No Plans to Remove Parking for Bike Lanes, Says Alderwoman

In social media posts, 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez announced that street parking would not be removed for protected bike lanes on West 35th Street in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood.

"There are no plans to remove parking," she wrote on July 23, 2026, in comments on her Facebook post, which also touted other corridor projects, many conducted in conjunction with the McKinley Park Development Council.

As previously reported here in the McKinley Park News, 12th Ward and development council representatives pushed for protected bike lanes and street parking removal on West 35th Street via the Southwest Side Neighborhood Bike Network task force, a project of the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT).

Western to California

Although the map posted by Ramirez identified a stretch of West 35th Street between South Ashland and South Western avenues, it did not include West 35th Street from South Western to South California avenues, which the bike network task force had also highlighted for protected bike lanes with parking removal.

Ramirez has not replied to requests for on-the-record communication after contacting this publication.

11th Ward Complete Streets

West 35th Street east of Ashland Avenue to South Halsted Street is also targeted for changes according to 11th Ward Alderwoman Nicole Lee, who recently announced planning for CDOT's Complete Streets program: the same initiative that recently overhauled South Archer Avenue in the Brighton Park neighborhood.

A news survey conducted by the McKinley Park News showed 57.5 percent against and 42.5 percent for protected bike lanes with street parking removal on West 35th Street.

Rush-Hour Parking Removal

In addition to up-zoning, activations and grants, Ramirez's social media post pointed to removal of rush hour parking restrictions along McKinley Park's stretch of West 35th Street, "adding free 24-hour parking available for residents and businesses."

However, comments in the Southwest Side Neighborhood Bike Network task force meeting summary included concerns from local resident and task force member Andrew Spaulding "that many cars parked on 35th Street seem to park for long periods of time, even multiple days."

All-Day Commuter Parking

In correspondence to the 12th Ward shared with the McKinley Park News, Principal Beata Skoursa of Montessori Foundations of Chicago identified her concerns with "all-day commuter parking that has become such a challenge for local businesses."

"The removal of [rush-hour parking] restrictions resulted in commuters filling nearly every available parking space by early morning before taking the Orange Line downtown," Skoursa wrote.

Reduce Long-Term Parking

"Purchasing standing-zone permits would not solve the underlying problem and would instead place an additional financial burden on our school," she said.

According to task force meeting notes, CDOT Complete Streets Planning Manager Brad Huff said "yes, there are tools which could improve parking turnover and reduce long-term parking."

Rush Hour Restrictions

"The people occupying these spaces are not customers of the businesses on 35th Street, nor are they working in or otherwise supporting our neighborhood," Skoursa said.

"In 2024, the 12th Ward office worked with CDOT ... to remove the rush hour no-parking restrictions, adding free 24-hour parking available for residents and businesses." Ramirez's social media post said.