Police crack down on bicyclists

Heads Up!

A crackdown near downtown Chicago on bicyclists running red lights and disobeying other traffic laws led to dozens of warnings and at least one ticket Tuesday morning.

But the combination enforcement-and-education operation, conducted at the busy and chaotic intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Desplaines and Kinzie streets, may not have convinced all the violators to change their unsafe ways.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C on June 8, 2011 at 11:52am

The Crackdown makes a cameo in today's (6/8/11) Bike Snob NYC. Sadly, no mention of Julie Hochstadter.

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Permalink Reply by Michael S on June 8, 2011 at 1:41pm

Great comments from all.

Speaking as a serious cyclist, I do think some of us need to be more mindful of common sense.

But as for the drivers, I wonder if they know how much traffic would increase if we didn't choose to bike.

Also, bikes are different than cars, traffic laws are in sort of a grey area for us, you wouldn't want us obeying the same laws that apply to cars. Imagine us riding smack in the middle of the car lane. That might slow you down. Now imagine us at every stop sign coming to a complete stop and then starting up again. Now that's really going to slow you down.

I guess what I'm saying to the drivers is, I hear what you're saying, but be careful what you wish for.