Bike traffic lights working on Dearborn lane

Bike Week in Chicago got off to a high-profile start Monday with a front page Chicago Tribune story that includes photos and graphics about the first 6 months of the 1.15-mile, two-way Dearborn protected bike lane through the Loop.

John Hilkevitch writes that 81 percent of cyclists are obeying the dedicated bike traffic lights compared to 31 percent compliance with regular traffic lights before the lane was added, according to Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT). The new configuration on Dearborn includes left turn arrows for cars, where 91 percent of car drivers have complied.

“It’s important to have infrastructure that speaks to people who are biking, said Active Trans’ own Lee Crandell in the article. Otherwise, they feel the roadway was not designed for them.”

As an effort to improve the Dearborn bike lane, CDOT will add green paint and signage to help drivers and pedestrians be more aware of people biking in the lane, especially the “counter-flow” south-bound cyclists.

Pedestrians are learning not to wander into the bike lane while waiting to cross the street, but that remains an issue.

Active Trans is excited to see more bike traffic and better compliance on Dearborn, and we look forward to the installation of a bike traffic light on the new Milwaukee Ave. bike lanes between Elston and Kinzie.

Speaking of stopping at red lights, photographer Steven E. Gross is documenting how we do that.