The confrontation revolves around bike lanes in Chicago

In Chicago, as part of a comprehensive street design program, the Archer Avenue area was renovated last year. Accordingly, the roadway was narrowed from two lanes to one lane to reduce traffic speed, add synchronized left turn lanes, safety islands for pedestrians and improve crosswalks.

However, the most controversial thing is the removal of some roadside parking blocks to make way for protected bike lanes.

Jose Luis Maya, owner of Deportes Maya, has been selling jerseys, shoes and footballs on Archer Street for the past 24 years. Previously, there were more than 10 parking spaces on his side of the street. Now there are only 4 spaces left and they are located far away from the store, right in front of the library. He estimates his revenue dropped about 30%. He said when customers learn there is no parking, they shop elsewhere.

“This is not a bike area,” he asserted, noting that he often sees people riding bicycles and scooters on the sidewalk rather than in designated bike lanes.

“The people passing by on bicycles don’t stop by the store either,” Gustavo Hernandez said while standing in the empty Taqueria Y Birrieria Morelia #2 restaurant during lunchtime. The bicycle lane established on his street since October last year has eliminated a series of car parking spaces, indirectly dealing a blow to business. When asked if the number of cyclists compensates for the lost customers, he just shakes his head.

As soon as she heard about the project, Maria Moctezuma used a loudspeaker to mobilize residents to protest.

“We don’t need that,” said Ms. Moctezuma, 47, a ride-sharing service driver. She created a Facebook group to protest this regulation and the group currently has 2,600 members. Many people expressed their frustration through posts such as: “Don’t take away parking spaces. Get rid of these money-wasting bike lanes.”

However, the pro-bicycle faction also quickly responded. Gil “Pookie” Campos, 59, a warehouse manager and avid cyclist in the area, called on his followers on Instagram to organize a counter-protest against bike lane opponents. “Archer Avenue is wide enough for everyone,” one supporter’s sign read, accompanied by illustrations of cars, buses and bicycles.

The weekly protests became so tense that police had to be present to ensure security.

At the end of April, the faction supporting the retention of car parking spaces won some concessions. The city agreed to restore 17 parking spaces along several blocks of Archer Street, although store owners say that number is only a fraction of what was lost.

However, city officials defended the changes to Archer Street as safety enhancements and not simply adding bike lanes. City Councilor Julia Ramirez described Archer Street before the changes as a “mini-highway” where cars and trucks whizzed by.

“Carrying around a machine that weighs about 1.8 tons just to go to yoga class is not necessarily the most efficient use of our public resources,” he said.

Meanwhile, Claudia Zuno, a 51-year-old photographer, said that people often carry work tools in trucks or take the elderly to the doctor in the family car. “People rely on personal vehicles not for luxury but for necessity,” she added.