Someday soon now the path to making a left turn from northbound Sherman Avenue to westbound Davis Street will change.
City officials today put out a reminder that as part of the overall redesign of Fountain Square, “in coming weeks” drivers will need to bear left at the traffic island south of the square to get in position to turn left at Davis.
The left lane on the right side of the island, the current path to making a left turn at Davis, will soon be signed to bar left turns.
The change is designed to improve safety for pedestrians in the square.
Hope this solves the problem
As a pedestrian, I can see the appeal of this approach and hope it will address pedestrian safety. I think it is designed to improve crossing Davis from the NW corner of Sherman and Davis to the SW corner of Sherman and Davis. The street is wide and the way traffic signals are set, it is not clear from which direction and when cars will come. The time allowed for pedestrian crossing also seems very short. I especially worry about students coming from the Davis Street El and Metra stations, headed south to Beacon Academy.
Would it be possible to get a
Would it be possible to get a higher-resolution picture of the map? I can make out very little of the writing on it.
Bigger map
Try this one.
— Bill
But what we really need are protected bike lanes
I just looked at the Evanston Bike Map. It’s pathetic how few protected bike lanes there are in Evanston. There are NONE north of Church Street. My wife and I won’t use what are called “bike lanes” (i.e. unprotected, striped lanes on the street.) The danger of a driver’s door opening is too great. We know too many people to whom that’s happened and they are lucky to be alive.
Interestingly, the City of Buenos Aires (Argentina), a city slightly larger than Chicago, has managed to build an extensive network of protected bike lanes. See this photo.
Bikes and vehicles are separated by a concrete barrier and because most streets are one-way but bike lanes are two-way, the bike lanes are equipped with their own traffic signals. The difference between Evanston and Buenos Aires is that Buenos Aires had the will to make a plan and implement it. Needless to say, the bike lanes are used intensely. On top of that, their extensive bike sharing program in Buenos Aires is free. Yes, completely free, just like their health care system.
Map will need an update …
Hi John,
Protected bike lanes are being installed this summer on Chicago Avenue from Davis to Sheridan Road, and on Sheridan from Chicago Avenue north to Lincoln Street.
So while we won’t have all the protected bike lanes that might be ideal … they will extend north of Church Street by September.
— Bill
Safety for cyclists
This design has places where the road is too narrow for cars to safely pass bicyclists. What steps is the city taking to make Orrington and Sheridan safe for cyclists?
I meant Orrington and Sherman
I meant Orrington and Sherman.
Also, I’m glad that instead of blaming pedestrians for safety issues like Honolulu, Evanston is taking steps to make the streets for pedestrians.