The Chainlink

Think of this as a Missed Connection.

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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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michelle Gregorek on December 2, 2011 at 1:08pm

To the two men in suits carrying four bags of food each, corner of Dearborn and Erie.  As I was stopped at the light I called out "Can I give you a hand carrying those?"  One man looked at me like I was crazy (imagine that) and said no.  The other man said "Sure, take one." as he extended his arm to me.  This turkey chili is amazing!!!

My other missed connections while loop commuting with a cab and a driver making a right turn in front of me.  So not all peaches and cream.

Permalink Reply by Gerry G on December 4, 2011 at 10:07pm

To the young lady who stepped off of the curb as I was South bound on Western this A.M.  And proceeded  with a few more steps into the street, towards me perpendicular traffic.  I'm pleased you stopped when you did.  Eye contact along with the giant smile and a 'Good morning,' from you still elicit an asphalt look from me.  Intruding into my perceived safety bubble, causes the central nervous system, (cerebellum (hardwired old brain)) to perceives you as a threat.  Possible ouchy, no thanks!

To the young man on the Northwest corner of Grand and Wells, P.M. commute.  Yes you were standing still, patiently waiting for the red light to change, so you could cross Grand and continue walking South on Wells.  Why sir did you insist on standing in the street to gaze upon thy cellular?  My motivation was petty and might have been a smidge premeditated.  Did you retrieve your cell phone?  Was it in one piece?  Did it function after you fumbled it?  I didn't hear it hit the ground.  Did I hear a confirmatory induced expletive faintly through the din of traffic behind me?  

Edit: Oh what incompassionate a$$hat I strive not to be.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on December 7, 2011 at 9:22am

To the gentleman that sells newspapers every morning at Wells and Ohio ... for you to tell that cabby to smash me is nothing short of despicable. If you had been paying attention you would have seen that I was politely asking the taxi to not tailgate me in the bike lane. I even used the word please. Selling newspapers in the streets makes you just as vulnerable to getting hit by a car. I actually wish you a safe and happy winter but since you're a miserable pos that's unlikely. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 7, 2011 at 9:26am

Geez, can't be the same guy who used to sell there a few years ago.  The previous guy was always nice to me when I rode by that corner.

Rich S said:

To the gentleman that sells newspapers every morning at Wells and Ohio ... for you to tell that cabby to smash me is nothing short of despicable. If you had been paying attention you would have seen that I was politely asking the taxi to not tailgate me in the bike lane. I even used the word please. Selling newspapers in the streets makes you just as vulnerable to getting hit by a car. I actually wish you a safe and happy winter but since you're a miserable pos that's unlikely. 

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on December 7, 2011 at 12:28pm

The current guy is definitely not very friendly. I'm always ready to smile and exchange a "good morning" with "regulars" along my route, but I've given up on him. He does even seem a little hostile, so Rich S's story doesn't surprise me. Which paper does he sell? Perhaps you can mention it to the customer service people there, Rich, just to get it on the record.

 

Anne Alt said:

Geez, can't be the same guy who used to sell there a few years ago.  The previous guy was always nice to me when I rode by that corner.

Rich S said:

To the gentleman that sells newspapers every morning at Wells and Ohio ... for you to tell that cabby to smash me is nothing short of despicable. If you had been paying attention you would have seen that I was politely asking the taxi to not tailgate me in the bike lane. I even used the word please. Selling newspapers in the streets makes you just as vulnerable to getting hit by a car. I actually wish you a safe and happy winter but since you're a miserable pos that's unlikely. 

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on December 7, 2011 at 12:38pm

I also want to post a late entry on a missed connection from earlier this year that still haunts me:

 

It was in August or September, and I was southbound on Wells around 7:00 am. I and another bicyclist had stopped for the red light at Chicago. It turned green and we both proceeded to cross the intersection. An enormous garbage truck was coming from the right, on Chicago, heading east, and it blew the red light, not just sneaking through at the last second, but entering the intersection a full 2-3 seconds after WE already had green. Luckily, both the other cyclist and I noticed he wasn't slowing down and we both stopped our bikes about 4 feet short of the path of the garbage truck. I screamed at the driver since he was only 4 feet from me, and saw the look of horror on his face as he realized what was happening/could have happened. I don't think he blew the red on purpose: who knows if the rising sun had blinded him, or he was spacing out momentarily, or what. However, it could have ended REALLY badly that morning for two cyclists.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on December 7, 2011 at 1:31pm

I'm not sure what paper since he's almost always on the east side of Wells. I'll see if I can spot that but I'm not buying a paper from him even if it's the only way. :)  

Michelle Stenzel said:

The current guy is definitely not very friendly. I'm always ready to smile and exchange a "good morning" with "regulars" along my route, but I've given up on him. He does even seem a little hostile, so Rich S's story doesn't surprise me. Which paper does he sell? Perhaps you can mention it to the customer service people there, Rich, just to get it on the record.

 

Permalink Reply by Vilda on December 7, 2011 at 2:55pm

There are 2 guys I've experienced at this intersection, a white guy and a black guy. Neither have been very nice. While driving the work truck with the window open one wonderful morning in summer one just walked up and placed the paper in the truck on the dashboard. WTF? The other I've thrown outta one of my security jobs for being high as a kite and drooling on himself. Unreal.

Permalink Reply by Scotto 6.8 on December 7, 2011 at 3:53pm
The Sun-Times



Rich S said:

I'm not sure what paper since he's almost always on the east side of Wells. I'll see if I can spot that but I'm not buying a paper from him even if it's the only way. :)  

Michelle Stenzel said:

The current guy is definitely not very friendly. I'm always ready to smile and exchange a "good morning" with "regulars" along my route, but I've given up on him. He does even seem a little hostile, so Rich S's story doesn't surprise me. Which paper does he sell? Perhaps you can mention it to the customer service people there, Rich, just to get it on the record.

 

Permalink Reply by Brian F Morrissey on December 7, 2011 at 4:42pm

Ha, I do this as well, pointing at the stop sign.  The wave-thru infuriates for the exact reason you describe. But, yes if I'm not infringing on someone's right of way, I roll the stoptional sign and wait at the light, until it's safe to go or it turns green, whichever happens first.  I have also noticed lately, however, that more cyclists are waiting with me at the light, and more drivers are taking their right of way, as they should.

Stephanie said:

@Melanie and @Gabe, I feel you on the annoyance of the "wave-through". If I am in an especially persnickety mood out there I will just stubbornly sit and refuse to go until whoever had the right of way proceeds. It's definitely about setting up expectations- we the cyclists ought to be expected to follow the law, and I think the "wave-through" just encourages or propagates that exceptionalism that bikes must not be 'real' vehicles.
Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on December 12, 2011 at 10:33pm

I had an encounter with an actual "PSYCO" today!  According to his license plate, at least.

I was turning left on a green-turning-yellow, when this guy was turning right on red.  He didn't want to wait 1 and a half seconds for me to ride by and proceed to where I was fully out of his way on the right, so he rev'ed his cheesy, souped-up subaru (or something) and sped up right on my ass, startling me pretty good.  

Way to drive like an ass-hat, PSYCO.  Please go back to the state I didn't recognize on your license plate.  

Permalink Reply by Vilda on December 13, 2011 at 8:08am

Forgot about mine last week. Lady in an orange 2007 Chicago Marathon Jacket heading north on Damen at Byron. She rolled the stop sign when there was cross traffic that had the right of way. BUT THEN a hipster dude on a fixie followed by a Hipster chick on a more upright bike rolled it goin southbound without even looking. Hey folks, cars sometimes get the right of way too. I just stood at the intersection and let the cars clear so as not to end up a hood ornament.

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