Chicago continues to accelerate its commitment to cycling, adding an impressive network of bikeways across the city. Following a record-breaking year in 2023 with over 50 miles of new installations, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is keeping the momentum going in 2024. Cyclists in the Windy City can look forward to even more routes to explore, thanks to the recently released 2024 Planned Bikeways Installations Tracker. This expansion is a direct result of the city’s ambitious Chicago Cycling Strategy, aiming for a connected and protected bikeway network.
For those eager to discover the latest cycling infrastructure developments, CDOT has provided an invaluable resource: the 2024 Planned Bikeways Installations Tracker. This interactive spreadsheet details dozens of new bikeway projects in various stages – “planned,” “underway,” and joyfully, “installed.” Whether you’re a daily commuter or a weekend explorer, understanding the types of bike lanes available is key to navigating Chicago’s streets safely and efficiently. Here’s a breakdown of the bikeway categories you’ll find on the Chicago Bike Lane Map:
- Bike Lane: The most basic type, these are painted lanes to the left of parked cars. It’s worth noting these are in the “door zone,” requiring cyclists to be vigilant.
- Buffered Bike Lane: An improvement over standard bike lanes, buffered lanes add striped space to separate cyclists further from traffic or parked cars, enhancing safety.
- Protected Bike Lane (PBL): These lanes offer significant safety upgrades. Curbside and delineated with paint, flexible posts, or concrete, PBLs often sit to the right of parking. Many of Chicago’s newer PBLs incorporate short raised sections for added protection and visibility.
- Concrete Upgrade: Existing Protected Bike Lanes are being further enhanced with concrete barriers, providing a more robust separation from vehicle traffic.
- Neighborhood Greenway: Designed for calmer side streets, Greenways often include contraflow bike lanes, allowing cyclists to safely ride in both directions on streets that are one-way for cars.
- Off-Street Trail: These are car-free paths, offering the most separated and safest cycling experience, though users should always be aware of other path users.
(Scroll past this long list to see more of this post.)
Screenshots of the 2024 Planned Bikeways Installations Tracker, illustrating the scope and types of planned bike lane improvements throughout Chicago in 2024.
To make this wealth of data even more accessible, the Ward Wise group at Chi Hack Night, a civic tech volunteer group focused on Chicago infrastructure data, stepped in to create an interactive Chicago bike lane map. According to Ward Wise member Sean MacMullan, their aim is to “make Chicago infrastructure data more accessible to the general public.” For those who found the manual creation of maps tedious, like the author’s previous Streetsblog’s map of 2023 CDOT Bikeway Installations which garnered over 25,000 views, Ward Wise offers a much more efficient solution.
Bar chart visualizing the planned mileage of different bikeway types for 2024 installations in Chicago, provided by Ward Wise group at Chi Hack Night.
The 2024 [CDOT] Planned Bikeways map is a significant upgrade. Ward Wise ingeniously used the CDOT list and their geocoder to produce a user-friendly, color-coded map. The map clearly distinguishes between the types of bikeways using a legend, making it easy to identify Protected Bike Lanes, Greenways, and more. Users can zoom in to street level for detailed planning of their cycling routes across Chicago.
Explore Ward Wise’s 2024 [CDOT] Planned Bikeways map in full-screen here
Beyond the CDOT list, there are even more bikeway projects on the horizon thanks to Chicago’s aldermanic menu program. This program allocates $1.5 million annually to each ward for infrastructure improvements at the discretion of the local City Council member. Some aldermen utilize Participatory Budgeting to involve their constituents in deciding how these funds are spent, often leading to investments in bike infrastructure. These projects are detailed in the aldermanic menu program report and represent further additions to the Chicago bike lane map.
Image showing the underway Clark Street protected bike lane in Chicago, overlaid with Ward Wise's map visualization and a photo of pedestrian island installation.
While some menu program bikeways are not yet on the CDOT or Ward Wise maps, they are promising additions to look forward to. Wards led by Alders Daniel La Spata (1st), Rossana Rodriguez (33rd), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), Samantha Nugent (39th), Matt Martin (47th), and Maria Hadden (49th) are particularly commended for utilizing menu money to enhance bike safety and infrastructure.
To help cyclists immediately take advantage of the newly installed routes, a hand-crafted map of 2024 bikeways completed as of June 14, 2024, is also available. This map, created “caveman-style” using Google My Maps, offers a snapshot of the bikeways ready to ride right now. Access the citywide, interactive map of installed 2024 bikeways here.
Detail from the Google Map of Installed CDOT 2024 Bikeways as of June 14, 2024, showcasing the immediate availability of new cycling routes.
Analyzing the planned bikeways reveals a pattern similar to 2023, with most new infrastructure concentrated on Chicago’s North and West sides. This is largely due to Chicago’s aldermanic prerogative system, which grants local aldermen significant control over infrastructure projects in their wards. CDOT typically prioritizes installations in areas where aldermanic support is present.
However, progress is being made in expanding bike infrastructure to underserved communities. The CDOT Neighborhood Bike Network outreach is beginning to bear fruit, with new bikeways planned for the Near Southwest Side, including Brighton Park and Gage Park. While the South Side, south of 67th Street, is still waiting for significant developments, ongoing outreach efforts suggest potential improvements in 2025.
Image from Neighborhood Bike Network outreach on Chicago's Near Southwest Side, highlighting community engagement for bike infrastructure planning.
Chicago’s commitment to expanding its bikeway network is commendable, and resources like the Ward Wise 2024 Planned Bikeways map are invaluable tools for cyclists. As the city continues to grow its cycling infrastructure, these maps will be essential for navigating the evolving Chicago bike lane landscape. Explore the maps, plan your routes, and enjoy the ride!
