Bicycling!

A service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Transit and Parking Committee and the HPKCC website, www.hydepark.org
Help support our work: Join the Conference!

Join the Transit Task Force-contact chairman James Withrow.

Transit home. Walkable Communities.

www.biketraffic.org/2010/, www.ChicagoBikes.org,
www.bikechicago.org (Same as www.bikechicago.us)
Bike Chicago events calendar (city's site > Special Events- scroll down), 312 744-2964; www.bikechicago2003.org (still valid address in 2004)
Federal Manual of Standards for trails, "facs", etc. go to http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/
More links below announcements. Note: For CATS/Regional Planning Board either the old www.catsmpo.com or www.rpbchicago.org can be used and Soles and Spokes.

PACE and CTA: nearly all buses have racks. Bikes are welcome on METRA Burlington and UP Northwest only and only at certain times. More about bikes on METRA: http://metrarail.com/Special_Promotions/bikes_on_trains.html.

At the HPKCC public discussion Oct. 2005, What's Right What's Wrong with HPK, specific mention was made of problems with bikes on sidewalks.

Let's all remember that specific right-of-ways may have dedicated parts or lanes, but the global object is to successfully and respectfully share the public's mobility and the public right-of-way. Intermodalism is the word.

Biking/running events in the area or events that might effect your ride

May 17, Saturday- "Monsters of the Midway" Midway Criterion velo bike race around the Midway. Visit http://ucvc.uchicago.edu/monsters.html.

May 24, Sunday morning. Bike the Drive. http://www.bikethedrive.org.

Monday early evenings Washington Park Running Club holds 3 to 5 mile runs open and free to the public from 51st and King Dr. Corina at cshusheim@yahoo.com.

MAJOR TAYLOR TRAIL RIDE - AUG. annually

Explore the newly opened Major Taylor Trail on Chicago's Southwest Side.
Join in the unity and fun. The 20-mile ride begins at 9 a.m. It starts
and finishes at Dan Ryan Woods at 83rd Street and Western Avenue. Cost
is $15. Sign up at
http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track
&j=156491844&u=1527479
<http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=trac
k&j=156491844&u=1527480> or contact Keith Holt at
keith@biketraffic.org <mailto:keith@biketraffic.org> . We will ride rain
or shine. No day-of-event registration.

 

Conferences, meetings, demonstrations etc. Get on the listserves above.

Blackstone Bicycle Works of the Experimental Station teaches bicycle smarts and teaches how to use bikes in a sustainable lifestyle. Including for winter. At 6100 S. Blackstone. 773 241-5458.

Bicycling Ambassadors-- will visit community events, festivals, park, schools to teach bicycling safety. 313 744-8147, www.bicyclingambassadors.org.

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Links and resources

http://www.dot.il.gov/bikemap/statebicycleplan.html

Note: For CATS/Regional Planning Board either the old www.catsmpo.com or www.rpbchicago.org can be used and Soles and Spokes.

 

bike enthusiasts

Chicago Dept. of Transportation Includes new maps and routes
CDOT bike plan,  
or, or, bikechicago2003.org  
Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (312 42-PEDAL) Key organization
Chicago Bikeriders.com Clubs, chat rooms, ride/race schedules, resources
League of Illinois Bicyclists
Chicagoland Bicycle Map Maps--order/download
BikeIllinois
Selected Bicycling Links in Chicago An amazing set of links...  worth the visit
Bicycle Transportation Notes: Additional Resources Planning, laws, and more
Ride and Race Schedules, Shops
Model Laws
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Research organization
Cycling Advocacy Sites
Chicago Area Transportation Study-Soles and Spokes Research, resources, funding advocacy, planning and coordination. Works with Ch. Bicycle Fed.

More :http://www.BikeWinter.org (CBF events page)
Major Morgan Bike group (South Side rides, incl. late August): http://chicagomajortaylor.org/
http://www.dot.il.gov/bikemap/statebicycleplan.html (state bicycle plan)
research info on bikeability conditions, curb ramps etc.: http://www.solesandspokes.com/current_home.html, http://www.dot.il.gov/blr/manuals/cl2004-18.pdf
National Center fo Bicycling and Walking. Centerline newsletter. http://www.activeliving.org.
More at the Soles and Spokes site.

See also the site of Mary Rose Shaughnessy, http://shaughnessy.us/biketrails.htm

Additional walkability sites:

Chicago Area Transportation Study

http://www.catsmpo.com/bikeped/index.htm

Walkable Communities, Inc. http://www.walkable.org
Center for Livable Communities http://www.lgc.org/center/index.html
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center http://www.walkinginfo.org and http://www.bicyclinginfo.org
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals http://www.apbp.org
STPP's Mean Streets Reports http://www.transact.org
America Walks http://www.americawalks.org
Institute of Transportation Engineers http://www.ite.org/traffic/index.html
Walk to School Day http://www.walktoscThe SECC also has 20 copies of a "pithy and useful book", "City Comforts. How to Build An Urban Village." This book discusses basic urban design and planning principles. Contact Irene Sherr. Cost is $13.50.hool.org
Current Chicago city: http://www.ChicagoWalks.org
City Comforts http://www.citycomforts.org
Sierra Club's Community Transportation Examples http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/community/transformations/index.asp

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News from the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation

Dan Korman is the contact person. dan@biketraffic.org, 312 427-3325 x224.

The Federation has a major push on to make drivers more aware of what they can do to be saver for bicyclists--some drastic ways of getting on some drivers' radar may be tried.

The Federation is working with national organizations and boards to push a Compete streets agenda. Chicago endorsed it- all streets are to be able to accommodate all modes, including cyclists and those crossing on foot. The National Center for Bicycling Walking is pushing this and has a newsletter called Centerline. http://www.activeliving.org.

Friends of the Parks, the Architecture Foundation and others will have a display up January 25-March 10 on completing and making accessible the last 4 miles of t he lakefront at t he Archicenter, 224 S. Michigan.

The federation is working with the National Safe Routes to School Task Force. http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/task_force/task_force_members.cfm. SRTSC@tooledesign.com.

Complete Street: The regional planning agency's Soles and Spokes division sent out notice of the following City of Chicago notification of policy on total accommodation on the public way:

The City of Chicago released a landmark Complete Streets Policy Oct. 10, mandating for the first time that all transportation users must be accommodated in all transportation projects. According to a multi-agency document issued by the city, the policy is expected to be implemented in a variety of ways advocated by Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and its Healthy Streets Campaign. The policy calls for pedestrian improvements like bulb-out curb extensions for crosswalks, countdown crossing signals, median refuges, and re-timing signals to minimize pedestrian delay and conflicts. To read more, visit
www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=1024_0_16_0_C.

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Local bicyclers ask more trails, but would they really improve safety?

Local bike enthusiasts such as Rev. Jorge Montes ask more streets have dedicated lanes and designated trails. But several of these such as 55th Street have already been considered--including by the Bicycle Federation, the city Transportation bike section, and regional planning Soles and Spokes--and ruled too dangerous given curves (University Condominiums) and tendency of cars to use them as a speedway. This writer and others specifically testified for alternatives to 55th and Lake Park as bike trails. However, east of Hyde Park Blvd. it has bike lanes. Some think that streets that are really too narrow for two lanes of traffic and really have a lane and a half would benefit from laning, if the parked cars opening doors could be managed. Most Hyde Park streets are in fact too narrow period, especially when they use buses (Woodlawn). Kenwood streets might be more suitable.

Members of the Disabilities Task Force see bicyclists, especially on walks and at viaducts, intersections and making turns and with no warning devices as posing the greater hazard, including along the Lakefront trail. See maps below to see where the trails currently go through our area.

Herald, November 8, 2006. Rev. Jorge Montes

Biking in Hyde Park has become very dangerous for m any bikers and some percentage of them have been hit or injured by careless drivers. Or drivers just don't see the bikers. As you know the university students and others are trying to use more environmentally-friendly vehicles and Hyde Park is a great place to ride. And since in some respects this is "Hyde No-Park," it is a good thing to support alternative options.

We suggest that bike paths be made available on streets such as Hyde Park Boulevard; 47th, 51st, and 53rd Streets; and Garfield Boulevard from Lake Shore Drive to Washington Park. These bike paths will give to Hyde Park a unique place for neighborhood families to enjoy our community and for other people who might otherwise drive automobiles around the neighborhood.

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The Lakefront Bike Trail

[Note: in association, a study commissioned by CDOT has been done about the needs of lakefront access from the South Loop to the Indiana border. Mile-signs are in place on the Lakefront Trail. CDOT received permission for a new sign system with route names and destinations matching existing, install begun in 2005 in Phase IV Streets for Cycling. Also, CP District has contracted for detailed design for kiosks along entire lakefront that were or were supposed to be installed 2004-05. Also done, 47th Overpass, Funded: 35th, 41st, 47th, 57th Drive, Cornell/Plaisance underpass and Lakefront Connector (part funding), temp. corrections 67th/71st, various improvements 71st to 104th; wayfinding.
Details see South Lakefront Access Page.
]

Chicago Tribune/RedEye May 24, 2004

When work is completed, Chicago will have an 18-mile path along the lakefront that bicyclists and inline skaters can better share with pedestrians. But there are still a few detours on the way to such recreational harmony.

Twenty [?] percent of the Lakefront Trail work is scheduled to be completed by Memorial day, and there will continue to be temporary portions along the northern end until work is done.

Thanks to a city project to rebuild South Lake Shore Drive, there are four new underpasses linking the lakefront to Jackson Park.

The Chicago Park District is rebuilding the path, which runs from Foster Avenue to the South Shore cultural Center, 7058 South Shore Drive. The upgrade work on the path, parts of which date to the 1920s, began five years ago.

It is making the path a consistent 14-feet wide [21' where soft-surface jogging lanes run on either side] for its full length, rather than a patchwork of asphalt trails, with space dedicated to pedestrians. All asphalt, the path will be painted with yellow and white divider lines separating north- and southbound traffic like a street. Three-foot rubber surfaces on each side will accommodate pedestrians and joggers.

Park District spokeswoman Lisa Arrizi says the path--new and old--is open during reconstruction. "In some cases, the trail will actually be closer to the lake," Arrizi said. And that's the best news because there's no firm date for completion. "It's been a tough budget year, but we are dedicated to finishing it," Arrizi says.

The park district doesn't say what the upgrades will cost, with funds for the project coming out of its capital budget, which also covers things such as skate parks and lagoon improvements, she says.

"They have consulted and continue to consult with us on most things involving the lakefront trail, such as design, routing and detours," says Randy Warren, program director for the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, a local non-profit bicycle advocacy organization with which the park district [and CDOT and CATS] in developing the new trail. "Things can always get better, but we are very pleased with the direction our relationship is heading."

Unfortunately, Warren says, "the Lakefront Trail has become a victim of its own success. During warm weather the trail becomes so crowded it becomes potentially unsafe to use."

Five new underpasses near the Museum of Science and Industry campus will open beginning Memorial Day weekend: at 57th, 59th and 63rd Streets and Marquette Road. (The opening of the additional underpass at 57th Street is scheduled for 2005.

The underpasses lead into [the main body of] Jackson Park, which was the site of the 1892 [sic] World's Columbian Exposition, and each underpass is decorated in a style reminiscent of that.

_____________

Coverage: New pedestrian underpasses open to the public (and there is concern about Oakland overpasses)

Hyde Park Herald, June 9, 2994. By Mike Stevens

Jackson Park's four new pedestrian underpasses opened last week dramatically improving lakefront access for the neighborhood.

The widely-arched concrete tunnels at 57th, 59th and 63rd Streets and Marquette Drive are among the final elements of the 4-year, $162 million reconstruction of South Lake Shore Drive.

"This was not a patch and repair job. this as a complete rebuilding of the roads [and] the infrastructure as well as pedestrian access," 5th Ward Ald. Leslie Hairston said.

In the 90s, community leaders, including Hairston, proposed the underpasses to replace the run-down pedestrian bridges at 57th and 63rd Streets using North Side underpasses as a model, Hairston said. "You don't know what you're missing unless you know what's out there," said Hairston, who continues to scout other neighborhoods for potential improvements.

Work continues on the 57th Drive underpass which connects the Museum of Science and Industry's (MSI) campus and nearby parking lots to the lakefront. The 57th Drive underpass opening has been delayed by construction of the MSI's new underground exhibit space for the U-505 submarine.

While crowds celebrated the underpass openings last weekend with bands and activities, others complained that Oakland's aging pedestrian bridges at 34th and 45rd streets appear in worse shape than Jackson Park's long-demolished bridges, which the underpasses replace. "It's a shame that he city would neglect that area," Oakland resident James Fitzhugh said.

While it might be years off, the city plans to replace Oakland's two bridges as well as build a new bridge at 41st Street, Chicago Department of Transportation spokesman Brian Steele said. Steele expects to announce finalists for a design concept competition later this summer. After finalists are chosen CDOT will look to secure funding for the project, Steele said.

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Don't forget to look for the Migratory Bird Trail signs, signifying a good place along the lakefront to spot birds, especially during the spring and fall migration.

Other sections

A connector to other sections to the city bike trail, along the north side of Marquette Drive from Coast Guard (Lake Shore Drive) underpass to Stony Island, nears completion.

Major upgrades are built into revetment-and-park-reconstruction/expansion in Burnham Park especially between 29th and 51st over the next few years.

In the 39th/Oakwood Dr. area 15 acres have been set aside as park space with benches for passersby. Expected completion in August.

The section between Fullerton an Diversey is a bumpy detour. Scheduled completion end of summer.

Trail has been finished in the Belmont Harbor area- it goes closer to the harbor.

What's the progress south of 71st to the Indiana line?

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CDOT's Chicago Bike 2010 Plan

The fold-up poster map is being distributed. Automatically to those on the CATS mailing list. If you are not on the list or don't receive in (this is March 16, 2004) e-mail tmurtha@catsmpo.com.

From CDOT News Bike 2010 Edition, Spring, 2003 [This issue deals with bike network, street comparability, and promotion. Next: bike parking, transit access, couriers, safety education, enforcement.
www.biketraffic.org/2010/, www.ChicagoBikes.org. Chicago Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic, 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60602, 312 427-3325 X 35.

Comment on the Plan to CDOT . To view the plan, navigate from www.sp2030.com

Make Chicago "The City That Bikes"

We are in the middle of developing Chicago's Bike 2010 Plan. There are two goals:

1) Boost trips made by bike-Especially short trips like errands and children riding to school.
2) Reduce bicycle crashes- Combat the most common causes of bicyclist injury and endangerment.

[We gathered public suggestions,] asked the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation to research the "best practices"; ...now we need more input from you:

  1. What questions do you want answered or what specific additional information do you need about any of the proposals?
  2. Which proposals are your most important priorities?
  3. What other ideas do you have that aren't mentioned?

Draft Recommendations

Bike Network: Proposals to expand the network of on-and-off street bikeways to support a safe and convenient bicycling environment.

Bike Lanes

Current Streets for Cycling Plan of lanes as a citywide net, identify another 100-200 miles of lanes and innovative bikeways including boulevards. Every citizen within 4-6 blocks of the network by 2010.

Pilot bike-and-bus lanes.

Enhance quality maintenance of bikeways.

Bike Routes

Complete signage stressing connections, destinations, safest and most direct routes.

Retrofit open grate bridges.

Upgrade markings and signs on streets too narrow for lanes.

Install signs "bikes allowed use of full lane".

Bike information kiosks at critical junctures.

Bike Trails

Implement Chicago Trail Plan and South Lakefront Access Plan on a priority basis.

"Share the Trail" Lakefront partnered safety campaign

Trails as part of developments to meet city standards.

Complete priority missing network links including North Branch, Des Plaines River, Centennial, Burnham Greenway.

Innovative Bikeway Designs

Pilot raised lanes with curb separation

Test colored pavement at problem intersections.

Pilot three bicycle boulevards.

Pilot advanced stop bars (bike boxes) at 5 high volume intersections .

Pilot bike traffic light phases.

Marketing and Promotion: persuade more to try bicycling more often

Broad-based marketing (Bike Chicago, frequent Bike to Work, Commuter Challenges, cycling group rides and events, "Share the Road" ads, Mayor Daley's Bicycling Ambassadors.

Targeting special populations , neighborhoods (target three)

Targeting specific trips (Recreation-3, Shop by Bike, Safe Routes to School instruction, Safe Routes to High School...Colleges and Universities, Bike to Work incentives, Bikes on the Job--esp. by city departments, Useful Bikes and trailers.

Health Promotion including a controlled study. Start closing streets regularly on Sundays, including long destination routes tied to festivals/events in parks and a "Sunday Cycling" program. Tie the effort also to health institutions, parks kids programming, Chicago Works Out.

Tourism including having rental bikes and bike touring info available. A velodrome? Bike Chicago, Bike the Drive.

Street Compatibility

Traffic Calming (specifically for cycling and ensuring other calming fully accommodates bicyclists)

Pilot 3-5 "home zones" (play streets) on local streets with lots of families.

Make bikeways a routine consideration component required in planning projects. To include lanes, bike parking , bike sensitive traffic calming, bike-sensing signal tripping, friendly calming/cul de sacs.

 

Other steps in progress or done:

The 100th mile of bike lands was supposedly in use by early 2004.
Adding 750 bike racks for a total 8,400

Identifying future off-street paths including multi-trail loops
South Lakefront Accesses Study--50 priority projects.

Navy Pier Flyover
Millennium Park Bike Station (parking, showers, lockers, rental and repair, cafe)
North Shore Channel under bridge, Damen North Branch bridge
Bike parking in 3 CTA rail stations in addition to 21 current
Maps--Kids on Bikes booklet, Website

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CATS (Chicago Area Transportation Study)

monitors and prepares Regional Transportation Plan proposals for bike and pedestrian projects and networks under the program names

Soles and Spokes and Congestion and Mitigation of Air Quality (CMAQ)

Regional Planning Board, the official regional planning recommending body, has recently released preliminary CMAQ proposal rankings. (Link may be changed.) These are projects to be built next year and are in a public comment period. Questions 312 793-3477. Metra upgrade/Grayline has received high marks for reducing congestion and pollution. Note, such funding is in trouble in Congress.

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has recently updated its "frequently asked questions" and has posted a report, "Growing Demand for safe Walking and Bicycling" (in pdf).

2. WEB RESOURCES. The following resources are available to provide
more information for those interested in further involvement in project,
corridor, and strategic studies and implementation.

a. Context Sensitive Solutions (IDOT).
http://www.dot.il.gov/css/home.html

b. Soles and Spokes Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan for Chicago Area
Transportation (CATS): http://www.solesandspokes.com.

c. Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project (Chicago Transit Authority):
http://www.transitchicago.com/news/motion/brown/ravenswood/

d. Kingery Expressway Reconstruction Project (I-80/94):
http://www.dot.il.gov/kingery/

e. Cook-DuPage Multimodal Corridor Study (RTA):
http://www.dot.il.gov/kingery/.

f. Wikaduke SRA Study: http://www.wikaduketrail.net

g. Caton Farm – Bruce Road SRA Study:
http://www.cfb-study.com/index.html

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Chicago Bike Map Streets for Cycling, Summer, 2004

Following is the 2003 map, which is much more readable. Difference: Trail is now designated north of the Midway from the Dorchester trail, jogging east to Blackstone thence northbound on Blackstone to 56th thence east to Lake Park/Stony Island and southbound from 57th on Dorchester to link up to the trail south of the Midway.
Included is the Lakefront Trail from just south of the Stevenson to South Shore.

See a street traffic directional flow map and a map more clear in street location and labeling in Neighborhood Maps.

Existing lane: orange enclosed in heavier blue. Proposed (currently route only) encl. in lighter blue
Recommended bike routes: orange

Existing off-street trails: solid blue. Proposed: dashed blue.

Hyde Park Cycle shops: In Harper Court north of 53rd, (not shown on the map!) Art's Cycle on 55th east of Cornell, Blackstone Bicycle Works in trailer? at 61st.

2004 Chicago Bike Map-part

2003 Chicago Bike Map-part

Are you bike street smart?

Bike-ped-auto interface danger and issues. To get on listserve, info etc. randy@biketraffic.org.

General tips

  1. Wear a helmet
  2. Yield to pedestrians, stay off sidewalks
  3. Look out for car doors
  4. Dress appropriately
  5. Be aware of what's going on around you
  6. Check your brakes
  7. Pump up your tires
  8. Adjust the seat
  9. Use light at night
  10. Lock your bike when you're not using it

Be seen and communicate, avoid injury

Theft prevention:

Sharing the road

The door zone (3-4 feet along left side of a parked car)

Sharing the off-street trail

Bikes on Transit

Welcome except rush hour (7-9 am, 4-6 pm). cal 1-800-YOUR-CTA or visit www.transitchicago.com
PACE and CTA have racks on all buses (2 fit). www.pacebus.com. Metra: only BN an UP North.

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More on Bikes v Cars--folks, this is not demolition derby! And there's plenty of blame to go around

Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is preparing a campaign for all to drive and ride with care.

Complaints? Drivers go first--cars are a lot bigger! (Cyclists claim they cause far fewer accidents or deaths.) But drivers point to the unexpected speeding, red-light dissing, unstopping, weaving cyclist--sometimes even going the wrong direction. And say that bicyclists are far less likely to be stopped or get a ticket.

5 cyclists were killed in 2005 but far more were injured--and if they don't go to the hospital, it's not reported.

Top 5 complaints from drivers(informal lists)

Top 5 from cyclists

The bicycle fed says the biggest problem is speeding in residential areas. When auto speed gets above 30 the chances of fatality become overwhelming. It wants speed humps, red-light cameras.

Drivers say too many cyclists get too close or in their blind spots--really dangerous if a car starts to turn.

Robert Wernis says bikers deserve some blame,too. He points to weaving in and out of traffic, not following the rules of the road and safety, especially at night.

The city is cracking down on drivers that park, drive or stand in bike lanes, just as they targeted bikes in Lakeview last summer.

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Bikes are green!

From the League of American Bicyclists website: Bikes:

Going green bike collection for working bikes. Learn about next year's collection at www.workingbikes.org. Chase bank.

Or bring it to Blackstone Bicycle Works, 6100 S. Blackstone. Donated bikes help fund educational programming including the earn-a-bike prorgram, mechanical skill training and entrpreneurial training for area youth.Tuesday through Friday 2-5 pm Saturday 12-5 pm. 773 241-5458. www.experimentalstation.org.