McGrath Lexus Driving Into Traffic at Elston & Division - Insights Needed
Twice during my morning commutes on Elston, I've seen individuals* leave the McGrath Lexus main entrance by turning left into the right hand lane and driving until they can get around the line of cars waiting at the intersection or until there is a small opening in the line of cars that they can get through. Both times this has occured I have been in the right lane and the car has been headed directly towards me. For those of you who ride Elston, be careful!
I get that the company is placed at an awkward spot for a left turn - my guess is they are 25 feet or less from the light. And you bet your bottom dollar I'd be frustrated as a driver trying to turn left at an intersection that regularly has lines of cars at a stop light. That being said, this is extremely dangerous, especially on a road often traveled by cyclists. Before I stop into the dealership to speak with a manager about this, I wanted to see if any of you have had similar experiences? If so, can you send me as many details as possible, as I want to stress the graveness of this situation.
*I'm 90% sure it has been the same person both times, but I'm giving this the benefit of the doubt
Views: 4837
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on -
The big problem around McGrath now are all the cars parked illegally in the buffer and between the bollards of the protected lane - last night riding by the new McGrath building there were 15 cars parked illegally (which is pretty typical as of late).
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Permalink Reply by John L. Douglass on -
John Douglass here, hello Gopher Biker. I apologize first for vehicles that were parked illegally. I have also forwarded your concern across the street to the powers that be at McGrath Acura of Chicago. I am at the Lexus location and do walk that way upon closing, however at that hour most vehicles are already gone. What time did you come by? I would like to go out at that time today and make some notes and take some pics. We will get it sorted out, I assure you.
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Permalink Reply by Will on -
Can we get a good citizen award here for John Douglass from McGrath Lexus?
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Permalink Reply by Crank on
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He seriously deserves it! Checking in and replying immediately shows he's truly concerned about public safety around his place of business.
Will V. said:Can we get a good citizen award here for John Douglass from McGrath Lexus?
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Permalink Reply by Chi Lowe 12.5+ mi on -
Wow, thanks @John L. Douglass. Your demonstration of concern sets a great example for other Chicago businesses - some of which should know better, but many of which have probably never considered how their operating habits could be adjusted to reduce the risk they pose to cyclists. Really cool.
Will V. said:Can we get a good citizen award here for John Douglass from McGrath Lexus?
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Permalink Reply by Julie Hochstadter on -
It is in the works.... We talked about doing something when it first happened.
Will V. said:Can we get a good citizen award here for John Douglass from McGrath Lexus?
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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on
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John - thanks for looking into it. I usually ride through the area between 4 and 5pm. I am not talking about the vehicles that are parked legally in the marked parking spots but the ones that will be in between the bollards as well as on the striped buffer. There are usually numerous vehicles parked illegally and some in such as way as to block a turning car driver's visibility going into or out of Acura. Again, John - thanks for your concern.
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Permalink Reply by John L. Douglass on
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I understand completely. I will take a walk in a little bit here and take some notes. We will also remind all of those at Acura and Lexus the hazards of illegal parking and the consequences...I hope to see improvement by the weekend.
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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on
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Thanks John. I'll be riding through in about 20 minutes (blue jacket, yellow backpack, obscenely bright flashing headlamp) - I'll stop and say hi if I see someone out and about. I know many, many parking spots were eliminated when they put in the protected lane (personally I do not like the protected lane). I would like to note that whenever I've gone through and a car jockey (correct term?) was trying to pull out of Acura and creeping forward so they could see around the parked cars, they have always backed up so I could ride through.
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Permalink Reply by John L. Douglass on
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Ok Gopher, I must have missed you, saw some of your buddies though. Yes, I counted 5 illegally parked vehicles and took pics of lic plates and have forwarded to those who can make the difference. Apologies for the trouble. Be safe.
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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on
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Thanks again John for improving the situation for all of us (I'm sure it will be safer for your customers and employees once their sight lines are not obscured. It was a bit better than usual today and I should also clarify that I do include the buffered and bollard parts of the lane that extend down in front of Morton Salt.
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