Let’s install cheap, quick plastic curb-protected bike lanes all over Chicago – Streetsblog Chicago

Chicago has been putting in bike lanes regularly for the reason that early Nineties, and guarded bike lanes since 2011. However we nonetheless don’t have a cohesive, intuitive bike community, not to mention one with constant bodily safety that makes it appropriate for bike riders of all ages and skills.

A part of the explanation protected bike lanes aren’t that frequent in Chicago is that the kinds of PBLs the town sometimes installs are comparatively costly, labor-intensive, politically difficult, and/or logistically tough to implement. Curbside bikeways sheltered from visitors by concrete curbs are dear and time-consuming to construct. And if the bikeway design must be modified, its a problem to interrupt up the concrete and reinstall it.

Bike lanes which are protected by parked vehicles usually require eliminating some automotive spots close to intersections to keep up secure sight strains, which may draw a backlash from retailers and motorists, and sometimes requires compensating the meter concessionaire for misplaced income. In some places with no parking, the Chicago Division of Transportation has put in curbside lanes delineated by sporadically-placed versatile posts, however that’s not particularly efficient for maintaining motorists from driving or parking within the bikeway.

However an upcoming bikeway undertaking in Logan Sq. will show a reasonably low-cost, fast, versatile, and efficient strategy to putting in protected lanes that must be repeated throughout the town. In response to a report from Block Club Chicago’s Mina Bloom, on Monday CDOT will begin putting in plastic curb-protected bike lanes on Milwaukee Avenue — Chicago’s busiest biking road — between Western and California avenues. The undertaking must be completed in about two weeks.

Native alderman Daniel LaSpata instructed Block Membership CDOT is utilizing  plastic curbs and bollards from Qwick Kurb for his or her “value, flexibility, and brief timeline for set up.” It’s not clear whether or not the corporate is donating the supplies as an indication undertaking. Some metered parking spots on Milwaukee shall be eradicated as a part of the undertaking, with new metered areas created elsewhere within the ward to compensate the concessionaire.

CDOT may even be striping new crosswalks, constructing curb extensions, and putting in a bus boarding island at Milwaukee and Maplewood, plus about about three dozen new bike racks, later this fall. The latter is a good suggestion, since some cyclists have been grumbling concerning the new “lock-to” dockless electrical scooters hogging space on racks.

Granted, the plastic curbs received’t assure that drivers will preserve out of the bike lanes, however they need to be way more efficient than simply paint and some plastic posts. I’ve seen plastic curb-protected bike lanes in Latin-American cities like Lima, Peru, and Mexico Metropolis, and so they appeared to supply pretty efficient safety.

So why not begin putting in curbside plastic curb-protected throughout Chicago in places the place parking is prohibited, maybe utilizing considerably taller, extra strong plastic curbing that what’s deliberate for Logan. And whereas we’re at at it, let’s use plastic curbs to assist preserve automotive drivers out of bus lanes as properly.

Comply with John Greenfield on Twitter at @greenfieldjohn.