How Chicago Built an Amazing Lake Shore
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Date: 2021-09-14
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Comments and reviews: 9
uzi103
I'm so glad you made this video! I'm especially happy that you included the tale of Capt. Streeter. There is so much unique history in every little bit of this city.
Unfortunately, though Chicago is a wonderful city, it is frequently failed by incompetent and corrupt leadership that chooses to put bandaids over structural issues rather than addressing them head on (infrastructure and social issues alike. The Lakeshore Path between Ohio and Oak Street is a reflection of that, as it is in danger of being consumed by Lake Michigan. Chicago leadership needs to prioritize its people rather than cars and petty political battles, which means reducing car dependence by creating dedicated bus lanes, expanding protected cycling infrastructure throughout the city, and increasing accessibility for people with disabilities.
There is so much potential for Chicago to lead the way in equitable transportation, but it will be seen how the city's leadership deals with upcoming challenges posed by climate change. Fortunately, we have many groups like Active Transportation Alliance fighting for a better transit future for Chicagoans.
And it always helps to have urban planning communicators like you to help open peoples' eyes to how to improve their lived environment. Keep up the great content!
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I'm so glad you made this video! I'm especially happy that you included the tale of Capt. Streeter. There is so much unique history in every little bit of this city.
Unfortunately, though Chicago is a wonderful city, it is frequently failed by incompetent and corrupt leadership that chooses to put bandaids over structural issues rather than addressing them head on (infrastructure and social issues alike. The Lakeshore Path between Ohio and Oak Street is a reflection of that, as it is in danger of being consumed by Lake Michigan. Chicago leadership needs to prioritize its people rather than cars and petty political battles, which means reducing car dependence by creating dedicated bus lanes, expanding protected cycling infrastructure throughout the city, and increasing accessibility for people with disabilities.
There is so much potential for Chicago to lead the way in equitable transportation, but it will be seen how the city's leadership deals with upcoming challenges posed by climate change. Fortunately, we have many groups like Active Transportation Alliance fighting for a better transit future for Chicagoans.
And it always helps to have urban planning communicators like you to help open peoples' eyes to how to improve their lived environment. Keep up the great content!
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Maurice
I didn't realize how special and unique Chicago's lake front is until I started traveling around the country. Most of the other large cities that are right off water (new york, miami, Los Angeles, or Milwakee ) don't have expansive beaches and infrastructure right on their waterfronts. Except for Santa Monica pier and coney island New York and L. A. do surprisingly little with their ocean fronts. And Milwaukee has a big lake park, but there's only one beach on it. Miami has tons of beaches, but most if it is private to the condos built on the ocean.
In Chicago there are tons of beaches, 15 miles of parkland and bike trails, skate parks, Museums, dinner cruises, boating, and tons of other stuff on the lake. All of the park land is very popular and gets used constantly (except for during winter. Chicagoians love our waterfront.
Chicago is far from perfect. We have tons of problems. But our lakefront is amazing and beloved.
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I didn't realize how special and unique Chicago's lake front is until I started traveling around the country. Most of the other large cities that are right off water (new york, miami, Los Angeles, or Milwakee ) don't have expansive beaches and infrastructure right on their waterfronts. Except for Santa Monica pier and coney island New York and L. A. do surprisingly little with their ocean fronts. And Milwaukee has a big lake park, but there's only one beach on it. Miami has tons of beaches, but most if it is private to the condos built on the ocean.
In Chicago there are tons of beaches, 15 miles of parkland and bike trails, skate parks, Museums, dinner cruises, boating, and tons of other stuff on the lake. All of the park land is very popular and gets used constantly (except for during winter. Chicagoians love our waterfront.
Chicago is far from perfect. We have tons of problems. But our lakefront is amazing and beloved.
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Canyon
Downtown Chicago really should be situated in Elmhurst or Oak Brook. That would be the center of the Chicago area. The commute distances are double because the lake is east of downtown and downtown is close to the lake. It is better to have a 360 degree city than one built like this. In a 360 degree city there would be the same amount of people 7. 5 mikes from downtown as there are 15 miles from downtown now.
I know they didn't think about this when 'Chicago was first founded but it really is not ideal for today's world. The lake and river were much more important back then for commerce.
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Downtown Chicago really should be situated in Elmhurst or Oak Brook. That would be the center of the Chicago area. The commute distances are double because the lake is east of downtown and downtown is close to the lake. It is better to have a 360 degree city than one built like this. In a 360 degree city there would be the same amount of people 7. 5 mikes from downtown as there are 15 miles from downtown now.
I know they didn't think about this when 'Chicago was first founded but it really is not ideal for today's world. The lake and river were much more important back then for commerce.
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Omlet2tube
Great video! The fact there's even a freeway there is just absolutely horrendous from a european point of view. The 1st example that comes to mind is the train tracks in Dublin that rides along the coast and deserves the commuter towns north and south of the capital. And there's no 6 way freeway alongside it!
In my mind this Lakeshore drive should be: pedestrian path close to the sea, then cyclist path, then a tramway or trolleybus, then MAYBE 2 lanes for cars. Guhhhh, America, ruining its natural heritage sites, always makes so frustrated.
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Great video! The fact there's even a freeway there is just absolutely horrendous from a european point of view. The 1st example that comes to mind is the train tracks in Dublin that rides along the coast and deserves the commuter towns north and south of the capital. And there's no 6 way freeway alongside it!
In my mind this Lakeshore drive should be: pedestrian path close to the sea, then cyclist path, then a tramway or trolleybus, then MAYBE 2 lanes for cars. Guhhhh, America, ruining its natural heritage sites, always makes so frustrated.
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TheMasterJay
I ve been lookin at Chicago s beautiful lakefront ever since I was 9 years old. I love how the city appreciates its lakefront and the iconic Skyline. It shows how much the city complements the parks and greenery that stretches from the Southside to the Northside. Now, I don t know why they built a Major 10 Lane Road, but needless to say, it doesn t really get in the way when u see the Skyline from the lake, so props.
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I ve been lookin at Chicago s beautiful lakefront ever since I was 9 years old. I love how the city appreciates its lakefront and the iconic Skyline. It shows how much the city complements the parks and greenery that stretches from the Southside to the Northside. Now, I don t know why they built a Major 10 Lane Road, but needless to say, it doesn t really get in the way when u see the Skyline from the lake, so props.
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Mike
I've never been to Chicago but the waterfront seems really nice. What I don't really understand is the shore drive. That's quite a big road. Why would you want (through-)traffic in a recreational area?
Apart from that, a bit further inland, there are massive highways cutting through the city. That looks like a traffic nightmare, to be honest. And the size: These are as wide as whole city blocks.
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I've never been to Chicago but the waterfront seems really nice. What I don't really understand is the shore drive. That's quite a big road. Why would you want (through-)traffic in a recreational area?
Apart from that, a bit further inland, there are massive highways cutting through the city. That looks like a traffic nightmare, to be honest. And the size: These are as wide as whole city blocks.
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raney150
Honestly, the one problem I have with better street's proposal is parking. Honestly, we should take the area used for parking, and add it to the parks along LSD imo.
Also, the lake front bike path is wonderful, but the scariest (and probably most dangerous) bits of the ride are getting across LSD to get to the trail. It would be great to reduce traffic along LSD to make that part feel safer.
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Honestly, the one problem I have with better street's proposal is parking. Honestly, we should take the area used for parking, and add it to the parks along LSD imo.
Also, the lake front bike path is wonderful, but the scariest (and probably most dangerous) bits of the ride are getting across LSD to get to the trail. It would be great to reduce traffic along LSD to make that part feel safer.
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Juan
I grew up in South Bend and we frequently took the South Shore into Chicago. It was so great getting off the train and being right in downtown (or getting off a few stops early to go to the Field Museum/Aquarium/Planetarium. Though I had no idea the lake shore previously had gone right up to Michigan Avenue. Great video!
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I grew up in South Bend and we frequently took the South Shore into Chicago. It was so great getting off the train and being right in downtown (or getting off a few stops early to go to the Field Museum/Aquarium/Planetarium. Though I had no idea the lake shore previously had gone right up to Michigan Avenue. Great video!
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Samuel
Chicago is really an interesting city for an incredible number of reasons. It is really a darn shame that it's also full of crime, and that it overpowers the rest of the entire state of Illinois politically, forcing folks hundreds of miles from Chicago to be governed per the wills of the people of Chicago.
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Chicago is really an interesting city for an incredible number of reasons. It is really a darn shame that it's also full of crime, and that it overpowers the rest of the entire state of Illinois politically, forcing folks hundreds of miles from Chicago to be governed per the wills of the people of Chicago.
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