Milwaukee Avenue Bike Route Won't Stretch to Wicker Park

Despite the uptick in interest regarding protected bike lanes on Milwaukee Avenue in River West, officials say they have no plans to extend the project through Wicker Park anytime soon.

The two-way bike lane—called the Milwaukee Avenue Spoke Route—is proposed for nearly a mile along Milwaukee between Elston and Kinzie, shaving down parking to create the thoroughfare for cyclists similar to Dearborn Street.

But according to both Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) and Ald. Proco Joe Moreno’s (1st) office, making Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park a part of the development isn’t something currently on the books.

“There isn’t any plans to extend it,” said Moreno’s Director of Legislative Affairs and Communications Matt Bailey. “We’ve talked about it, but right now, there isn’t any plan for that.”

That may be unwelcomed news for some cyclists, according to the Active Transportation Alliance. They say more than 2,800 people signed a petition supporting the protected bike lanes after the city announced potential plans for them in 2012.

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Officials with the ATA added that according to a recent traffic study by the Chicago Department of Transportation, more than 40 percent of Milwaukee Avenue traffic during rush hour is comprised of bikes, making it the busiest biking street in Chicago.

"Protected bike lanes create a more organized traffic flow that is safer for everyone, whether you are walking, biking or driving a car," said Executive Director of the ATA Ron Burke in a statement. "Milwaukee Avenue has the highest bike traffic of any street in Chicago, so it's especially important to improve safety on this route by better balancing the needs of everyone on the street."

Although the new protected bike lane isn’t scheduled to cut through Wicker Park, the Moreno’s Director of Constituent Services Rodolpho De Jesus says the ward plans to install 22 of the upcoming 25 Divvy bike sharing stations in 2013.