new "protected" bike lane on Kinzie (Chicago, Lincoln: live, groceries)

[Chi-town Native]

great article, thanks.

[Chi-town Native]

got this link to the Alderman's announcement:

42nd Ward Update: Chicago's First Cycle Track to be Installed on Kinzie Street!

[Thepreacherswife]

Originally Posted by Chicagodan

The Kinzie pilot will use flexible posts, according to chicagoist. City to Set up First Protected Bike Lane Downtown: Chicagoist (http://tinyurl.com/3jd9net - broken link)

Wonder how long before some driver mows those down, and how long it will take CDOT to replace them.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

Wonder how long before some driver mows those down, and how long it will take CDOT to replace them.

That's why they're flexible. They pop right back up if run over.

[jwaiter]

I recently read a book about cycling in cities around the world ( DavidByrne.com - Bicycle Diaries ) and I was really amazed to learn that in cities in other countries, 6, 7, 8 year old kids are safe biking, because of protected bike lanes. I think it's great! I'd love to have them all over the city. Biking is just way too much of an extreme sport in Chicago - you can be killed at any moment.

[prairiestate]

Great idea, but they need to add a wall of bullet proof glass to protect you from baseball wielding teen mobs!

[SJaye]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

I recently read a book about cycling in cities around the world ( DavidByrne.com - Bicycle Diaries ) and I was really amazed to learn that in cities in other countries, 6, 7, 8 year old kids are safe biking, because of protected bike lanes. I think it's great! I'd love to have them all over the city. Biking is just way too much of an extreme sport in Chicago - you can be killed at any moment.

However, biking here still seemed A LOT BETTER than what he described Istambul to be like

[Thepreacherswife]

Originally Posted by Attrill

That's why they're flexible. They pop right back up if run over.

Not if you crush them with the tires. Then they bend and flatten permanently.

[mycrows]

Sounds cool. 100 miles of these would be outstanding. I rode in protected bike lanes in Europe, but this seems to be a little different. I'm wondering two things right now. How hard will it be to make a left turn out of the protected lane? I usually merge with traffic somewhere mid-block to make a left, but I guess that won't be possible. the other thing I'm wondering is if cars are going to be parking along the bike lane, isn't there still a possibility of getting 'doored' by a passenger side door opening? I'm guessing both of these issues have already been accounted for in the design but I'm curious what the answer is.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

Not if you crush them with the tires. Then they bend and flatten permanently.

These are in regular use in Europe and on a test basis in NYC and Boston. They can be backed over repeatedly and still bounce back. I have serious doubts that you really understand what they are installing.