Why aren't there more skyways/skybridges in Chicago? (school, live)

[Tex?Il?]

Skyway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Considering Chicagos climate, why aren't there more of these in the greater downtown area (Loop/Mag Mile/River north, etc.)?

You would think with skyscrapers so close together in a cold climate, there would be more of these (and New York too). But the largest networks of skybridges connecting buildings seem to be in cities noticeably smaller than Chicago.

[marothisu]

I don't have an answer for you, but I know there are a few in the Loop I've seen, but it's not much. I like how in places like Minneapolis they're used well.

HOWEVER, there are underground pedways in the Loop:
https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/e...cs/pedway.html

[Drover]

We have an underground pedway system instead, albeit a somewhat scattershot one.

One complaint I've heard about skyway systems is they kill street-level retail.

[JBVirtuoso]

I think skywalks are kind of a waste. They do indeed sacrifice street life in the interest of not spending five seconds walking outside. Given that they're usually expensive to build and not really necessary, the money can be put to better uses. The only time when they really make sense in my mind is when two buildings of the same company or school sit on opposite sides of a high car traffic street. Just connecting random office buildings is pointless.

[Vlajos]

Who cares?

[Ace Rothstein]

No big deal to me, they look terrible.

[emathias]

They're expensive to build, expensive to maintain and police, and kill street-level retail. They only make sense in places that don't really have street-level retail, are low-crime, and have winters that are worse than Chicago. I lived in Minneapolis for 2 1/2 years, and they have one of the better systems, but their downtown is much smaller than Chicago's and their skyways don't go everywhere.

[JacksonPanther]

This is the attitude that results in a super-cold city like Chicago not putting anything in place to comfort its citizens.

- Don't put a real pedway system in place, they're not necessary
- Don't put real heated facilities on el platforms and bus shelters, they're not necessary
- Don't use technology to let people know when buses are coming, that's not necessary

It all comes down to the people in charge either care about citizens or they don't. When you're standing on an el platform when it's -5 degrees, and you're with 20 others huddled around a poor heater in a glass cubby that is half-opened to the elements, then you know what the leaders think about you.

Originally Posted by JBVirtuoso

I think skywalks are kind of a waste. They do indeed sacrifice street life in the interest of not spending five seconds walking outside. Given that they're usually expensive to build and not really necessary, the money can be put to better uses. The only time when they really make sense in my mind is when two buildings of the same company or school sit on opposite sides of a high car traffic street. Just connecting random office buildings is pointless.

[reppin_the_847]

Not trying to hate on the leadership but I think you sort of have a point here. I doubt Rahmbo and his friends roll around town in nothing short of a chauffeured town car.

Originally Posted by JacksonPanther

This is the attitude that results in a super-cold city like Chicago not putting anything in place to comfort its citizens.

- Don't put a real pedway system in place, they're not necessary
- Don't put real heated facilities on el platforms and bus shelters, they're not necessary
- Don't use technology to let people know when buses are coming, that's not necessary

It all comes down to the people in charge either care about citizens or they don't. When you're standing on an el platform when it's -5 degrees, and you're with 20 others huddled around a poor heater in a glass cubby that is half-opened to the elements, then you know what the leaders think about you.

[aragx6]

Wait, Chicago doesn't have a bus tracker? That's certainly news to me.