In a letter to the editor of the Chicago Sun Times, several business owners on a route scheduled to get new protected bike lanes said

A close look at the public plans shows that there’s a lot more than just bike lanes and parking spaces going on — overall it will make our street a more comfortable place to hang out, helping us to attract more customers and greater investment into our neighborhood. What we’re up against here is a chaotic and unsafe roadway that stifles economic activity. This is the story you should be telling.

For photos of protected and unprotected bike lanes in Chicago, see this blog post at People for Bikes.