tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post4970708386745121114..comments2023-07-01T10:21:32.918-05:00Comments on Chicargobike: New Year on the New Dearborn Bike LaneChicargohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-82678256186789818192013-01-22T10:00:32.261-06:002013-01-22T10:00:32.261-06:00"...concrete separation might be a huge tool ..."...concrete separation might be a huge tool for creating better ridership in the populations we have not even begun to reach yet."<br /><br />I absolutely agree. I think this is especially important in neighborhoods several miles outside the Loop where drivers may have less experience with cyclists and some may have less respect for them.Fargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13532756626266773921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-90106746082794119862013-01-18T13:21:46.941-06:002013-01-18T13:21:46.941-06:00I am curious about how center posts might work. I ...I am curious about how center posts might work. I think that most cars we see entering the lane are coming in from the sides as they get confused about parking and not so much at the ends of the lanes. I am getting my hopes up for the visibility of the lane to have a strong impact. I also think that the city planners have plenty of creative energy, funding and good design examples in North America to inspire new lanes in the city that do not rely totally on bollards or dare I say it .. extra paint. <br /><br />I am curious about the rise in ridership on the bollard designs and think if the city mixed the styles of protected lane ( that is protected only by barrier in the classic definition) it could begin to measure if ridership of untapped inexperienced cyclists rises more appreciably on lanes that are a better interconnected and less car permeable. I know we have the same mantra all the time if you read us but.. concrete separation might be a huge tool for creating better ridership in the populations we have not even begun to reach yet.Chicargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-15973687204936338232013-01-17T13:19:25.380-06:002013-01-17T13:19:25.380-06:00Having center posts at driveways and intersections...Having center posts at driveways and intersections to prevent cars from entering the lane would certainly help. Having the first lane of this type in the Loop where thousands of people will see it may help the education process. I hope that theory proves out in the coming months.Fargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13532756626266773921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-58774688990012835312013-01-08T19:41:18.818-06:002013-01-08T19:41:18.818-06:00Hi Fargo,
Thank you. I agree that drivers have a ...Hi Fargo,<br /> Thank you. I agree that drivers have a big learning curve and it's only the beginning. i think that is why future lanes would benefit from being more difficult for cars to enter. The drivers in our picture were very nice when we explained how the lanes worked which is where they and we get started. Trying to stay friendly<br /> and calm while explaining was not hard because they were so interested actually in what the lanes were. And interested in the kids being on the lanes too. I think again that a huge advantage of the Dearborn lane is the incredible visibility of riders in the middle of the Loop. <br /><br />I really appreciate your points about the bridge! We are looking forward to changing the review when the bridge is complete. I guess I am a little grumpy when I am at that end of the lane that it was not taken care of before the lane opened. New riders are not as informed about the risks of bridge- especially in winter. It would be a huge benefit if all bridges are finished before any lanes that include them are officially opened especially if the goal is reach city residents that are not at all experienced riders. Be safe on that bridge on your Dahon Fargo! See you out on the lane- J.<br /><br /><br /><br />Chicargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-80386930408627081832013-01-08T14:21:41.786-06:002013-01-08T14:21:41.786-06:00I think you've given a fair assessment. I exp...I think you've given a fair assessment. I expect Dearborn and other protected lanes to improve as drivers get the hang of the new configurations. Some drivers will always be jerks when given the opportunity, but most have been reasonable so far. The bridge will be better when the plates are finally installed, no doubt about that. Steel grid bridge decks are challenging if I'm riding my Dahon folder with 20" wheels, which are more sensitive to street imperfections. They bother me a lot less if I'm riding my mountain bike. I'd prefer it if the bridge was safer for everyone. Removing this type of hazard can make a significant difference in encouraging transportation cycling.Fargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13532756626266773921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-82313128706166789112013-01-08T13:13:35.819-06:002013-01-08T13:13:35.819-06:00ps. thanks very much for commenting! ps. thanks very much for commenting! Chicargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-64359989597583680342013-01-08T13:12:21.937-06:002013-01-08T13:12:21.937-06:00Is the state of the street different on La Salle o...Is the state of the street different on La Salle or Clark- i.e. the ice, potholes and other trash and man hole covers?<br /><br /><br />What time of the morning were you riding it? Curious to know what it might be like beforea bout 9.30 which is the earliest we get out on the lane in the morning. <br /><br />With kids on the bike our starting and slowing is much longer than as an adult alone on a bike so we tend to be traveling a much slower rate between stops on the lane. This makes the pedestrians entering the lane a little less of a factor that a rider who can get up to a faster speed between stops I imagine. <br /><br />For us this is a big improvement going N/S in this part of the Loop- excluding the bridge for sure. We do use Wabash north of the river all the time and don't use the Dearbon lane right now at all north of Wacker. This might change when there is a clearer connection to a lane that is somehow barrier divided from traffic that links to the Kinzie (or the moved to Grand Kinzie lane.)<br /><br />We have also found that riding either north or south and at different times of day changed our experience on the lane on our early rides. This is much of why we wanted to ride the lane during school vacation many times before writing our review. <br /><br />We are not ready to give up on Dearborn -- or changes to the streets in Chicago all. We are hoping though that the city uses far far less car permeable, more interconnected route designs for the next stage of lanes. Chicargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-56498322828596860792013-01-08T12:22:09.848-06:002013-01-08T12:22:09.848-06:00I rode the Dearborn bike lane this morning for the...I rode the Dearborn bike lane this morning for the first time. I normally take LaSale or Clark heading south from Kinzie. <br /><br />It's horrible.<br /><br />*No protection over the bridge<br />*trash, ice manhole covers litter the right side when heading south<br />*pedestrians don't look north because cars only come from the south<br /><br />I doubt I'll use this again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com