How could Chicago's streets be safer for cyclists and drivers? Here's what you said.
We asked you how Chicago streets can be safer for cyclists and how cars and bikes could more easily co-exist. Here’s what you told us, lightly edited for clarity and readability.
“Follow the laws on both sides. Yesterday a bicyclist was in the right lane by the curb and suddenly cut in front of me to make a left turn. I had to slam on my breaks. Bicyclists also have to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk.”
Tim Buckenmyer
“Notice that we all somehow become very entitled when we are driving a car. Notice that, and chill.”
Annaliese Spalink
“Put money into alternate forms of transportation. ... People don’t bike because they have to share the road with drivers who do whatever they want. People don’t take transit because it doesn’t show up frequently and reliably or their bus sits in the same exact traffic as the cars.”
Sammy Schneider, 29, Lakeview
“Bike riders should have insurance and plates, like motorcycles. They use the same road. Ticket the ones who don’t obey the street signs and lights.”
Rick Palacios
“I don’t believe that is possible without an abundance of land. The two do not mix no matter how much one may want them to. The speeds are so different and often only one of the two obey traffic laws.”
Frank Mandros
“I'm a cyclist. I believe there are some streets that bicycles need to stay away from. ... Stay off of Western, Ashland and Sheridan. There is always a street parallel that is much safer.”
Valerie Willuweit
“Make bike/pedestrian-only streets that run east-west and north-south.”
Adam Koch
“Safe connections across barriers like rivers and expressways are integral to a complete bike network. The Stevenson and Kennedy especially pose a huge headache for planning safe routes between neighborhoods.”
Alex Cannon
“Designate certain streets for bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc. Streets like Dearborn, Clark, Hubbard, Jackson, Erie, etc. These streets would be strictly off-limits to ordinary car usage. Secondly, the city could clean, repave and add superior lighting to the alleyways.”
Matt Yarbrough, 59, Lombard
“More protected lanes. Especially ones that connect to the lake.”
Leo Koenig
“Licensing for cyclists over the age of 18, so they are aware of the Bicycle Rules of the Road. At the very minimum, they should be testing for basic bicycle safety, hand signals, and road signage. Drivers should also be tested for hand signals when given the driver's test.”
David Kowalski, 31, New Lenox
“Our speed limits and our laws reflect our values. When we have laws that say it’s OK for cars to drive 30 miles per hour next to a bike in a painted bike lane that’s in the door zone of parked cars, I think that’s a reflection of what we think is important in our city.”
Frank Vega