CHICAGO — A city initiative to reconfigure roadways along Archer Avenue by replacing on-street parking with protected bike lanes and reducing traffic from two lanes to one has sparked significant backlash from local business owners and residents in the Brighton Park neighborhood.

The changes are part of Chicago’s “complete streets” program, aimed at improving safety by narrowing car lanes, adding dedicated left-turn lanes, pedestrian islands, and enhanced crosswalks on the diagonal thoroughfare. The project, underway since last year, seeks to calm traffic on what city officials have described as a “mini-expressway,” where vehicles previously moved at high speeds.

However, the removal of several blocks of on-street parking has drawn criticism from merchants who say the loss has hurt their businesses. Jose Luis Maya, owner of Deportes Maya, a sports store along Archer Avenue for 24 years, reported a roughly 30% drop in sales since parking spaces near his shop were reduced from about a dozen to just four spaces consolidated near a nearby library. “When people hear there is no parking, they go elsewhere,” he said, asserting that the area does not attract cyclists who might replace those customers.

Similarly, restaurant owner Gustavo Hernandez expressed concerns that bike lanes introduced last October near his Taqueria Y Birrieria Morelia #2 contributed to a decline in patronage during lunchtime, partly attributed to decreased available parking.

Residents and business owners have organized protests and social media campaigns opposing the changes. Maria Moctezuma, a local rideshare driver and community activist, founded a Facebook group called “Archer Guardians of Brighton Park,” which has attracted more than 2,600 members voicing opposition to the bike lanes and parking loss. Known colloquially as “Megaphone Lady” for her vocal leadership at rallies, Moctezuma has highlighted what she perceives as a lack of community consultation during the planning process.

Counterprotests have emerged from neighborhood cyclists advocating for safer bike infrastructure. Gil “Pookie” Campos, a warehouse manager and cyclist, has mobilized supporters on social media to defend the project, with some emphasizing the need to balance road space among cars, buses, and bicycles.

In response to community feedback, city officials agreed in late April to restore 17 parking spaces along certain blocks of Archer Avenue, a move seen by merchants as only a partial remedy.

The dispute has wider implications beyond Brighton Park. At a recent Southwest Chamber of Commerce meeting, business owners expressed frustration over limited input in planning for upcoming bike lane projects on 35th Street. Carlos Chavarria, president pro tem of the chamber and co-owner of a local bakery, said, “We don’t have a seat at the table. If we suffer, the community suffers.”

Not all voices in the community share this view. Cyclist and government-affairs consultant Andrew Mack argued that enhancing bike infrastructure can reduce reliance on cars and represent more efficient use of public space. “Bringing a 4,000-pound machine with you to go to a yoga class isn’t necessarily the best use of our public resources,” he said.

The dispute may influence local politics in the coming months. Photographer Claudia Zuno, opposing the bike lane plan, launched a campaign to challenge Alderwoman Julia Ramirez in the upcoming February election. Ramirez, who defended the project as a safety upgrade, faces criticism from residents who rely heavily on personal vehicles for work and family needs in this working-class neighborhood.

As Chicago continues to pursue its vision for safer, multimodal streets, balancing the interests of drivers, cyclists, and local businesses remains a contentious issue in neighborhoods like Brighton Park.