40th Ward

Ronald Roenigk's articles are often inflammatory and misleading. And even if he knows he got the facts wrong, he may not run a correction.

No word yet on whether a contraflow bike lane would be added to facilitate eastbound cycling from the path on the west side of rider to the east side.

Thanks to plans to convert little-used parking spaces, the avenue is slated to get a new bike lane, and the Winnslie Parkway path and garden will be extended south.

The alderperson's charge of heart was likely at least partly due to previous prodding from Streetsblog.

Plus, discussion of potential funding for protected lanes on Damen in the 40th Ward, where a driver killed ceramicist Don Heggemann, 59, on his bike in October

Update 12/21/23, 1:15 PM: In response to this article, Ald. Vasquez stated on Twitter that, since the goal of this project is improved safety, the 40th Ward and CDOT will continue monitoring the reversal of the 4800 block of North Francisco Avenue. They'll keep an eye out for any new issues that may arise at the intersection of Frnacisco and Aislie avenues, such as the potential for head-on collisions, which some constituents have voiced concern about. If deemed necessary, the ward and CDOT will potentially make changes to the design, such as reversing the direction of this block once again.

A critical planned safe streets improvement is at risk of being cancelled by Ald. Andre Vasquez, who's usually a safe streets supporter

There will be a virtual community meeting on the project this Monday, July 10, at 6 p.m., but fortunately the new bikeway is a done deal.

When the city installs nice things for bike riders and pedestrians, reckless drivers often destroy them. That happened twice within the last couple of days in two different locations in the 40th Ward.