Chapter 1
Bikeway Network

“Bikeways” are streets and trails specifically designed for bicycle travel. Bikeways help bicyclists feel comfortable riding, whether on streets with heavy motor-vehicle traffic or on off-street trails. Surveys consistently indicate that providing bikeways is the most effective way to encourage bicycling. 1, 2

The vision of this plan is to establish a 500-mile bikeway network in Chicago that is the equal of the best in the world. This requires the network to be extensive, attractive, and conveniently located. Bicyclists will notice the quality of design, construction, and maintenance. They will feel safe and appreciate that Chicago honors and welcomes bicycling.

This plan does not distinguish between bikeways used primarily for transportation or recreation. Many routes which may appear to be primarily recreational are used for transportation, and vice versa. The proposed bikeway network will serve bicyclists of all levels and abilities

This chapter identifies six objectives intended to establish the proposed bikeway network. When complete, the network will reach within one-half mile of every Chicago resident and every neighborhood in the city. The proposed network expands on the 300-mile network of bikeways proposed in the Bike 2000 Plan (1992), the 125 miles of new bike lanes and 250 miles of signed routes recommended in the Streets for Cycling Plan (2000), and the trails identified in the Chicago Trails Plan (2005). The following table summarizes the characteristics of the existing and proposed bikeway network:

Bike lanes and signed bike routes (Objective 1) are established on the best streets for bicycling. Bike lanes are five or six-foot wide corridors for the exclusive use of bicyclists. They are particularly appropriate on collector and arterial streets given their high traffic volumes and because these are often the only streets crossing expressways, waterways, and railway lines. Forty-six miles of new bike lanes are recommended to be established by 2015. Eighty-five miles of signed routes are also proposed, many along streets too narrow for bike lanes.

Off-street trails (Objective 2) are 10 – 15 foot wide paths physically separated from the road, for use by bicyclists, pedestrians, runners and others. Research indicates that providing trails near where people live is one of the most effective ways to encourage bicycling.3 The Chicago Trails Plan (2005) identifies almost 200 miles of existing and proposed trails. Existing trails, including the 18-mile Lakefront Trail along Lake Michigan, should continue to be upgraded and, where possible, extended to meet demand.

Innovative bikeways (Objective 3) enhance the bikeway network by introducing new types of bikeways and intersection improvements. Innovative bikeways include colored bike lanes, special pavement markings along streets too narrow for bike lanes, “bike boulevards” on streets with low traffic volumes, and other innovative improvements.

Establishing bikeways to priority destinations (Objective 4), such as schools, universities, and transit stations, complements the Safe Routes to School efforts outlined in the Education chapter and the Bike to Transit efforts outlined in the Transit chapter. Another way to encourage bicycling is to help bicyclists choose safe, convenient routes (Objective 5). Proposed strategies include providing online interactive mapping so that people can develop personalized maps and installing bicycle information boards at appropriate locations.

Bikeway maintenance (Objective 6) is necessary to provide safe, comfortable riding conditions. Enhanced maintenance of bikeways is proposed, including: regular inspections, sweeping debris, replacing striping and signage, repaving streets, repairing potholes, and replacing dangerous grates.