The Chainlink

On Writing Letters to Your Alderman

Hi all, 

Every time I write my alderman, Proco Joe, I usually get a FU response, if any at all, but I keep writing him whenever something super shitty happens because... I don't know, just because that's what we're supposed to do in a representative democracy, right? 

Figuring that he's not reading my letters, I've elevated the rhetoric a bit. Maybe some intern will glance over my rant and get inspired. 

Anyway, here's my latest letter to Proco Joe about an incident that happened earlier today. It happened in Scott Wagespasack (sic) territory so I sent him a copy too. 

I encourage everybody to send letters to their Aldermen whenever you see something whack going on. With enough of us we might be able to create enough mass to change something. Democracy, right? 

Hello, 
This afternoon I was riding my bike on Lyndale, just outside of the CICS Bucktown branch right when school was being let out. I was keeping pace with a little girl who was running down the sidewalk, presumably to her parent's car. she was going at a pretty good pace for such short legs (future track star if she's lucky), but, at the mouth of the alley just before Leavitt a woman in a grey Honda whipped out of the blind corner going fast enough to leave tire marks on the pavement when she slammed the brakes before t-boning me. Unfortunately for the little girl, the Honda rushed right into her line of momentum, and with her backpack on she couldn't stop herself from running into the side of the moving car, bouncing off with the angular force to make her pirouette. 
Shocked, I stopped; unbothered, the motorist drove off; surprised, the little girl just stood there, her spin-move having saved her from falling down. 
So what do I do now? The little girl could have died there, on the pavement, but she didn't. The car drove off and probably didn't notice how close she came to killing somebody's child. And I, having nearly been creamed as well, am just standing with my bike in the street, alone, looking like an idiot, shrugging with my palm up like WTF?
This isn't the first time something like this has happened to me, and I know it's not the first time you've heard a story like this. My question is why? Why do we have an infrastructure that privileges cars above even the most vulnerable citizens? Why is it so hard and dangerous to cross Western Ave, even at a crosswalk? Why aren't there speed bumps at the mouths of alley ways, or even stop signs? How is it accepted that cars can park over sidewalks and in bike lanes with impunity, and why don't we put as much effort into building, shoveling, and maintaining sidewalks as we do protecting the commutes of motorists in their climate-controlled, 2000-pound, 175-horsepower rooms? 
Moreover, what are you doing to make your ward less dangerous to non-motorist?. Or, am I asking the wrong person for protection? Do you believe the rights of the motorist should prevail above those of the pedestrian? 
If you've gotten this far, thank you for humoring my rant.

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on November 17, 2015 at 7:23pm

I gasped out loud when I read this. The driver just took off after all of this??? Is the little girl ok? Are you ok? Any chance anyone got a plate number? 

This is insane. Thanks for sharing but geez, what is wrong with that driver?

Permalink Reply by V W on November 18, 2015 at 9:19am
I don't agree with Proco Joe on a lot of stuff, but I do give him credit for apparently not deleting negative comments made to his Facebook page, and occasionally answering them publicly. You should see if you can friend him on Facebook.
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on November 18, 2015 at 10:39am

And people wonder why there is a so called "war on cars".

Permalink Reply by Menna on November 18, 2015 at 10:58am

Did you try Scott Waguespeck?  I think CICS is technically in the 32nd ward.  I still get your point about aldermen being responsive, but I have found Scott's office to be pretty responsive.  I think it would be useful to have mirrors and signs at certain alleyways to remind drivers to use caution when exiting.  

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on November 18, 2015 at 11:21am

Why not call the Alderman's office to set an appointment to discuss street safety issues. Rather than ask a gaggle of questions, bring in a list of positive improvements that you are suggesting and have him respond.

Permalink Reply by Kathy Schubert 'n Suzy Schnauzer on November 27, 2015 at 2:48pm

 As the North Side representative to MBAC, I have sent this message on to the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council for possible discussion at the quarterly meeting in December.  Perhaps your idea of speed bumps or stop signs at the mouth of alleys will get some action.  

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on November 28, 2015 at 10:14am

This list of suggestion should also be brought to the Mayors Pedestrian Advisory Council as well:

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/ped/svcs/ma...

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on November 28, 2015 at 4:42pm
Our alley is treated as a sidestreet thouroghfare. Cars constantly drive about 30mph in our alley(15mph law)even with speed 'humps, bumps' which cause huge flooding and ice patches in winter. When most drivers approach the mouth of alley (school a block away) they slightly lessen their speed and blast the horn numerous times. ("Get outta my way, here I come!")(note: I just took my trash out to the alley and cars are shaving past me too fast.)

The problem here is, the deteriorating state of drivers mindset when it comes to driving courteously, safely, observing laws and the rules of the road. An alderman cannot change the habits of a bad driver. More signs and speed humps/bumps and laws will change very little if, the laws we have are unenforced, because;

"Unenforced laws are ignored laws."

Oh, and there is no $ for enforcement, so I guess then, "it's everyone for themselves". . . sad.
Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on December 11, 2015 at 9:38am
Scott Chillson wrote,
"How is it accepted that cars can park over sidewalks and in bike lanes with impunity, and why don't we put as much effort into building, shoveling, and maintaining sidewalks as we do protecting the commutes of motorists in their climate-controlled, 2000-pound, 175-horsepower rooms?"

Check out the cartoon in attachments:
"If pedestrians had clout" (cartoon) could easily apply to cyclists,
Imagine a bike lane cleared out for us in this cartoon.
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