Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

What’s It Like to Bike to Work on Separated Lanes? “Awesome.”

Dottie at Network blog Let's Go Ride a Bike has had an experience I think most of us would envy.

false

Recently Dottie had a chance to bike to work on a route of fully and partially separated infrastructure, thanks to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's campaign to add 100 miles of buffered cycle lanes.

So, what's that like?

I love it! Biking down this wide industrial road with fast traffic is now easy as pie. Bikes have their own area and cars seem to respect it.

Intersections and parking lot entrances are marked with green paint to remind drivers to watch for bicyclists. Some stretches of the lane have car parking to the left, providing real protection from moving traffic.

After a while, the separated lane ends and turns into a buffered lane, which is also new. Although this design forces bicyclists to watch out for opening car doors and cars pulling out of parking spaces, there is a lot of breathing room that helps bicyclists feel more comfortable.

Biking my entire commute on mostly separated bike lanes was awesome. I’m excited for the city to create more of these safer lanes.

By year's end, Chicago will have added 22 miles of protected bike lanes in 2012, bringing the city's overall total to 33, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. That would put Emanuel slightly ahead of schedule in his goal to add 100 miles of separated cycling infrastructure in his first term.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Transit Miami explains that 11 crashes over the last few years on a single road haven't yet inspired the Florida Department of Transportation to act to improve safety. The FABB Blog shares a pretty great newspaper editorial from a woman who explains how cycling changed her life for the better. And The Political Environment analyzes dueling op-eds debating whether transit accommodations should be included in Wisconsin's ongoing highway-building bonanza.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Live from New York (State), It’s Wednesday Night!

Hallelujah, congestion pricing now getting big laughs in Albany.

May 23, 2025

Friday Video: A Deep Dive on the Endless Debate Over Bike Helmets

Everything you need to know the next time someone asks you if you're "for" or "against" bike helmets.

May 23, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: John Mulaney, You Are Officially On Notice Edition

When did Netflix start airing community board meetings? Plus other news.

May 23, 2025

Assembly Member Ditches Her Car — and Discovers The Good Side of Albany

"I love Albany now," says the Greenpoint lawmaker, who ditched her car. Will others follow? Well, Gov. Hochul offered a start...

May 22, 2025

Public Demands Safer West Side Highway at Packed Workshop

Seemingly all in attendance agreed that the existing bike and pedestrian path isn't cutting it and ought to be expanded.

May 22, 2025
See all posts