A week ago this past Sunday, I participated in Alderman Danny Solis’ second annual Bike the 25th Ward ride. The event was great — hot chocolate and a leisurely 5-mile bike ride starting and ending at Harrison Park and passing through Pilsen, Chinatown and Little Italy.

Even more exciting than the bike ride itself was the announcement that Alderman Solis and Department of Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein made at the start of the event. The 25th Ward is getting .55 miles of protected bike lanes on 18th Street from Clinton to Clark streets. They will facilitate a safe route for residents to get to the 18th Street/Halsted Art District, downtown, and the lakefront trail. The announcement talked about some of the benefits of the bike lanes, namely that they will allow for safe bike riding over dangerous 18th Street bridge. As a resident of the 25th Ward and community liaison at the Active Transportation Alliance, I am very proud of Ald. Solis for being at the forefront of innovative bicycle infrastructure.

Personally, I’ve changed my commute downtown to ride on the new Kinzie Street protected bike lanes and they are wonderful for anyone who enjoys bicycling for leisure or for transportation so I am happy to see them in our ward too.

Not only will the protected bike lane be built, but part of the project will also improve infrastructure including storm grates and add bicycle friendly plates to the 18th Street bridge to reduce slipping on those metal grates.

I believe that these bike lanes are a great opportunity to improve the health and safety of our community. And the best part is they will be done by November of this year.

Thank you, Alderman Solis for a great event and improvement to our community.