Good news for bikers out there! The city plans to enact a change to account for the large biking community!
The Chicago Department of Transportation released a new vision for the city roads, which hopes to make things safer for cyclists. This newly released plan will include 150 miles of new or upgraded bike lanes.
The plan, which is currently called the Chicago Cycling Strategy, emphasizes safety by creating an interconnected network of bike lanes that extends between neighborhoods and brings more bike lanes closer to homes.
According to CDOT, they also aim to establish continuous routes across the city by upgrading or creating new low-stress bike lanes. A major focus of this project is to create an easier path on local trips, with the aim of getting people to the places frequently and easily.
Additions, like installing concrete curbs to separate the bike lanes from traffic, and making programs like Divvy more accessible city-wide are also on the docket. This strategy also includes a call to the community, as CDOT is asking residents to engage and let them know cycling needs per neighborhood. Part of this blueprint plan is already under construction, though it remains unclear which portion is already in the process of being enacted.
As for funding, a CDOT spokesperson notes that the project is being funded on the local, state, and federal levels. It will most likely take years to complete. Read through their entire proposal here.