Chicago officials are renewing an ordinance to discourage cyclists from riding on some of the city's sidewalks, while bike advocates argue the city isn't doing enough to make the streets safe for both pedestrians and bike riders.
"Every summer, bicycle riders and pedestrians grudgingly compete for space on crowded lakefront paths, streets and sidewalks all over the city.
This year, the battle between bikers and pedestrians has heated up a notch with the renewal of an ordinance aimed at keeping bikers from pedaling illegally on the sidewalks next to Sheridan Road in Edgewater.
North Side Ald. Mary Ann Smith (48th) recently resurrected an expired 2002 ordinance that would hit cyclists 18 years and older with a $250 fine for riding on the sidewalks between Hollywood and Devon -- well above the $25 fine for doing the same thing on other city sidewalks.
You'd face a lighter fine if you drove your car on a Chicago sidewalk."
"But the measure doesn't sit well with cyclists who say they stick to the sidewalk because they're afraid of being hit by speeding cars on Sheridan...They suggest that the city look into redesigning Sheridan to make it easier for bikers, motorists and pedestrians to co-exist."
FULL STORY: The vicious cycle
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?
Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.
The EV “Charging Divide” Plaguing Rural America
With “the deck stacked” against rural areas, will the great electric American road trip ever be a reality?
Judge Halts Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal
Lawyers must prove the city was not acting “arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally” in ordering the hasty removal.
Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?
With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)