The Chainlink

You blew the red light east bound on Lawrence at Damen at 5:26 pm this evening.

 

There was enough time for the biker in front of me to make it half way into the intersection, northbound on Damen, before you came whizzing past my front wheel.

 

I yelled "You're an idiot!" at your big haired chick, self, and you looked back at me. I meant it!

 

I woulda testified for any of the cars, that managed to not kill you, if they had.

 

Keep riding like a tard!

love,

gabe

 

Witness bad behavior during your commute? Feel free to post. Maybe that lovely human can read it and think they are famous. Maybe you can also inspire the whole generation of kids to shower but we can start with small things.

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I've seen that happen personally three times this year.  Someone should really just paint some lines across the path there to remind tourists they shouldn't be turning.

Tourists, nothing.  There was a taxi on the path this morning.

?!?

Lisa Curcio 6.6mi said:

Tourists, nothing.  There was a taxi on the path this morning.

I'm still shaking from this one. I have experienced plenty of altercations with people driving cars over the years but today was easily the scariest. 

Riding westbound on Chicago Ave, taking the right lane at about 4:15pm today. As I'm approaching Halsted, you, crazy van lady, approach way too fast from behind with your horn blaring. I look back and you're waving me over to the right, foaming at the mouth and screaming incoherently. I shake my head and continue on. But you don't stop. You get within inches of my back tire and continue to scream and honk. You merge left and get on my left side, then try to force me over, swerving at me dramatically. Traffic prevents you from making it all the way over. This repeats itself over and over again. Trying to run me off the road. Trying to kill me, presumably.

I was terrified and angry at the same time. I'm embarrassed that I lost my cool and screamed back at you, responding to every FU** YOU with it's own FU** YOU. I calmed down enough to tell you that I'm just trying to get home, that my presence isn't slowing you down at all since traffic is bumper to bumper. I tell you I'm a living, breathing human and I wish you would try not to end that. Things got ugly, but at least you seemed to enjoy that yogurt you were eating. 

Damn. Sorry to hear. So, police report? Someone like that has got no place on the road.

Regarding cars (even police cars!) parked in bike lanes:

Here is the part of the Municipal Code of Chicago that pertains to this:

9-40-060 – Drivers must not park, stand or drive a vehicle in any bike lane (MCC)

I think there's a fine for this, if it would ever be enforced.

Steve

I called police but after 15 minutes on hold I gave up. Oh well, at least y'all know to look out for that van driven by a construction-working, yogurt-loving crazy lady. (Assuming construction because of the dirt, baggy jeans, and head-adorned handkerchief)

I'm more worried that someone's recording of it will go viral and people will hear my vulgarities. 

Tandemonium said:

Damn. Sorry to hear. So, police report? Someone like that has got no place on the road.

Considering police cars regularly park at the edge of intersections or on the curb when occupants go for dinner there's not much chance a car left in the bike lane will be addressed any time soon.

Steve Weeks said:

Regarding cars (even police cars!) parked in bike lanes:

Here is the part of the Municipal Code of Chicago that pertains to this:

9-40-060 – Drivers must not park, stand or drive a vehicle in any bike lane (MCC)

I think there's a fine for this, if it would ever be enforced.

Steve

Heh... I commented on a squad car parked in the bike lane on Jackson right in front of the Chicago Police Education and Training Academy. The officer responded in a not very friendly way. I was about to be late for my train, so kept riding. Otherwise, it would have been interesting to see what would happen. But if that's the center for training/educating our police, I see little hope for enforcement.

Steve

Tricolor said:

Considering police cars regularly park at the edge of intersections or on the curb when occupants go for dinner there's not much chance a car left in the bike lane will be addressed any time soon.

Hey, that's a positive story! You're in the wrong thread! 

Just kidding, I had an awesome experience last week where a construction worker directing traffic physically stood in front of the car parallel to me and proceeded to flag me through. That was very thoughtful, and appreciated. 

Jeff Schneider said:

You: SUV driver northbound on Clark.

Me:  Standing on the corner at Deming, waiting to walk my bike across the street.

Despite the fact that, at this corner, there is no marked crosswalk, you stopped to let me cross!  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to smile and wave.  It's so much more fun to acknowledge courtesy than to protest thoughtlessness.

Unfortunately, I think the trend of recent years will continue. Some CPD officers really do get it, and they often educate fellow officers about bike issues when those officers are doing something wrong.

I know some of the good officers, and they have told me stories about a partner or another officer responding to a scene was about to do something contrary to current laws regarding bikes, such as writing a ticket on the wrong party, or not writing a ticket at all when one was appropriate.

Other officers are ignorant or choose to remain ignorant regarding bike issues.

Steve Weeks said:

Heh... I commented on a squad car parked in the bike lane on Jackson right in front of the Chicago Police Education and Training Academy. The officer responded in a not very friendly way. I was about to be late for my train, so kept riding. Otherwise, it would have been interesting to see what would happen. But if that's the center for training/educating our police, I see little hope for enforcement.

Steve

Tricolor said:

Considering police cars regularly park at the edge of intersections or on the curb when occupants go for dinner there's not much chance a car left in the bike lane will be addressed any time soon.

As long as we're doing positive (good idea!)....  I had a similar experience turning onto Howard from a side street across from where water main work was going on--a tough place to turn on any day.  The flagger stopped all traffic to let me make my turn and get on my way.  Otherwise, I was going to have to ride a couple blocks out of my way in order to turn around and come back.  Hooray for construction workers who are extra considerate to bikers!

Alex James said:

Hey, that's a positive story! You're in the wrong thread! 

Just kidding, I had an awesome experience last week where a construction worker directing traffic physically stood in front of the car parallel to me and proceeded to flag me through. That was very thoughtful, and appreciated. 

Jeff Schneider said:

You: SUV driver northbound on Clark.

Me:  Standing on the corner at Deming, waiting to walk my bike across the street.

Despite the fact that, at this corner, there is no marked crosswalk, you stopped to let me cross!  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to smile and wave.  It's so much more fun to acknowledge courtesy than to protest thoughtlessness.

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