Chicago Cycling Strategy 150 Miles Promise Under Fire
- 01. Chicago's 150-Mile Protected Bike Lane Plan: What Changed in 2023
- 02. Core Vision and Three Pillars of Everyday Cycling
- 03. What Changed from the 2021 Community Cycling Plan
- 04. Key Projects and Priority Corridors
- 05. 2023 Implementation Results and Real-World Impact
- 06. Equity Focus: Serving Historically Underserved Communities
- 07. Funding and Implementation Timeline
- 08. Why This Strategy Matters for Chicago's Future
Chicago's 150-Mile Protected Bike Lane Plan: What Changed in 2023
The City of Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) released its updated Chicago Cycling Strategy on March 29, 2023, committing to build 150 miles of new bikeways within approximately three years, with 85% of those miles consisting of protected bike lanes or neighborhood greenways. This strategy aims to increase the share of Chicagoans living within a half-mile of a low-stress bikeway from 50% to 70%, transforming Chicago's fragmented bike network into a connected crosstown grid that serves all neighborhoods equitably.
Core Vision and Three Pillars of Everyday Cycling
The updated strategy establishes three foundational pillars guiding all future cycling infrastructure investments across Chicago. These pillars reflect years of lessons learned from earlier projects under the Streets for Cycling Program and community feedback gathered through extensive public involvement.
- A connected network serving all neighborhoods and all Chicagoans - stitching together existing protected lanes into a cohesive citywide grid
- Focused on local trips - prioritizing routes to schools, parks, local businesses, and community destinations within neighborhoods
- Providing low-stress options - ensuring safe, convenient everyday cycling for riders of all ages and abilities through physical protection from traffic
CDOT Commissioner Gia Biagi emphasized that the strategy is designed to be flexible and adaptive, evolving as conditions change while maintaining its core commitment to equity and safety.
What Changed from the 2021 Community Cycling Plan
The 2023 Chicago Cycling Strategy represents a significant evolution from CDOT's 2021 Community Cycling plan, incorporating hard-won insights from actual construction projects and community engagement. The most notable changes include a sharper focus on protected infrastructure, clearer geographic targeting of underserved neighborhoods, and a more aggressive implementation timeline backed by dedicated funding.
| Feature | 2021 Community Cycling Plan | 2023 Chicago Cycling Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Total new bikeway goal | Underspecified | 150 miles in 3 years |
| Protected lane percentage | Not specified | 85% protected or greenways |
| Population coverage target | No explicit target | 70% within ½ mile |
| Geographic focus | General expansion | Equitable neighborhood-by-neighborhood |
| Funding commitment | Uncertain | 2 years Chicago Works funding secured |
Epstein, a multi-disciplinary design and construction company, played a key role by designing approximately 25 miles of buffered and protected bike lanes as part of the feasibility studies and concept designs for the strategy.
Key Projects and Priority Corridors
While the strategy maintains flexibility, CDOT identified specific priority projects to be built over the next few years, particularly along major arterial routes that will form the backbone of the crosstown connected grid.
- Belmont Avenue (Kimball to Clybourn): Connecting the Belmont Blue Line station to the 312 RiverRun trail system with protected bike lanes
- Austin to North Lawndale: Expanding neighborhood greenways south from Belmont Cragin into historically underserved communities
- Little Village expansion: Extending the neighborhood network further south to serve Latino communities with limited prior infrastructure
- Crosstown arterial connectors: Linking existing protected lane segments into continuous routes across the city
- School and park access routes: Prioritizing low-stress connections to educational and recreational destinations
These projects reflect a strategic shift from isolated bike lane installations to systematic network building that prioritizes connectivity and equity.
2023 Implementation Results and Real-World Impact
Chicago's intense focus on protected bike lane expansion delivered measurable results in 2023, validating the strategy's approach and demonstrating the city's commitment to rapid implementation.
| Metric | 2023 Achievement |
|---|---|
| New/upgraded protected bike lanes | 27 miles |
| Neighborhood greenways built | 18 miles |
| Free bikes distributed | 1,900 |
| Divvy bike trips (record) | 6.6 million |
| Biking increase vs. fall 2019 | Highest among major U.S. cities |
David Smith, director of CDOT's Complete Streets initiative, stated that the focus on protected infrastructure has transformed Chicago into the cycling center former Mayor Rahm Emanuel envisioned, with biking becoming mainstream rather than fringe. Since 2000, the number of people biking in Chicago has roughly tripled, with an average of 125,000 bike trips daily.
Equity Focus: Serving Historically Underserved Communities
A defining characteristic of the 2023 strategy is its explicit commitment to equitable expansion of cycling infrastructure, particularly in communities that historically received less investment. The strategy prioritizes neighborhood-level networks in areas like Austin, North Lawndale, and Little Village, where residents previously had limited access to safe biking options.
Currently, half of Chicagoans live within a half-mile of protected infrastructure, but the next 150 miles are specifically designed to raise coverage to 70% "one neighborhood at a time". This approach recognizes that equitable access requires targeted investment in communities of color and lower-income neighborhoods that have been systematically underinvested in transportation infrastructure.
Funding and Implementation Timeline
The strategy's aggressive timeline is backed by concrete financial commitments, with two additional years of Chicago Works funding secured to support rapid infrastructure deployment. This funding mechanism allows CDOT to integrate bike lane construction with regular street resurfacing programs, maximizing efficiency and minimizing disruption.
Epstein's civil and planning group prepared comprehensive feasibility studies, concept designs, Phase I reports, plans, specifications, and estimates covering pavement marking, intersection improvements, sign placement, and ADA ramps as part of the Streets for Cycling Program. This thorough planning phase ensures that construction proceeds smoothly once groundbreaking begins.
Why This Strategy Matters for Chicago's Future
The Chicago Cycling Strategy represents more than infrastructure expansion-it reflects a fundamental shift in how the city views transportation, equity, and public health. By prioritizing low-stress biking options, Chicago is making cycling accessible to children, seniors, and people who previously felt too threatened by traffic to ride.
With 2023 already delivering 27 miles of new protected lanes and a record 6.6 million Divvy trips, the strategy's momentum is real and accelerating. Chicago has achieved the highest increase in bikers among major U.S. cities from fall 2019 to spring 2023, positioning the city to become the nation's premier cycling destination.
The strategy's community-driven approach ensures that infrastructure development responds to actual resident needs rather than top-down assumptions, creating a healthy and sustainable city where people can choose bikes for short trips to schools, parks, and local businesses.
The 2023 Chicago Cycling Strategy marks a pivotal moment in the city's transportation evolution, transforming cycling from a niche activity into a mainstream, equitable mode of transportation that serves all 2.7 million Chicagoans.
Expert answers to Chicago Cycling Strategy 150 Miles Promise Under Fire queries
What is the Chicago Cycling Strategy 150-mile plan?
The Chicago Cycling Strategy is CDOT's 2023 updated long-term plan to build 150 miles of new bikeways within approximately three years, with 85% consisting of protected bike lanes or neighborhood greenways, designed to increase low-stress biking access from 50% to 70% of Chicago residents.
When was the Chicago Cycling Strategy released?
CDOT released the updated Chicago Cycling Strategy on March 29, 2023, following years of experience building bike infrastructure and extensive community engagement under the Streets for Cycling Program.
How many miles of protected bike lanes will be built?
The strategy targets 150 miles of new bikeways total, with 85% (approximately 127.5 miles) being protected bike lanes or neighborhood greenways, emphasizing low-stress options for everyday cycling safety.
What neighborhoods will benefit most from the plan?
The plan prioritizes historically underserved communities including Austin, North Lawndale, Little Village, and Belmont Cragin, expanding neighborhood greenways southward to serve communities of color with limited prior bike infrastructure investment.
What percentage of Chicagoans will have bike lane access?
Implementation of the 150-mile plan will increase coverage from 50% to 70% of Chicagoans living within a half-mile of a protected bike lane, neighborhood greenway, or off-street trail, dramatically improving equitable access.
How fast will the 150 miles be completed?
CDOT expects the 150 miles of new bike lanes to be complete in three years or less, supported by two more years of dedicated Chicago Works funding secured at the time of the strategy's release.
What makes these bike lanes "protected"?
Protected bike lanes feature physical separation from vehicle traffic using barriers, curbs, planters, or parked cars, creating low-stress environments that make cycling safe and convenient for riders of all ages and abilities.
Is the 150-mile goal realistic?
Yes, CDOT expects completion in three years or less based on secured Chicago Works funding and the 27 miles already built in 2023, demonstrating the city's capacity for rapid protected lane deployment.
How does this compare to other cities?
Chicago achieved the highest increase in bikers among major U.S. cities from fall 2019 to spring 2023, with the strategy positioning the city to build what CDOT calls "the best bike network in the country".