The Chainlink

I rode Dearborn today...anyone else?

I just missed the press conference and just hung out at lunch to see how it would all work. It seemed easy enough, so I took Dearborn as my starting route home to Roscoe Village. Normally I hit Franklin to Orleans then north to Lincoln.

I have to say, it was pretty easy and relatively safe. The ambassadors were helpful with the the auto traffic. The walkers were easy enough to avoid. I had to chuckle at two riders riding side by side in the lane.

What I didn't see was any oncoming traffic; southbound riders. I am guessing that will come in time or at other times during the day.

Way to go Mayor RE! This is really making a statement.

Who else rode the new path?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on April 22, 2013 at 2:27pm

Has the snow situation gotten any better?

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on April 22, 2013 at 2:30pm

Businesses don't seem to shoveling show into the bike lane anymore.

h' 1.0 said:

Has the snow situation gotten any better?

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on April 22, 2013 at 2:30pm

Yes; it has stopped. :D


h' 1.0 said:

Has the snow situation gotten any better?

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on April 22, 2013 at 2:39pm

We won! Collective Action Yeah!!!!!

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on April 23, 2013 at 8:05am

I just meant that it has stopped snowing, lol.

 

FedEx truck parked in the Dearborn PBL outside the Goodman this morning. I tried to speak to the guy when he came outside but he blew me off.

 

I reported it to FedEx and gave them the license plate number. They asked if I'd like them to call me back to update me and I said sure.

Permalink Reply by blair on April 23, 2013 at 11:03am

I've started using a whistle sometimes when riding the Dearborn PBL.  Yelling out "bike lane!" or "hey!" doesn't seem to do anything when pedestrians are standing in it.

Permalink Reply by Jack Crowe on April 23, 2013 at 11:09am

"HEADS UP!" way in advance has worked great for me. And then sometimes I add a "bike lane" or "thanks" when passing.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on April 23, 2013 at 11:12am

blair_ said:

I've started using a whistle

Permalink Reply by blair on April 23, 2013 at 11:18am

Ha.

I know, Adam.  I think of this guy every time I use it... but it works!

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on April 23, 2013 at 11:20am

I've generally found calling out to be ineffective when overtaking pedestrians and other people on bikes.  I think it's because most pedestrians (and many bike riders) have ear buds jammed into their ears.  When people do hear you, there's a fairly high probability that they react by moving toward the path I'm taking (to their left), not away from it.  There also a lot of ambient noise in the Loop, so even without ear buds, the odds that they hear you is diminished significantly.  Adam's clip from Portlandia demonstrates the end result of the escalating arms race between bikies and iPod-toting pedestrians.

blair_ said:

I've started using a whistle sometimes when riding the Dearborn PBL.  Yelling out "bike lane!" or "hey!" doesn't seem to do anything when pedestrians are standing in it.

Permalink Reply by Jenn_5.5 mi on April 23, 2013 at 11:30am

I had a lovely encounter this AM with a gentleman so engrossed with his phone. He did happen to look up and see the no walk signage but proceeded to walk into the bike lane and stand, staring at his phone directly in front of me... I am not a small girl, I wear bright/obnoxious clothing typically while riding, I have a bright helmet, I run my lights in the AM - I am hard to miss if one simply looks.

I politely say to said gentlemen: Not a good place to stand

G: 'You' think you own the roads. 

Me: I am in my lane and obeying my lights.

I love the general public. Ugh! Almost hit a Ped in the exact same spot yesterday... Rolling fast down hill right after the bridge (SB). Thank Goodness for her I changed my brakes on Saturday!

Permalink Reply by Jason W on April 23, 2013 at 1:05pm

I yell heads up. It's something you need to do to avoid collisions from ignorant peds, not only in the Deaborn PBL. I would like a nice loud electric horn, which would have to be detachable for theft reasons. Anyone have suggestions?

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