Worst Possible Thread

Edit: Thanks to Peenologist for the Worst Thread Ever crown.

Edit edit: D'oh! he said Worst Possible Thread, not Worst Thread Ever.

7/17: "was Fight with Gabe" removed from subject line for the sake of beauty, privacy, and security. Representative images added (too bad threads can't have their own custom avatars):

Picked up on OPCC listserv per Bill W; presumably posted today.

I don't know why Active Trans didn't put a warning out about the previous incident mentioned here.

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Authored by Tom McGee and posted on the Oak Park Cycle Club facebook page. :

Tom McGee

LAKE STREET WARNING: With the warm weather, and newly added bike lanes on Lake Street, there have been more bike commuters heading into the city...unfortunately, there are some rough neighborhoods people need to cycle through and area street punks see the increase in riders as well.

On my way home from the city to Oak Park last night I was jumped by 2 male teens in an attempt to steal my bike. This occured at Lake & Lavergne. One guy was on the sidewalk, the other hidden behind an L pillar. As I was approaching, I sensed it was bad, but it was too late to react. They came at me from the left and right and pushed me off the bike. I was clipped in and went head first over the handlebars, landing on the right side of my face and shoulder. They did not go for anything but the bike, so when I realized that, I wrestled with them and kept my bike. A motorist stopped to help me, and seeing this they ran.

A number of good samaritans stopped to help me, called 911, and paramedics were on the scene within 10 minutes to get me to the ER. I'm stitched and bumped and bruised, but it could have been a lot worse.

I strongly suggest that riders get the word out to friends who commute, try to ride w/others (there are a number of group rides to/from the loop from what I've heard), and try not to ride too early or too late when other people may not be around to help.

I've already spoken with John Lankford, Bikeways Campaign Coordinator w/Active Transporation Alliance. He said there was a similar incident on Lake the morning of Bike The Drive. So they are aware of the problem, and will be approaching people @ CDOT and the city to try and address it.

Ride safe,
Tom McGee

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gabe on June 28, 2012 at 11:48pm

Interesting Howard. Something seems to be missing....

Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on June 29, 2012 at 12:10am

Thanks for your understanding, Gabe.

Permalink Reply by Gabe on June 29, 2012 at 12:11am

When have I ever been understanding? The west side is a bad neighborhood. Is that better for the families?

Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on June 29, 2012 at 12:12am

Allright, fuck it.

Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on June 29, 2012 at 12:17am

Tell you what-- I want to have a thread about attacks on cyclists on Lake street. You can have your very own thread where you call 1/3 of Chicago a shithole and get to fight with people and call them shitheads and douchebags. Happy?

Permalink Reply by Duppie 13.5185km on June 29, 2012 at 12:22am

Dang, I just finished my popcorn. Couldn't you start this argument earlier in the evening?

Permalink Reply by Brock T on June 29, 2012 at 12:30am

Don't think of rough neighborhoods as a scary, intimidating place to be riding... Think of it as a training opportunity to work on your sprinting.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 29, 2012 at 6:50am

There are many areas where I would prefer to have at least one ride partner for a regular commute, if I was commuting there. This would be one of them. I feel similarly about some areas between my neighborhood and the Loop.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C on June 29, 2012 at 7:29am

I'm not sure this type of measured well-reasoned response has any place in this thread.

Anne Alt said:

There are many areas where I would prefer to have at least one ride partner for a regular commute, if I was commuting there. This would be one of them. I feel similarly about some areas between my neighborhood and the Loop.

Permalink Reply by Gabe on June 29, 2012 at 7:52am

Howard - i went to bed - and now I'm sorry I did. So the original deleted response was

People shouldn't have to be told that the west side is a shit hole. Hey Bikers, the West Side is a shit hole! ;-)

I feel so much better now ;-)

Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on June 29, 2012 at 8:01am

It's great when people delete their posts. If you didn't want to say it or have people read it then why write it and post it in the first place?

Going back and changing history seems to be for only one reason to me: Not wanting to look bad in the eyes of the rest of the forum. But when it is obvious that someone deleted posts and censored the record of a conversation it looks just as bad to me. it's an admission of guilt.

YMMV

Permalink Reply by Gabe on June 29, 2012 at 8:03am

It wouldn't be a shitty thread if James BlackHeron didn't chime in and there he is! ;-)

We officially have a shitty thread! WOOT!

And James - what on earth were you talking about? My post was deleted, I did not delete it. I have no issue with others reading what I say. Something you'd know if you ever slithered out from behind your keyboard. :-)