Wicker Park

Catalan Cortez was the second cyclist killed after falling onto 'L' tracks in the last two years.

More cyclists are staying out of the door zone, more motoristss are yielding to pedestrians, and people are driving at safer speeds.

The flower pots are an easy, inexpensive way to add protection from cars and make the street move attractive. Photo: Steven Vance

In November 2016 it looked like the plan for a bike counter on the Milwaukee Avenue “Hipster Highway” corridor in Wicker Park – Chicago’s busiest bike route – was a done deal. The developer of a new transit-oriented development at 1237 North Milwaukee, LG Partners, was donating an Eco-Totem bike counter to the city, and was planning to pay for the Chicago Department of Transportation to install a sidewalk bump-out to accommodate the device. The counter, featuring an eye-catching design chosen by Streetsblog Chicago readers, had already been manufactured, and City Council had approved the installation, which was slated for spring 2017.

As we close out 2017 here at Streetsblog Chicago, we thought we’d celebrate the upside of a generally rotten year in the United States by highlighting some of the more positive things that happened in Chicago transportation in 2017.

Check out these aerial photos Steven took this evening of the complete streets makeover of the Wicker Park intersection.

The changes make this hectic six-way safer, better organized, and more pleasant for the many people who pass through on foot and bike each day.

The Chicago Department of Transportation's complete streets makeover of Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park seems is moving along nicely.

It already appears that car drivers are generally respecting the dashed lines.