After months of pressure from grassroots advocates, it’s been announced that protected bike lanes will be installed for the first time on a state-controlled roadway, Clybourn Avenue.
The announcement came from 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. during a ceremony to unveil an honorary street named for Bobby Cann, a bicycling advocate who was killed in a crash on Clybourn Ave. in May of this year.
As a state-controlled roadway, Clybourn Ave. was previously subject to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s ban on protected bike lanes. But the tragic crash that claimed Bobby’s life also inspired an upwelling of grassroots activism calling for the state to change its policy.
Today, those efforts have paid off as word came that a protected bike lane will be allowed on Clybourn Avenue.
We would like to extend big thank you to the many Active Trans members and supporters who added their voices to those calling on the state to change its policy. Your efforts are what made this change possible.
Read Active Trans’ press release on the announcement. Stay tuned to the blog for more updates as they become available.