by Tom Martin, PLA, and Caeley Hynes, AICP
My colleague, Caeley Hynes, AICP, and I recently finished a research project related to alleyways in Chicago, where we explored the potential of adapting them to better serve alternative modes of transportation. While this post summarizes key findings and provides a sampling of our research, the full report can be found here.
Through Lines: An Exploration of Connections Via Chicago’s Alleyways
Alleyways are misunderstood. Upon hearing the term, most people are quick to think dirty, dangerous, or dark. While all of these reactions are valid, they undersell the magnificence of alleyways.
Defined as “a narrow passage behind or between buildings,” the designation of an ‘alleyway’ can be ambiguous. For our purposes, we will define an alleyway as a narrow passage bisecting a city block, typically accommodating back of house functions like trash collection, utility routing, and delivery services.
At one point in time, the idea of housing utilities at the back of the house was radical. In Chicago, public sentiment regarding alleyways eventually shifted to a sense of pride. Serving as neighborhood capillaries, they provide physical and social connections for Chicagoans. Simply, alleyways arm Chicagoans with the single, incontestable claim over other large cities: the clean, garbage-free street.
This research topic explores the concept of repurposing alleyway systems as an alternative framework of non-motorized connections, using the City of Chicago as a case study.
