Another Point of View On a 'Done Deal'

Clark Street (Google)

If you have been following our blog and Facebook page for any amount of time, you know that our group doesn't always make friends with everyone in our community. For close to 20 years, our group has worked to make Uptown a better and safer place. We want what's best for Uptown and its residents, even though some may not share our vision for what that looks like. 

John Greenfield at Streetsblog Chicago loves bikes very much. He loves bikes so much that he can't possibly fathom that some people only bike casually, can't bike due to physical issues, or don't bike at all. And John most of all can't accept that not all people see things the way he does, through bike-colored glasses.

But this isn't a John Greenfield post (sorry to disappoint John), it's a bike lane post. 

We "driving obsessed" people here at Uptown Update have shared the very real concerns of Uptown residents about the installation of protected bike lanes on Clark Street before. We even suggested it might make more sense to put bike lanes on the entirety of Broadway, a much wider thoroughfare capable of accepting protected bike lanes (from Devon to Addison) with fewer effects on parking and local business. 

But John and his bike advocate friends don't like that people disagree with them, and in his post yesterday and tweets today, effectively e-taunted us while celebrating the recent victory of bike lane advocates over bike lane opponents. [UG - he even called me out in the header! Squee!]

Just yesterday, in fact, we heard from Reader DJ, who asked us to share the very real concerns Clark Street residents [and businesses - Eds.] have about this project. His email to us is reprinted, in its entirety (minus privacy oriented edits), below:

Hello,

I hope this finds you well. Im a resident of [edited] at Clark and Lawrence and wanted to make you aware  (in the event it is something you would consider covering) of the extreme concern many residents have about the Clark Street Corridor project that will begin this week to take away the vast majority of parking from Montrose to Winnemac. Many of us have been reaching out to our alderperson over it and feel that we were not given enough lead time or an opportunity to address our concerns, speak to the Alderman (there was one meeting with CDOT and the Alderman at Chase Park and no residents were afforded the opportunity to speak), etc. Ive pasted my email to Alderman Martin below that has way more detail in it (albeit a bit contentious as I and many others are super angry about it). 

I can get your other residents as well should it be something you are interested in. We see it as a really bad move in many ways and, most importantly, that we were not given a say or chance to speak on that matter. It seems very biased toward cyclists and very suspect that we dont know anyone that received this survey. We feel unheard, ignored and blindsided. The notice of construction beginning was sent out on Friday and the project begins tomorrow, clearly giving us no time to engage with our alderpersons. 

Anyhow, my email to Ald. Martin is below should you be interested. I can share some of the articles from the smaller community papers that have covered it, if useful.  Either way, thanks for the great work you guys do. 

Main concerns - traffic congestion that is already bad will worsen, standing pollution will worsen, emergency vehicles will not have room to get by (already an issue), none of us received the survey (which is not representative of the opinions of residents on this stretch that are most impacted), the assertion that the parking is rarely used is completely false (I have pictures and videos), increased traffic on side streets, businesses will lose biz at a time when small businesses are struggling more than ever, It will make parking even harder the closer you get to Aville as people park down here all the time and walk up to Aville patronizing businesses along the way, it shows that businesses south of Foster are clearly not prioritized, it takes away parking to residents that rely on it (there are so many new buildings that have just been built and are being built on this stretch), residents who are the most impacted were not given a chance to address concerns or have a say in the matter -- no public speaking at the one meeting held in May.  

Thanks much

[edited for privacy]

Dear Ald Martin,

I am a long-time supporter of yours who also campaigned for you. I live in the 47th Ward at Clark and Lawrence in [edited]. I was extremely disappointed, as were most of the residents of this complex and adjacent units, to learn that the cyclist project is set to begin next week. The letter announcing the start of construction was just sent today, giving us no time to voice our opposition after the only meeting. Yes, there was a meeting at Chase Park to announce the project but that meeting was not an interactive meeting or discussion with impacted tax-paying residents. We never got a chance to speak, officially ask questions or voice our concerns. 

We were actually in the process of asking you for a meeting with our residents so you could hear our side of the things. We dont know of anyone that was included in the survey that was apparently sent out. We are also concerned it was biased against us and in favor of cyclist advocates. There have been articles written on this. Im not sure if you have seen them. A 2000 person survey is not reflective of the much larger and growing population here and I question who it was sent to as I have not heard of a single person that received it (and Ive done my outreach). The majority of the meeting attendees felt it was not a meeting but rather a lecture or presentation from CDOT and the ward to tell us what is happening with statistics that we find not reflective of the feelings of those of us that actually live on this stretch of Clark. There was no opportunity to voice our questions and concerns. We thought we had more time to address this situation with you as the Chase meeting was a short time ago. Now we find out with almost no notice that construction will start in a matter of days.

You stated that many of the businesses are in favor of it yet the majority that we have spoken to were not aware of the project or the meeting. Those same folks are not in favor of it. Why would they be in favor of a project that deters motorists from patronizing their businesses? Especially in a time when small businesses are struggling more than ever. It is already hard to keep businesses open here. Now we are getting rid of their precious parking? 

We rely on those parking spots out there and the declaration that they are only used 30% of the time is completely inaccurate. I can share pictures with you that show just how full the parking is, especially in the evening and on the weekends. There may be sections where the 30% is accurate but certainly between Lawrence and Winnemac that is not the case in any way whatsoever. There are also major concerns about traffic and the ability for emergency vehicles (which are constant on this stretch) to get by. They already have issues getting by on a regular basis.  

Cyclist safety is important but so is vehicle safety, parking access for us who live here and contribute to this community, pay taxes in it. Certainly those of us on this actual stretch that live on Clark should have been engaged more. We feel there was little to no effort. We absolutely should have had a chance to fill out a survey. Have you considered the number of residential units built or being built on this stretch recently? Where will they park? The number of people that park on this stretch and walk into Andersonville, where parking is already a major issue, is many. They patronize businesses along the way. Traffic is already terrible on Clark street and side streets, as are the fumes from it that affect our homes. Now standing traffic as well as side street traffic will worsen as will pollution. How is that progress? I rely on those spots outside and many of our residents do as well. This is a huge impact to our lives and we had no say.  It is a huge deterrent to new businesses south of Foster. Cyclists matter and this city has done much to their benefit recently but there is clearly a bias. Motorists matter as well, especially resident motorists. Some of us have to have cars. Ive lived in this unit for 13 years and seen this area get more and more popular. I watch this street from my unit every day. To state that those parking spots dont matter especially when there is already a bike lane is just false. Period. 

I'm not an apathetic citizen. I certainly know how hard you and your staff work (hence always being supportive). I am a good steward of the community and often inform your office of things that lead to community improvements. I did express my concerns in an email about this project after the Chase meeting.  Ive been an advocate of yours. I care. In this situation, it absolutely feels like you do not. I am speaking for many people in this community that voted for you and feel discarded and ignored right now. I'm guessing that doesnt matter.  Again, we thought we had more time to gather feedback and provide it to you. I was in the process of doing so. And I'm certain there is nothing that can be done now (though I will be elevating this to whoever and wherever I can (more research for me). It was clearly planned that way.  I certainly hope there will, at least, be efforts taken to enforce the law on cyclists who are often extremely unsafe and dont abide by laws. I would still appreciate the opportunity to speak with you further about this. I think the process of engaging residents (especially those directly impacted) on community projects of this size needs some careful scrutiny as currently it leaves some of the most important voices out. It leaves us feeling unincluded and unimportant.  But again, it seems like that may have been the point.  I look forward to, hopefully, hearing back from you. 

Sincerely,

Your extremely disappointed constituent, 

                    [edited for privacy] 

So, John, there you go. Reader DJ is but one of many many people (and existing businesses along the 4500, 4600, 4700 and 4800 blocks of Clark Street) that have reached out to us over the last year to say that they don't agree with the bike lanes. 

Since John and The Chicago Bike Community (TM) don't agree that Reader DJ's concerns are valid, however, expect loud commentary here and on Facebook from the 'Community.' [Y'all don't disappoint! - Eds.]

We will tip our UU cap to them, as they are quite good at mobilizing, filling meetings and comments sections to create the illusion of popular support even when the very people most affected by their preferred outcomes may not agree. But apparently our opinions (as those of anyone who disagrees) are "Windshield POV," so... ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯