A new protected bike lane is set to open later this month on this stretch of West Kinzie Street. (Credit: CBS)
Don't Miss This
CHICAGO (CBS) – A new bike lane is set to open with a protective barrier in place from vehicular traffic.
As CBS 2’s Kris Habermehl and WBBM Newsradio 780’s Bob Conway report, the bike lane will be installed along a half-mile stretch of Kinzie Street, between Milwaukee Avenue and Wells Street.
At the start, the lane will use flexible posts to keep bikes separate from other vehicles.
Eventually he bicycle lane will be separated from the main roadway by a permanent barrier such as a concrete planter or a raised median, the Chicago Tribune explained.
The pilot project is aimed at protecting bikers from the ever-present danger of vehicular traffic and car doors that swing open.
Also, parking will be shifted from the curb to provide a buffer between cyclists and traffic, and protect cyclists from car doors.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s Bob Conway reports
Originally, the Chicago Department of Transportation had planned to install the protected bike lane along Stony Island Avenue between 69th and 77th streets, but that idea was dropped since so few bicyclists use that route, the Tribune reported.
The new bike lane is set to be in place by Bike to Work Day June 17.
