While a federally-funded network of bike paths is in the works elsewhere in the city, the Major Taylor Trail gets little use from Chicago residents. The main problems are a lack of awareness and the South Side's fearsome reputation.
Many Chicago bike enthusiasts frequent the 606, a popular path following an old railroad bed on the Northwest Side. But to the south, the Major Taylor Trail gets little love, though it was built eight years earlier. Mary Wisniewski discusses why that is.
In many respects, Chicagoan cyclists enjoy a widening array of options. One of them is the Cal-Sag trail and the adjacent 86-mile Southland Century bike loop. "The Major Taylor will link to the popular Cal-Sag Trail, being built with $21 million of mostly federal funds. [...] If all goes as planned, in 2018 the Cal-Sag will be the northern leg of a mostly off-road loop that will include the Old Plank Road, Thorn Creek, Centennial and I&M Canal trails and the Burnham and Pennsy greenways."
The biggest drawback for the Major Taylor is crime, or the perception of it. Snaking through low-slung less well-off suburbs of color, the Major Taylor Trail feels deserted. "The trail's solitude adds to the feeling of insecurity: The southern end leading to the Little Calumet River is lovely but on a quiet weekday feels like Fangorn Forest in 'The Lord of the Rings' — vaguely unsettling."
More users means a safer trail, but users won't show up until they think the trail's safe. A catch-22. Meanwhile, "Supporters keep publicizing the trail through the bike community, social media and holding group events to get more people to try it."
FULL STORY: Why the Major Taylor isn't as well-known — or used — as The 606
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.