Why Chicago business needs protected bike lanes

Part of the Kinzie Avenue bike lane near the Blommer Chocolate factory.

Image via City of Chicago

For years, Chicago has worked to position itself as a technology center with the goal of attracting companies in that industry and the well-paying jobs that come with them. While many of these efforts have paid off, Chicago still has a ways to go before it becomes truly competitive with the nation's primary technology hubs.

Now there is an initiative under way that may have an impact on Chicago's ability to thrive as a technology center: Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to make Chicago the most bike-friendly city in the United States.

The connection between low-tech transportation and high-tech jobs is not readily obvious. A bike-friendly environment will boost Chicago's ability to attract talent — and retain the robust technology sector that the city has worked so hard to cultivate.

Bike-friendliness can influence where an individual decides to live and work. In a 2009 survey of recent transplants to Portland, Ore., 62 percent of respondents said the city's bike-friendliness was a factor in their decision to move there. Chicago-based technology company GrubHub Inc. showcases Chicago's new protected bike lanes as part of their recruitment strategy.

Read more: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20121211/OPINION/121209832/why-chicago-business-needs-protected-bike-lanes#ixzz2EsPZV3VS
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