Alderman Danny Solis participated in the annual Bike the 25th Ward with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Gabe Klein on Sunday, Sept. 25. Ald. Solis and Commissioner Klein also announced that 18th Street, on the city’s southwest side, will receive .55 miles of new protected bicycle lanes from Clinton to Clark Sts. The bicycle lanes will provide a safe route for residents traveling to the 18th St./Halsted Art District, Downtown, and the Lakefront Trail by reducing vehicular travel lanes and adding protected biking lanes.

“I am very excited to have these newly piloted protected bike lanes in the 25th Ward. This is a great opportunity to improve the health and safety of our community. The location of the lanes is ideal to connect residents of the ward to the Lakefront, downtown, and Halsted St. art district,” Solis said of the new plans. Work on the bike lanes is projected to begin in October 2011 with completion anticipated in early November 2011.