CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The city’s transportation commissioner said she wants to see if there are better ways to protect bicyclists on Chicago streets, and she’s looking to one European city for ideas.
Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gia Biagi said that in Copenhagen there are raised bike lanes that keep cyclists on a different level than cars and trucks. She posed the question to the Rotary Club of Chicago: if Copenhagen can do it, then why not Chicago?
Biagi said the city's cycling plan is “a decade old" and it is time for some updates.
“Our curb management planning will be taking on these issues. Whether it’s enforcement. Whether it’s some street design that we can do. How do we set the conditions so we’re actually creating places where pick-ups and drop-offs — there’s a way that it’s less of an impediment,” Commissioner Biagi said.
“We’re also experimenting with raised bike lanes, by the way. You see those in Copenhagen, one of my favorite cities to cycle around...We’re not Copenhagen,” Biagi added, but she said the city is exploring ways to “embed into the infrastructure” bike lanes that keep cars out.
She said if it is not raised bike lanes, her department is looking at different ways to more protective bike lanes overall.
Additionally, Biagi also addressed the issue of keeping snow clear from bike lanes. She said the problem is being worked out with the Streets and Sanitation Department.
“What you had this year was, our friend at Streets — they plowed the road and the snow would go in the bike lane. We plowed the bike lane and the snow would go either on the sidewalk or the road. Then, they'd plow it back in the bike lane. So, we're working on that. It was a tough snow, but we have recently bought bike sweepers. They're sweeping machines, so we can get at those lanes," Biagi said.
Commissioner Biagi also said the city is on pace to add the 100 miles of bike lanes which was one of Mayor Lightfoot’s campaign promises.
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