Photo from flickr user citymaus
Cities throughout the United States are redesigning their roadways to accommodate multiple means of transportation. One of the major push/pull factors of alternative commuting options is the cost of fuel, coupled with the desire to live as close to work as possible. To make these changes a reality, city governments and transportation authorities have worked to add bicycle lanes, increased public transportation service, and has made sidewalks safer for pedestrians. Focusing on examples in Cleveland and Chicago, this article will focus on enhanced bicycle infrastructure. Both cities have experienced increases in bicycle commuting, and, as such, needed to add adequate bicycle infrastructure to assure a safe ride for cyclists. The repurposing of roadways for multiple means of transportation has come with both praise and harsh criticism from motorists.
Rankings of Bike-Friendliness in Cleveland and Chicago, and Infrastructure Improvements:
According to a 2011 article in Bicycling Magazine, to meet their criteria for the most bicycle friendly city in the United States, cities had to prove that they are accommodating to bicycles. Segregated bike lanes, municipal bike racks, and bike boulevards helped cities to improve their score. Bicycle Magazine ranked 50 major cities based on their bike friendliness.
Chicago has made great strides in increased bicycle infrastructure; it is ranked as the 5th bike-friendly city in the US as of 2012, and it was previously ranked 10th in 2011. Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is said to have more enthusiasm for bicycle infrastructure in the United States, according to Bicycle Magazine. When Mayor Rahm Emmanuel became mayor in 2011, he brought with him former transportation director, Gabe Klein, to move Chicago’s bicycle infrastructure development forward. Cleveland ranks significantly lower, and is ranked as the 39th bike-friendly city in the US as of 2011. Bicycle Magazine cites the Towpath Trail, which connects Cleveland to Akron, is a popular trail among cyclists, as an example of how Cleveland has begun to improve bicycle infrastructure. Unfortunately, there was no ranking for Cleveland for the 2012 ranking by Bicycle Magazine.
Chicago has more than 200 miles of bicycle infrastructure within its city limits, including two-way bike paths with their own traffic signal segregated from traffic. Throughout the city, there are thousands of bike racks at businesses, parks, and transit stations. The increased bicycle infrastructure has been beneficial to places of businesses and neighborhoods throughout the city. The City of Chicago isn’t done yet, they have plans to build on its existing infrastructure. According to the Chicago Streets for Cycling Plan 2020, the Chicago Department of Transportation (or CDOT) plans to add an additional 645 mile network of bicycle facilities, and to assure that Chicagoans have access to bicycle infrastructure within a half mile.
The City of Cleveland has been slower at improving bicycle infrastructure. As more people move Downtown, and to other thriving close-in neighborhoods such as University Circle, Detroit Shoreway, Ohio City, and Tremont, there has been pressure to improve its roadways to make them more accommodating to all means of transportation than cars. In January of this year, the City of Cleveland’s Planning Commission announced a plan to add up to 70 miles of bicycle lanes to the city streets. So far, only 47.5 miles exist in Cleveland. From 1990 to 2012, bicycle commuting has increased in Cleveland, and because of the rising number of cyclists, this has prompted advocacy groups like Bike Cleveland to advocate for improved infrastructure for Cleveland bicycle commuters.
Social Drawbacks to Improved Bicycle Infrastructure
One drawback to bicycle advocacy and improving bicycle infrastructure is the antagonizing attitude of motorists. Because of the automobile-centric culture of the United States, there have been many motorists who have adapted to the changes in roadway infrastructure, and others believe that roadways are for motor vehicles only; cyclists to the sidewalk! Some motorists have labeled cyclists, according to an article in The Oregonian as “stop sign-running free-loaders.”
City officials in Chicago and Portland are now talking about adding a bicycle tax for city cyclists. Already most cities require bicycle owners to register their bicycles for a small fee. In Chicago, a councilwoman recently proposed implementing an annual $25 bicycle tax. Such taxes and fees are acceptable by some bicycle advocates, but are often unacceptable by others, because bicycle advocates and commuters already enjoy an inexpensive commute. Motorists who are in favor of such a tax see it as a responsibility that cyclists should have.
Roadway improvements are costly, including improvements for bicycle infrastructure, so it is understandable why cities may favor taxing cyclists. However, there are many cyclists who commute out of necessity, not choice, and if such taxes were levied on them, it would hurt them. According to the mentioned article, other cities have explored the possibility of looking to cyclists for revenue, but mostly for the purpose of improving roadway conditions.
Cities throughout the country have been working to improve infrastructure for all commuters. However, there still is a long way to go due to the country’s automobile-centric culture. Since more people are moving back into cities, or at least closer to the cities, city governments and departments of transportation need to make strides in roadway improvement for all commuters to coexist. There will be a cost to the improvement of roads to make them complete, but there needs to be a way where all commuters, from motorists to pedestrians to come together to talk about a solid plan to make commuting easy and free of danger for all who drive, ride, or walk on our streets.
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Edward Chenock, Jr. is currently a City Success Fellow at CEOs for Cities. He is a recent graduate of Cleveland State University, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies. Housing and Neighborhood Development, Bicycle Commuting Issues, Urban Revitalization, and Historic Preservation are among his interests related to the field of urban affairs. In addition to his work at CEOs for Cities, he also serves as the Chairman of the Landmarks Commission for the City of Euclid, Ohio.