Chicago's Bike Lanes Don't Hurt Businesses, City Report Finds

Chicago's Bike Lanes Don't Hurt Businesses, City Report Finds summarizes a Chicago Department of Transportation analysis concluding that bike lanes do not damage business activity on commercial corridors where they are installed. The report, published last month, examined six corridors with different protected-bike-lane approaches and used sales tax revenue, commercial vacancy, employment, safety, and cycling-usage data, alongside surveys and interviews with local businesses, residents, and real estate developers. Researchers compared the corridors with nearby “control” areas to evaluate changes after installation. The study does not claim the lanes directly improve economic outcomes, but it says business activity was not harmed after implementation. The findings arrive amid community backlash tied to projects under the “Complete Street” umbrella, including concerns about parking and congestion. City data cited in the article says CDOT installed more than 12 miles of protected lanes in 2025, expanding to nearly 70 miles citywide, and the city reports 500 miles total, mostly buffered by painted lines. Critics, including Ald. Raymond Lopez, dispute the conclusions and point to ongoing construction on the Archer Avenue Complete Streets project.