Chicago Rolls Out Bike Corrals in Wicker Park, Bucktown

By the end of July, both Bucktown and Wicker Park will be home to new on-street bike corrals to encourage bikers to cycle around the neighborhood even more.

The Chicago Department of Transportation is placing the stations in front of the Flat Iron Building at 1565 N. Milwaukee Ave. and in front of Lucky’s Sandwiches at 1635 N. Milwaukee Ave. CDOT has plans to install 25 of these corrals around the city this summer.

“Improving our bicycling facilities is critical to creating the quality of life in Chicago that will attract businesses and families to the city,” said CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein. 

“Bike corrals make it more convenient and inviting for people to ride a bike to a local business, while making the walking environment of the business district more welcoming by removing bicycles from the sidewalk.”

The new corrals will be placed on the street adjacent to the sidewalk.

CDOT is working with businesses and local chambers of commerce who fund the installation of the corrals.  Each 10 bike corrals costs about $3,300, which includes the rack, installation, shipping, city permits and delineator posts.  A $75 annual public way permit is also required, as is $800 in fees for corrals in snow removal zones to cover the costs of semi-annual removal and reinstallation.

For an additional $700 or more, businesses and organizations can add attractive branding to the bike corrals.  Local businesses can add decorative elements that complement the business.

The Chicago Streets for Cycling Plan 2020 sets forth a strategy to achieve Mayor Emanuel’s goal of making Chicago the best big city for bicycling in America.  In addition to on-street bike corrals, it calls for a 645-mile network of biking facilities to be in place by 2020 to provide a bicycle accommodation within half-mile of every Chicagoan.