The City of Chicago has begun a major campaign to increase bicycle use for commuting and recreation throughout the city. To reach this goal, the city has crafted the Bike 2015 Plan “recommend[ing] projects, programs, and policies for the next ten years to encourage use of this practical, non-polluting and affordable mode of transportation.” The plan’s aim is to increase bicycle usage to 5 percent of all trips under five miles, while cutting bicycle injuries by half from current levels. The city has placed bike racks at 66 commuter rail and subway stations and made it easier to bring bikes on all forms of public transit. It has also published a free guide to safe bicycling, available in many locations throughout the city. In addition, the city sponsors several programs encouraging employers and employees to bike to work. All of these efforts contributed to Chicago’s recent rating in Bicycling Magazine as the second best city for cycling in the United States.
A new facility has opened in downtown Chicago that is helping the city meet its goals. Opened in 2005, the Millennium Park Bicycle Station accommodates many biking needs. The 12,000 square foot building is tucked into a corner of Millennium Park in the heart of downtown Chicago near public transit and many downtown offices, making it convenient for commuters. The Chicago Park District owns and manages the facility, which offers commuters a place to park, shower and change before work. This heated indoor facility has 300 bicycling parking spaces and provides lockers, showers, a snack bar, bike repair and rental. All of the bike parking is provided free of charge. Showers and lockers cost $1 a day for rental; frequent users can buy monthly or yearly memberships. The station is also a place for recreational users to stop and relax, and the facility draws tourists who want to rent bikes to see the city. There are 60 bikes available for rental and, according to bike station staff, the bikes are a hot commodity.
The station is located in the center of a 21-mile long bike path that extends north and south of downtown Chicago. This central location is convenient for commuters who travel an average of 5-10 miles to reach the station. After reaching the station, workers clean up in the showers, store their gear, and head off to their final destination. Most of them head to jobs within a mile of the station; others walk to the nearby transit hub and ride a commuter train out to the suburbs.
The station’s construction and upkeep have been funded under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program (CMAQ), which is jointly administered by the federal highway and transit administrations. The funding was provided with the understanding that the facility would help improve air quality in Chicago by promoting bike riding. The building itself was designed to have minimal impact on the air and environment of the city and utilizes many green elements, such as solar panels, energy-efficient building materials and extensive landscaping.
Lessons Learned
The bike station is part of a much larger plan for the Chicago metro area that supports the city’s biking culture. Paths must lead people from other parts of town to a central area where they would be likely to work or transfer to other forms of transit. Without a safe network of bike paths in place, residents are not likely to make use of a bike station, even if it is centrally located. While this option may not be feasible for all municipalities, it may be worth requiring individual businesses to provide bike lockers and shower facilities on site. These provisions could be established in existing fitness facilities located within office buildings by adding lockers or racks for those who wish to commute by bike.
Results
While it may be impossible to determine how much the station has reduced congestion and air pollution in the region, the popularity of the facility speaks volumes about its success and viability. The facility was an instant success and now has a waiting list for annual memberships. Staff members report that it is always bustling. They maintain that the most important elements in making this project a success are:
Resources
www.bike2015plan.org
The Bike 2015 Plan is the City of Chicago’s vision to make bicycling an integral part of daily life in Chicago. The plan recommends projects, programs and policies for the next 10 years to encourage use of this practical, non-polluting and affordable mode of transportation
www.biketraffic.org
Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has a mission to improve the bicycling environment and thereby the quality of life in the region
www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org
The Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign is an awards program that recognizes municipalities that actively support bicycling
www.bicyclinginfo.org
The Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center is a clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement and access and mobility
