Chicago’s Neighborhood Greenways initiative is gaining momentum as the city’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) announces exciting developments.
In early May, at the Illinois Bike & Walk Summit, Ald. Daniel La Spata confirmed upcoming improvements to the Wood Street (1800 W.) Neighborhood Greenway in West Town.
Details shared by Block Club Chicago highlighted enhanced infrastructure, including new one-way segments for drivers, paired with contraflow bike lanes to promote safer cycling.
However, not all news has been positive for Greenway enthusiasts.
Last week, Block Club reported that the previously anticipated one-way transformation for Glenwood Avenue (1400 W.) in Rogers Park has been scrapped.
This comes despite a consensus reached in March 2022 supporting the change, which aimed to enhance safety with new contraflow bike lane segments.
In a more positive turn of events, the 44th Ward office led by Ald. Bennett Lawson recently announced a proposed Neighborhood Greenway along Wellington Avenue (3000 N.) in the Lakeview community.
The proposal outlines the creation of a 2.5-mile neighborhood greenway connecting Clybourn Avenue (2200 W.) to the Lakefront Trail via a dedicated bike route.
Residents are encouraged to engage with the project by submitting their questions and feedback through a designated form provided by CDOT.
An upcoming community meeting is also expected to provide more details about the project.
Wellington Avenue stands out as a well-regarded, low-stress eastbound bike option for cyclists traveling from Clybourn and Leavitt Street, which recently became a north-south Neighborhood Greenway.
Yet, the street has historically faced challenges as a westbound route due to sections that are one-way.
To remedy this issue, the CDOT’s proposal for Wellington includes contraflow bike lanes that will facilitate two-way cycling throughout the corridor.
In addition to enhancing bike access, the plan also calls for dashed advisory bike lanes on segments deemed too narrow for full-fledged bike lanes.
Further improvements include bike-friendly sinusoidal speed humps, while enforcing a 20 mph speed limit.
CDOT aims to offer a low-stress biking alternative to Diversey Parkway (2800 N.), particularly for families and children who might feel more comfortable using this new route.
The proposed greenway will also grant easier access to the Wellington Brown Line station and nearby Clark Street retail amenities.
Meanwhile, Belmont Avenue (3200 N.) has also seen recent bike-friendly enhancements between Clybourn and Western avenues (2400 W.) and Ashland and Lincoln avenues (1600 W.).
However, conditions east of Ashland remain less accommodating, characterized by busy retail activity and paint-only bike lanes.
This makes the upcoming Wellington Greenway an attractive alternative for cyclists seeking a relaxed route that allows for two-way traffic.
Despite some community resistance to previous greenway proposals, such as the lengthy battle over the Dickens Avenue (2100 N.) Greenway, the prevailing outlook is optimistic.
Although the Dickens proposal faced a notable backlash from residents concerned about the impact on their neighborhood, it has ultimately improved safety and enjoyment for cyclists without causing significant disruptions for drivers.
In light of these developments, it is hoped that the Lakeview community will embrace the Wellington Avenue Neighborhood Greenway proposal as a beneficial addition to their transportation landscape.
With thoughtful planning and community engagement, this new greenway promises to enhance mobility and promote a culture of cycling in Chicago.
image source from：https://chi.streetsblog.org/2025/06/12/weve-got-no-beef-with-wellington-planned-neighborhood-greenway-on-lakeview-side-street-is-a-good-idea
