Have a Say in the Future of Chicago’s Bike Lanes

By Betsy Mikel in News on Oct 13, 2011 6:00PM

Mayor Rahm is a huge supporter of the biking community and hopes to create more than 100 miles of biking lanes across the whole city. And he wants to create legit, protected lanes, not just the painted arrows and lines on the street.

But, like all things, installing protected bike lanes ain’t cheap, and other Chicagoans are wondering if money could be better spent on other city services. Even so, the City Department of Transportation recently announced plans to install a few more bike lanes in Chicago. That’s great news for bikers because it’s a step in the right direction, but even they are debating whether they're better served elsewhere.

One biker is trying to compile a list of lanes that are in desperate need of repair and a fresh coat of paint. Carfreecommuter on The Chain Link (we contacted him to get his real name, but haven’t heard back yet), is asking people to take his Chicago Bike Lane Conditions survey. The short survey is asking bikers to report poorly maintained and no longer visible bike lanes and shared lanes in Chicago. He plans to compile the results, and hopes to present the to Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council about the large number or bike lanes and shared lanes in need of repair.

The survey is not directly related to determined where the city will build the next protected bike lanes, but this is an opportunity to have a say in the state of the city’s bike lanes. If you’ve recently bike down an especially gnarly road or have changed your route to avoid one, take a quick second to fill out the survey. Hopefully it’ll get back to the city of Chicago.