanes improve public safety, reduce traffic congestion, protect the environment and strengthen local businesses, making the city better for everyone.<\/p>\n
The strongest argument for building more bike lanes is safety. Every year, cyclists and pedestrians are injured or killed in traffic crashes. Protected bike lanes create a physical separation between bicycles and motor vehicles, reducing the risk of collisions. They also make streets more organized by giving each type of traveler a designated space. When people feel safe riding a bicycle, more residents are willing to choose biking instead of driving.<\/p>\n
Expanding bike lanes helps reduce traffic congestion. Many trips in Chicago are only a few miles long and can easily be made by bicycle. Every person who chooses to bike instead of drive means one fewer car on crowded streets. Fewer cars can lead to shorter travel times, less demand for parking and a transportation system that works more efficiently for everyone.<\/p>\n
In addition, bike lanes support Chicago\u2019s environmental goals. Cars are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. More people riding bicycles for short trips helps reduce emissions and improves air quality. Cleaner air benefits every resident and contributes to a healthier city for future generations.<\/p>\n
Bike-friendly streets also benefit local businesses. Streets that safely accommodate all users often become more attractive destinations, increasing foot traffic and supporting economic growth.<\/p>\n
Finally, expanding bike lanes provides affordable transportation for residents who cannot or choose not to own a car. Safe bicycle infrastructure gives people another reliable way to get to work, school and essential services without the high costs of fuel, insurance and parking.<\/p>\n
Chicago has the opportunity to create safer streets, a cleaner environment and a stronger local economy by continuing to expand its protected bike lane network. Moving forward with these projects is not just an investment in cyclists \u2014 it is an investment in the future of the entire city.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Mark Swimmer, Prospect Heights<\/p>\n
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here<\/a> or email letters@chicagotribune.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Editor\u2019s note: Here is a selection of letters from Tribune readers sharing thoughts on Chicago\u2019s bike lanes. We…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":913919,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5124],"tags":[960,369443,5386,1818,347299],"class_list":["post-913918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-chicago","tag-chicago","tag-chicago-bike-lanes","tag-il","tag-illinois","tag-riley-oneil"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116866858855946240","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/913918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=913918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/913918\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/913919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=913918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=913918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=913918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}