Chicago Bike Shops & Community Call for Reliable Bike Lane Upkeep

Completely unplowed protected bike lane on Pratt, forcing biker into busy traffic with narrow lanes.

Hey there Igor Does My Bike Fam,

Due to the poor management of bike lanes after recent snowstorms, we've seen photos and read dozens of stories from our winter bikers who have been getting stuck on the paths, forced out into traffic, riding in icy, slushy, and dangerous conditions, or just stopping biking altogether. As an action-oriented company, we've written an open letter to Craig Turner, the Acting Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, which manages the clearing of bike lanes. You can find this letter below.

We encourage you to take action as well. You can:

1. Copy/paste this email and send it to Craig Turner (email below) and your local alderperson (you can find their email address here).

2. Continue to call 3-1-1 with any and all bike lane obstructions and dangerous conditions. You can also submit a request online via the 311 website: https://311.chicago.gov/

3. Share our post on Instagram and Facebook to bring unified attention to this issue. Post to stories, send it to your alderperson and to CDOT on Facebook or CDOT on Instagram.

Blocked bike lane at Washington/Franklin. Photo courtesy of tooscraps on r/chibike

Partially plowed lanes in the Clark/Ashland corridor. Photo courtesy of barbaracelerant on r/chibike

Open Letter to Craig Turner, Acting Commissioner, Chicago Department of Transportation

To: Craig Turner, Acting Commissioner, Chicago Department of Transportation

Craig.turner1@cityofchicago.org

CC: Vignesh.Krishnamurthy@cityofchicago.org; Mary.Nicol@cityofchicago.org; senatormikesimmons@gmail.com; list: Chicago Aldermen and Alderwomen

Subject: Chicago Bike Shops & Community Call for Reliable Bike Lane Upkeep

Dear Mr. Turner,

We are urgently writing as a unified Chicago cycling community composed of independent bike shops, bike messengers, biking families, Divvy riders, delivery workers, and community advocates. Collectively, our shops and organizations support tens of thousands of cyclists annually, including an estimated 9,000–12,000 year-round bike commuters.

Over the past week, riders have been forced to rely on social media reports to determine which lanes are usable; some have even taken it upon themselves to shovel corridors to protect fellow cyclists. Meanwhile, commuters, delivery riders, and families continue to navigate slushy, icy, and hazardous conditions.

We respectfully request three actions from CDOT:

1. Consistent, timely plowing of protected bike lanes throughout the winter

2. Routine sweeping and debris removal during the sweeping seasons (spring and fall)

3. Transparent, real-time communication about when and where this maintenance occurs

We recognize that responsibility for winter bike lane upkeep is shared between CDOT and the Department of Streets and Sanitation. With stronger coordination and communication, Chicagoans can rely on the bike infrastructure that the City has worked hard to fund and build. Without consistent maintenance, the progress gained toward the 2023 Chicago Cycling Strategy is compromised.

Although the lakefront path has been well maintained, many core corridors remain unplowed or even partially cleared, including but not limited to:

·       California (Chicago to Montrose)

·       Milwaukee (Old Irving Park to Noble Square)

·       Kedzie (near Elston)

·       Pratt (Ridge to Kedzie)

·       Clark (Foster to Irving Park)

·       Elston (Damen to Fullerton)

·       Logan Blvd (Western to Elston)

·       55^th St. Bike lanes

·       Washington/Franklin

·       Belmont corridor

·       Lincoln Ave (Lincoln Square to Addison)

·       Halsted (Northbound on Clark)

·       Clybourn (Division to Clark)

·       Multiple bridges and path-connection areas

Irregular maintenance is not simply inconvenient — it is unsafe and has measurable impacts across the city.

Safety Impacts

• Riders are forced into car lanes, increasing crash risk and slowing car traffic.

• Bike messengers and delivery riders face elevated danger operating in mixed traffic.

• Partially plowed lanes give riders a false sense of safety.

Economic Impacts

•  Local bike shops are reporting significant drops in winter sales as ridership declines.

•  Restaurants relying on e-bike delivery are experiencing delays and shortages of willing riders.

•  Divvy usage decreases when stations are inaccessible, reducing city revenue and straining the CTA.

Social & Mobility Impacts

•  Families lose a safe commuting option for getting children to school.

•  Residents managing seasonal depression lose a critical coping tool.

•  People without cars or nearby transit face longer, more difficult commutes.

•  Drivers experience frustration when cyclists have no choice but to merge into travel lanes.

To protect the City’s forward-looking investments and uphold its mobility goals, please consider:

1. Immediate plowing of the corridors listed above.

2. Regular, scheduled plowing and sweeping of protected bike lanes.

3. A public communication tool—such as a bike lane maintenance map—similar to the Plow Tracker.

4. Improved interdepartmental coordination to ensure bike lanes are cleared alongside roadways.

5. Implementation of Winter Priority Bike Routes, modeled after Minneapolis and Montreal, ensuring reliable north–south and east–west corridors.

6. A published implementation timeline so taxpayers can see that infrastructure investments are being maintained.

We – local bike shops, cycling groups, community organizations, and individual biking enthusiasts – are ready to assist by sharing business data, identifying key corridors, supporting public outreach, participating in forums, and promoting winter biking safety.

Without swift action, Chicago risks discouraging winter ridership at a time when the City has committed to mode shift, emissions reduction, and transportation equity.

We respectfully request a meeting to discuss how we can support CDOT in maximizing the Chicago Cycling Strategy for winter riders and ensuring our bike network is safe, functional, and welcoming to residents and visitors alike.

Sincerely,

Igor Kolomiychenko and Miranda Mueller

Owners, Igor Does My Bike