@walking.chi: The Lawrence Avenue road diet was forward-thinking when it was implemented over a decade ago, but it’s become clear that this stretch is overdue for an upgrade. What seemed progressive in the early 2010s—basic bike lanes and lane reduction—now feels like the bare minimum compared to what we know works for safe, multimodal streets. The bike infrastructure is outdated and doesn’t meet current protected lane standards. The pedestrian crossings could be safer with better visibility and curb extensions. Bus stops lack the kind of shelter and accessibility features that modern transit users deserve. The street has seen some recent development and public art, which is great, but the underlying infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with best practices or the corridor’s potential. Chicago has learned a lot about street design in the past decade, and Lawrence Avenue deserves those lessons applied to it. We now have better models for protected bike lanes, transit priority measures, and pedestrian safety features that weren’t standard when this road diet was first implemented. The bones of a good street are there, but it needs a refresh that reflects current understanding of what makes streets truly safe and functional for everyone. This isn’t about undoing the road diet—it’s about building on it with the improvements we now know make a real difference. Lawrence Avenue was an early experiment, and now it’s time to apply what we’ve learned to make it even better. #Chicago #LawrenceAvenue #RoadDiet #UrbanPlanning #ChicagoStreets ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Wednesday 15 October 2025 00:38:34 GMT