Hear What The Dutch Think About Biking In Chicago
By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 25, 2013 8:20PM
The miles of protected and buffered bike lanes installed on Chicago’s streets since Rahm Emanuel became mayor are a welcome start, but they only serve as the beginning for something bigger. These days, the major issue with the protected bike lanes on Milwaukee Avenue is the bumpy ride thanks to years of patchwork repairs on the roadway. In other parts of the city the move to add bike lanes and relieve traffic congestion is being met with resistance. In short, even though motorists continue to grouse about the bike lanes, we won’t be mistaken for the Netherlands anytime soon.
Dutch representatives are in town for two days to with their Chicago counterparts to discuss ways to improve biking along Milwaukee Avenue between Division Street and North Avenue and Monroe Street between the Lakefront Trail and the Loop. The workshop is sponsored by Royal Netherlands Embassy in cooperation with the Dutch Cycling Embassy and with support from the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Active Transportation Alliance and there are two public events scheduled in conjunction with the workshop Sept. 26 and 27.
The Friday event at the Chicago Cultural Center, where the teams will report on their findings and possible solutions, is full, but there are still spaces available for Thursday morning’s kick off presentation with opening remarks from the Dutch team. The event will be at Collaboraction, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Room 300. Register here.