Chicago's Lakefront Has Too Many Cars. Here's How We Fix It

Comments · 281

• JU

  @justicebeske5704 · 8 months ago

  We're so privileged to have this beautiful lakefront full of beaches, public art and parks, we need to use it fully so everyone can enjoy it.

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• MI

  @miosnikzycia2913 · 10 months ago

  One of the main issues is that the wealthiest spots in the whole state are just north of DLSD. In Wilmette, Kenilworth, and Winnetka, Lake Shore Drive is often a quicker driving route to the Loop than I-94 due to traffic and these are all places with two-car parking space minimums for new houses. Land use policy and capitalism are unfortunately entangled with transportation policy and like you said many people use the entire north stretch for through-traffic. Redefining DLSD might be a City of Chicago project, but will always be affected by money and personal vehicles outside city limits. Therefore, some of these wealthy suburbs need to seriously promote transit ridership if this issue is going to be resolved.

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• DS

  @DSAhmed · 10 months ago (edited)

  Nobody does 40mph on lakeshoredrive because its not designed for cars to go that slow. &nbsp;Its a damn expressway with on and off ramps.<br><br>Edit: &nbsp;People are not understanding the point i&apos;m making. &nbsp;LSD is designed for 55mph. &nbsp;40 is too slow for how its designed. &nbsp;Never did i say it was ok to do 70, but when you make a road designed to be similar to an interstate, then people will speed. &nbsp;If you want 40, then design it for 40.

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• GI

  @GirtonOramsay · 10 months ago

  Screw a bus lane...you can build an entire LRT with that amount of road space!

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• TE

  @Technochocolate · 10 months ago

  I read Better Streets Chicago&apos;s boulevard proposal and IDOT&apos;s rebuttle. IDOT cares about people throughput, and they think dedicated bus lanes won&apos;t boost transit ridership. Their reasons are that (1) east-west bus service would also need to improve for more people to choose the bus, but that&apos;s outside the scope of the project (2) the red-line is too close to LSD, so improved east-west connectivity would just lead to more riders on the red-line. In my opinion, it would take a big public commitment from the CTA/Chicago to improve transit connectivity outside of LSD in order to convince IDOT that they can reduce the vehicle capacity of LSD. In summary, putting LSD on a road diet requires regional integrated planning which IDOT is not accustomed to doing.<br><br>I would have been good to discuss more about what happened with South Lakeshore Drive. This is something that is NEVER discussed in the LSD planning meetings even though it should be super relevant!

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• FI

  @FinTek · 10 months ago

  My biggest issues with LSD is how much it cuts off the city from the lakefront. I&apos;d love to see something like the Presidio Tunnel Tops built in Chicago, but it doesn&apos;t seem like the city is moving that way

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• RE

  @repairdrive · 10 months ago

  The trail is one of my favorite places to bike in the city but I hate how LOUD it is.

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• JA

  @jackurbani5851 · 10 months ago

  I recently came across plans suggesting that pedestrians should be routed into tunnels. Honestly, what century is IDOT living in? Who thought burying people instead of cars was a good idea?<br><br>If Chicago is serious about modern urban design, it should be burying sections of the freeway, not its pedestrians. Imagine transforming stretches of highway into parks that reconnect neighborhoods and open up public spaces. A transit lane would be useful, but the real opportunity lies in reclaiming land by putting parts of the highway underground.<br> It doesn’t need to be the entire roadway. In the densest, most populated areas, burying the freeway would have the greatest impact. If we’re talking bold visions, here’s what should happen:<br><br>-Madison Street to Michigan Avenue: Take the freeway under the river, opening up the riverfront for people instead of cars.<br>-Oak Street to Division Street: Bury the highway to reconnect Chicago’s beaches with nearby neighborhoods.<br>-North Boulevard to Wisconsin Street: Sink the roadway to expand access to Lincoln Park.<br><br>Each of these sections could be constructed alongside the existing highway, ensuring traffic flow remains uninterrupted while the city gains vibrant new public spaces.<br><br>Chicago deserves a future where its most prominent areas are defined by parks, riverfronts, and beaches — not by elevated concrete barriers.

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• CO

  @corngreaterthanwheat · 8 months ago

  As a bike commuter, the Oak Street bend becomes a suicide trip in winter. Having some barriers to block the lake from rolling up to the trail and icing over the path.

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• ST

  @stefphonrose7693 · 4 weeks ago

  Would love to see a video where you go over the other redefine the drive options. Especially the under lake tunnel. I can find a video that talks about the different options.

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• JT

  @Jtwhite500 · 3 months ago

  Living in Rogers Park is a blessing because we don’t have Lakeshore Drive.

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• DA

  @DavidMartinez-kc9nz · 10 months ago

  Now that I live in the city I HATE driving LSD but when I was in the suburbs it was a necessary evil. A complex issue indeed but I don’t believe faster driving is the solution

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