by Michelle Stenzel
The Lake Front Trail is an important recreation and transportation route for all of us in Lincoln Park, and "our" little segment from North Avenue to Diversey is among the busiest of the entire 17-mile length of the trail. It's a great way to get close to Lake Michigan and enjoy our shoreline. But with thousands of users squeezed onto its narrow width, it often feels overcrowded, and sometimes dangerous, with faster-moving bicyclists and in-line skaters whizzing by too close to strolling pedestrians or runners.
The Lake Front Trail is an important recreation and transportation route for all of us in Lincoln Park, and "our" little segment from North Avenue to Diversey is among the busiest of the entire 17-mile length of the trail. It's a great way to get close to Lake Michigan and enjoy our shoreline. But with thousands of users squeezed onto its narrow width, it often feels overcrowded, and sometimes dangerous, with faster-moving bicyclists and in-line skaters whizzing by too close to strolling pedestrians or runners.
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| Chicago's well-loved Lake Front Trail, between North Avenue and Oak Street. (Photo: Bike Walk Lincoln Park) |
Did you know there's an advocacy group for the trail? Friends of the Lakefront Trail is an initiative of the Active Transportation Alliance, and they work with the Park District to ensure maintenance of the trail, monitor its conditions, and help secure funding for important trail-related projects like the new Diversey bridge installed a few years ago.
But there's a lot more work to be done, and now's your chance to participate in shaping its future. Friends of the Lake Front Trail is holding two public meetings next month to gather community input on how to make the trail better, safer and easier to access for all users, details here. They're calling them "Visioning Workshops," so bring your visions and ideas!
Read more about the Friends of the Lakefront Trail's history and initiatives here.
Mark the April 9 meeting on your calendar and plan to attend with us! E-mail Michelle and Michael and bikewalklincolnpark@gmail.com to let us know we should look for you there, or if it's a nice evening, maybe we can organize a (slow) group bike ride there and back.
Friends of the Lake Front Trail Visioning Workshops
North Side
April 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Margate Park Fieldhouse (4921 N. Marine Drive)
South Side
April 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Jackson Park Fieldhouse (6401 S. Stony Island Ave.)
Walk/Jog Left - Bike Right
ReplyDeleteI don't like fast cyclers overtaking me from the back just inches from my shoulder. I am always nervous when cycling and passing a walker from their rear who is inches away on my right. It just takes seconds for them to step into my path.
So here's my suggestion. Signage that would set the custom to walk on the left just like pedestrians do on uncurbed streets and roadways.
See Picture here --> http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/wegerje/WalkJogBikeLeftRight2012.jpg
Jeff, thanks for the comment. I believe a wider path or completely separated paths would definitely be useful in some of the most congested areas, like at Oak Street Beach. Increased and improved signage is certainly need, both for directions as well as to help the different user modes figure out where they're supposed to be. -- Michelle Stenzel
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