Possible federal cuts to bike lane expansion could have big impact in Chicago
The Trump administration is looking to tighten the chain for bicyclists — rolling back funding for the lanes where they ride.
The federal money for bike lanes already under construction is allocated, but U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is ready to put a stop to any future dollars and keep bike lanes in cities, including Chicago, from expanding.
On the Near West Side, construction has been under way recently to extend the bike lanes around Harrison Street. Cycling in that area Thursday was Itamar Steiner, a University of Illinois Chicago grad student, real estate broker, and 2018 Chicago Cubs draft pick — and an avid cyclist who is rarely seen without his gear.
"I like to wear the reflective vest. I like to wear an ankle reflector," he said. "I bike everywhere. I bike to class. I bike to work."
Steiner appreciates the bike lanes for which Chicago has become known. According to the city, there are 478 miles of total bike network — including buffered bike lanes, neighborhood greenways, and protected bike lanes.
"When there's no kind of barrier there, there's obviously more of a fear like, you know, a of car door opening or someone swerving into the lane," Steiner said.
As Steiner rides, he and others are learning about the potential cuts coming to bike lane funding.
"I just saw a headline about removing bike lanes or reducing all federal funding for them," he said.
Secretary Duffy has ordered a stop to all grants going to build bike lanes and other green infrastructure, and it could impact Chicago.
"It seems like we're targeting kind of the wrong things when talking about freezing investments," Steiner said.
CBS News Chicago reached out to the Chicago Department of Transportation to see how many future projects would be impacted. The department had not returned the request for comment late Thursday.
But people have mixed feelings about the bike lanes, which tend to take up parking space and reduce lanes of traffic.
"That's a little frustrating when they turn it into a bike lane and traffic gets twice as bad," said Ignace Bielobradek.
"It can really mess with the flow of traffic," said Maks Zalesinki.
But despite the headaches the bike lanes can cause to some drivers, some question if the funding for concrete barriers or bright green markings is truly that expensive.
"It you're going to cut funding for something, bike lanes are probably not the most expensive thing on the government's list right now," Bielobradek said.
