During the last three weeks Chicago has received over 36 inches of snow - the equivalent of almost an entire winter! And the average daily temperature has been well below normal, among the coldest since record keeping began. Valentine's Day was a record high of 4 degrees!. The next time Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, I'm going to take it seriously. 

Compounding the situation is that drivers cannot maneuver their cars as close to the sidewalk and start encroaching on the bike lane. As a result, the parking lane shifts into the bike lane as snow accumulates over time. Unlike warmer weather months, when parking in the bike lane is done  deliberately, many drivers have no where else to go. 

My commute is along city streets and riding with traffic is already a challenging activity. With snow and ice blocking the disappearing bike lane, it's downright dangerous. Having fallen numerous times, I have no desire to go down again, nor be squeezed in front of a car by clear pavement disappearing in front of me. So, I'm grounded at least until some more melting occurs. After sloughing through sixteen winters in Chicago, this is the longest stretch I have gone without riding the bike to work. 
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Interestingly however, there is one location where biking is still occurring. Along the lakefront bike path. Why? Because it's plowed regularly. A dedicated through-way for bikes, the Chicago Department of Transportation maintains the bike path just as it would a city street. And they do an admirable job. 

Thirteen of the sixteen winters I have bike commuted in Chicago have been along this path. Due to a job change, I don't' go this route anymore.  In hindsight, I realize what a gift it was that the path was cleared regularly. Biking was almost always possible, even in the aftermath of significant snowfalls, 

Outside of the bike path, most of the bike lanes in Chicago are on-street (lines painted on the street) or protected lanes (physical barrier separating cars and bikes). On-street lanes are plowed to the extent that snowplows can maneuver alongside parked cars. Basically, the snow builds up in the bike lane. Protected lanes are cleaned with specialized, smaller equipment however, coverage seems to vary. 

All of this got me to wonder, how do other cities that have a sizable bike population and winter weather deal with clearing the streets.  From my unofficial survey, I learned that Minneapolis is plowing protected bike lanes, as is Washington, DC even though the winters there are relatively mild. In New York, according to Streetsblog NYC, "It's Snow Problem for Drivers, But a Hot Mess for Cyclists" - it seems like a struggle all around. And according to Denver's Department of Transportation & Infrastructure, "crews will make every effort to plow through the bike lane to the curb whenever possible; however, during swift, heavy snowfalls, bike lanes may become snow packed." The city uses a smaller plow to clear the protected bikeways. Although local news reports maintain this is not happening consistently. 

Given the number of cars to bikes, the current strategy is understandable. That said, the snow is a real barrier to biking in the winter. If cities are interested in increasing the number of year-round bike commuters, a more comprehensive approach to snow removal is needed.

For now, I'm looking forward to the stretch of warmer, sunnier weather that is coming our way. 

Over the past four years, an experiment in changing transportation behavior within local neighborhoods has been playing out in Chicago. The purpose is to get people out of their cars and introduce them to new forms of transportation such as biking, walking and public transit. And ideally to make a small change in transportation behavior. 

Dubbed the "Go" Campaigns, the effort has impacted five local Chicago communities over the past four summers including Pilsen, Bronzeville, Albany Park, Edgewater, and most recently Garfield Park. ​The campaigns are a comprehensive effort at building awareness for local engagement with transportation options besides driving alone. Most impressively, they are getting results. 

Almost 500 people representing over 100 cities met in Chicago last week to discuss the future of shared transit at the Shared Use Mobility Summit (SUMC). The conference shed light on many changes occurring on our streets including implications of autonomous vehicles, rapid growth in ride  and bike sharing, and changing consumer preferences for automobiles, . 

Executive Director of SUMC, Sharon Feigon started the conference by pointing out that transportation is the #2 household expense in America, averaging 29% of household income. Much of this is driven by the cost of car ownership. She reiterated the mission of the Shared Mobility Use Center: making it possible to live well without owning a car through a multi-modal transit system available for all. ​Those shared modes include car sharing, bike sharing, and ride sharing. 

The growth of bicycle lanes is one of the most significant improvements in bike infrastructure in Chicago. Currently, the city has more than 280 miles of on-street protected, buffered and shared bike lanes. And this number is growing; Cycling Plan 2020 calls for a 645-mile network of biking facilities to be in place by the end of the decade.  

Nationwide, numerous cities have implemented a significant number of on-street bicycle lanes. ​All of this investment and infrastructure is wonderful for biking and bike commuting. And yet, in Chicago we have a significant problem with the usage of the bike lanes.

What is the role of the car within urban areas in the United States? It such a basic question that the answer may seem obvious. But the accepted primacy of the car on our streets belies the congestion, pollution, and fatalities which extract an exorbitant cost on society. The National Safety Council estimates 38,300 people were killed on U.S. roads in 2015; the largest increase in 50 years. 

For Chicago entrepreneur Josh London, it's not so obvious that the car should be the dominant form of transportation within an urban environment. From his perspective, cities are not working as well and he asks "why can't we have car-free streets?" It's a unconventional view yet one informed by his own personal health journey.

As the Publicity Coordinator for the  Prairie Cycle Club, Daniella Birch is always thinking about how to get more people involved in riding. A biker for 10 years, she has expanded her notion of what's possible on a bike as her confidence has grown. Today, as a member of a Community Support Agriculture (CSA), she does not hesitate to ride 20 miles to buy eggs from a local farmer.  

As her confidence and love of biking has grown, so has her commitment to helping others see and experience the benefits of biking.  Daniella recent.y shared with me her motivation for riding and her efforts to share this with others. 

Meet Waymond Smith - avid recreational cyclist, bike commuter and volunteer for youth bike programs. Riding since he was a child, he has been a year round commuter for 15 years. Active in bike touring, he has ridden the  Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) 7 times. as well as numerous recreation rides on the weekends. 

He used to commute to work by bike from Hyde Park to Skokie - a 40 mile round-trip ride, year-round. A real commitment!  Now retired, he volunteers at  Working Bikes and uses his bike to get around town and explore different neighborhoods. Despite some the challenges he has experienced, Waymond's passion for riding is undimmed.

I recently attended the 4th Annual Illinois Bike Summit in Champaign, IL. Over 250 people participated in this event that featured speakers, breakout sessions, and round-table discussions on topics ranging from bicycle-friendly initiatives nationwide to community bicycle workshops.

Hosted by Ride Illinois and Champaign County Bikes, the event brought together bike trail advocates, architects, municipal planners, cycling clubs, bike shop owners and interested citizens. 

The motto for Working Bikes is giving old bikes new homes, and that's exactly what they do.. Since 1999 they have redistributed more than 50,000 used bikes worldwide to individuals in developing countries as well as disadvantaged individuals in Chicago. 

At the Illinois Bike Summit last week, I met with Manager Paul Fitzgerald and Staff Mechanic Caesar Mesa to learn more about this incredible organization.