I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

 

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Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on March 14, 2012 at 4:14am

Scott,

I get off the lakefront path at Fullerton and take the path next to the lagoon to North Avenue and then State Pkwy/St south to work. In the morning State is pretty light.

In warmer climes, the lakefront path chokes up with head-in-their-* tourists, twice-per-year cyclists, occaisional joggers and oglers between North Avenue Beach and Navy Pier. There is always a way around this North-to-Pier clog, you just gotta explore some and find what is right for you. North of North Avenue Beach can get crowded, but it is usually okay. South of the Museum Campus is lightly trafficked.

I am never in a hurry anyhow, so I just grin, bear it and enjoy the view that the slowness affords me; and with the lakefront, every view is a spectacular one, particlarly sunrises and sunsets. We are fortunate.

 

Scott Stelzer said:

I agree, I hate riding on the LFP when it gets full of people, however commuting between Rogers Park and the loop, I don't know any alternatives that are any safer and/or faster.  Between the unsafe drivers and the traffic lights/stop signs, I take longer, use more energy (accelerating/braking) and am at more risk on any street route I can identify. So a cautious ride on the LFP it is, *sigh*. Maybe a compromise exit at Fullerton into traffic before the path gets really packed. 

 

I'm really enjoying the sunrises over Lake Michigan these days though.

Permalink Reply by JeffB on March 14, 2012 at 4:28am

Mornings are never bad on the LFP for me.  Its the evening crowds that really clog things up.  I had a near miss last evening northbound just south of Belmont.  I'm riding on the left side of the right lane past some peds when two bikes scream past me with no warning.  Then a third guy tries to pass but is blocked by oncoming traffic and he yells "Passing!" just as his handlebars tap mine.  Its a miracle we both stayed vertical.  Note to speedsters: Calling out that you're passing is only useful if you do it before you reach my space.

Gene Tenner said:

Scott,

I get off the lakefront path at Fullerton and take the path next to the lagoon to North Avenue and then State Pkwy/St south to work. In the morning State is pretty light.

In warmer climes, the lakefront path chokes up with head-in-their-* tourists, twice-per-year cyclists, occaisional joggers and oglers between North Avenue Beach and Navy Pier. There is always a way around this North-to-Pier clog, you just gotta explore some and find what is right for you. North of North Avenue Beach can get crowded, but it is usually okay. South of the Museum Campus is lightly trafficked.

I am never in a hurry anyhow, so I just grin, bear it and enjoy the view that the slowness affords me; and with the lakefront, every view is a spectacular one, particlarly sunrises and sunsets. We are fortunate.

 

Scott Stelzer said:

I agree, I hate riding on the LFP when it gets full of people, however commuting between Rogers Park and the loop, I don't know any alternatives that are any safer and/or faster.  Between the unsafe drivers and the traffic lights/stop signs, I take longer, use more energy (accelerating/braking) and am at more risk on any street route I can identify. So a cautious ride on the LFP it is, *sigh*. Maybe a compromise exit at Fullerton into traffic before the path gets really packed. 

 

I'm really enjoying the sunrises over Lake Michigan these days though.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on March 14, 2012 at 4:35am

You raise an interesting point, Jeff. I have always assumed that "on your left" or "passing" were to alert a rider of your presence, not an I-claim-this-space-so-stay-where-you-are declaration. Am I correct/wrong? I seem to notice an increasing number of people using it as a dibs.

JeffB said:

Mornings are never bad on the LFP for me.  Its the evening crowds that really clog things up.  I had a near miss last evening northbound just south of Belmont.  I'm riding on the left side of the right lane past some peds when two bikes scream past me with no warning.  Then a third guy tries to pass but is blocked by oncoming traffic and he yells "Passing!" just as his handlebars tap mine.  Its a miracle we both stayed vertical.  Note to speedsters: Calling out that you're passing is only useful if you do it before you reach my space.

Gene Tenner said:

Scott,

I get off the lakefront path at Fullerton and take the path next to the lagoon to North Avenue and then State Pkwy/St south to work. In the morning State is pretty light.

In warmer climes, the lakefront path chokes up with head-in-their-* tourists, twice-per-year cyclists, occaisional joggers and oglers between North Avenue Beach and Navy Pier. There is always a way around this North-to-Pier clog, you just gotta explore some and find what is right for you. North of North Avenue Beach can get crowded, but it is usually okay. South of the Museum Campus is lightly trafficked.

I am never in a hurry anyhow, so I just grin, bear it and enjoy the view that the slowness affords me; and with the lakefront, every view is a spectacular one, particlarly sunrises and sunsets. We are fortunate.

 

Scott Stelzer said:

I agree, I hate riding on the LFP when it gets full of people, however commuting between Rogers Park and the loop, I don't know any alternatives that are any safer and/or faster.  Between the unsafe drivers and the traffic lights/stop signs, I take longer, use more energy (accelerating/braking) and am at more risk on any street route I can identify. So a cautious ride on the LFP it is, *sigh*. Maybe a compromise exit at Fullerton into traffic before the path gets really packed. 

 

I'm really enjoying the sunrises over Lake Michigan these days though.

Permalink Reply by Katie on March 14, 2012 at 4:44am

I found it interesting this morning.....I always have to ride in traffic.  I'm comfortable in it and careful so no big deal.  An SUV get's caught in the intersection - not their fault and no where to go. 

Some lady on her bike gets in front of him and starts yelling at him to get out of the way.  "YAY Celebrate Wednesday - it's all about ME!!" 

Seriously?  If pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists could all just be a little more careful, considerate and patient - commuting could go so much smoother...

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on March 14, 2012 at 4:56am

Hmm. I hope that wasn't me. I usually don't tell people to get out of my way, but depending on the traffic that day, and/or if the SUV or car decides that running a red light and blocking the intersection is a good thing for them to do, I do sometimes say something.  

No, couldn't have been me, I usually go around the back of the cars/SUV's blocking the intersection, never the front of them.  I understand when it's unavoidable and they get stranded in the intersection, but I have seen way too many people "gun" their vehicles trying to make the light before it turns red, then get stuck in the middle- those are the ones that usually irk me.  Otherwise, I am usually pretty considerate. 

Katie said:

I found it interesting this morning.....I always have to ride in traffic.  I'm comfortable in it and careful so no big deal.  An SUV get's caught in the intersection - not their fault and no where to go. 

Some lady on her bike gets in front of him and starts yelling at him to get out of the way.  "YAY Celebrate Wednesday - it's all about ME!!" 

Seriously?  If pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists could all just be a little more careful, considerate and patient - commuting could go so much smoother...

Permalink Reply by Katie on March 14, 2012 at 4:58am

In this case it was clearly not the SUVs fault.  Sometimes it is - but in this case, this woman sat there and screamed at the SUV.  It certainly doesn't help drivers views of cyclists. 

Why can't we all just get along???

:D

Permalink Reply by ID on March 14, 2012 at 4:59am

I had a similar experience on my way home Monday evening. I didn't make contact, but I was moving over to pass a slower cyclist and called out on your left, and as I looked over my shoulder to make my move, there was a speeding pathlete in complete silence overtaking me as I passed.

As the weather gets warmer, the consideration gets less frequent and makes me long for those 20 degree days when everyone is friendly and considerate.

JeffB said:

Mornings are never bad on the LFP for me.  Its the evening crowds that really clog things up.  I had a near miss last evening northbound just south of Belmont.  I'm riding on the left side of the right lane past some peds when two bikes scream past me with no warning.  Then a third guy tries to pass but is blocked by oncoming traffic and he yells "Passing!" just as his handlebars tap mine.  Its a miracle we both stayed vertical.  Note to speedsters: Calling out that you're passing is only useful if you do it before you reach my space.

Gene Tenner said:

Scott,

I get off the lakefront path at Fullerton and take the path next to the lagoon to North Avenue and then State Pkwy/St south to work. In the morning State is pretty light.

In warmer climes, the lakefront path chokes up with head-in-their-* tourists, twice-per-year cyclists, occaisional joggers and oglers between North Avenue Beach and Navy Pier. There is always a way around this North-to-Pier clog, you just gotta explore some and find what is right for you. North of North Avenue Beach can get crowded, but it is usually okay. South of the Museum Campus is lightly trafficked.

I am never in a hurry anyhow, so I just grin, bear it and enjoy the view that the slowness affords me; and with the lakefront, every view is a spectacular one, particlarly sunrises and sunsets. We are fortunate.

 

Scott Stelzer said:

I agree, I hate riding on the LFP when it gets full of people, however commuting between Rogers Park and the loop, I don't know any alternatives that are any safer and/or faster.  Between the unsafe drivers and the traffic lights/stop signs, I take longer, use more energy (accelerating/braking) and am at more risk on any street route I can identify. So a cautious ride on the LFP it is, *sigh*. Maybe a compromise exit at Fullerton into traffic before the path gets really packed. 

 

I'm really enjoying the sunrises over Lake Michigan these days though.

Permalink Reply by Katie on March 14, 2012 at 5:00am

Well said Ian.

Permalink Reply by Jenn_5.5 mi on March 14, 2012 at 5:07am

Kate, if you were on Lincoln it could be the girl I 'vented' about last week. She was yelling at EVERYONE! ( http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/think-of-this-as-a-missed-...  ) I doubt it was Melanie! She is too smart to put the rest of us in danger!!

Katie said:

I found it interesting this morning.....I always have to ride in traffic.  I'm comfortable in it and careful so no big deal.  An SUV get's caught in the intersection - not their fault and no where to go. 

Some lady on her bike gets in front of him and starts yelling at him to get out of the way.  "YAY Celebrate Wednesday - it's all about ME!!" 

Seriously?  If pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists could all just be a little more careful, considerate and patient - commuting could go so much smoother...

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on March 14, 2012 at 5:17am

I agree that we should all try to get along. But if a motor vehicle is stuck in the middle of an intersection it is pretty much always their fault. The rule is pretty simple: don't enter an intersection that you are not sure you can clear before the light changes. If anything an SUV driver should be held to a higher standard in this regard since they generally have a better view of what's going on ahead.

My closest call recently happened as a result of intersection blocking. The intersection of Congress and Plymouth has been frequently blocked lately as a result of road construction nearby and perhaps the fact that Plymouth has so little traffic. So anyway, Plymouth gets the green light but was mostly blocked except for a narrow opening on the east side of the intersection. I'm riding northbound on that right side of the intersection when a southbound SUV comes flying from his lane into that narrow opening. The driver managed to stop in time, but it was really just luck on my part that saved my front wheel, possibly my fork and perhaps my noggin from a head-on collision.

So whose fault was that? Mostly the SUV driver, but also the drivers who where blocking the intersection.


Katie said:

In this case it was clearly not the SUVs fault.  Sometimes it is - but in this case, this woman sat there and screamed at the SUV.  It certainly doesn't help drivers views of cyclists. 

Why can't we all just get along???

:D

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on March 14, 2012 at 5:21am

Thanks, Jenn :) No, I don't "scream", sometimes a few words such as "watch out" "this is a bike lane" and  "DOOR" once in a while, or I use a pushing motion with my arm & hand to alert drivers that they are getting really close to my bike or back wheel as they pass me.  Since I am trying to get to my destination safely I  don't have the energy or want the aggravation of confronting a vehicle.  I read the missed connection you posted, definitely not me, but I think I have seen that girl once or twice before myself.

Permalink Reply by JeffB on March 14, 2012 at 9:42am

I agree.  Its a heads-up, not a command to stay where you are, which is how people who get irked by it view it I think.  But in this short period of warm weather so far, I've been passed as I was passing someone else numerous times, mostly without any warning.

Gene Tenner said:

You raise an interesting point, Jeff. I have always assumed that "on your left" or "passing" were to alert a rider of your presence, not an I-claim-this-space-so-stay-where-you-are declaration. Am I correct/wrong? I seem to notice an increasing number of people using it as a dibs.

JeffB said:

Mornings are never bad on the LFP for me.  Its the evening crowds that really clog things up.  I had a near miss last evening northbound just south of Belmont.  I'm riding on the left side of the right lane past some peds when two bikes scream past me with no warning.  Then a third guy tries to pass but is blocked by oncoming traffic and he yells "Passing!" just as his handlebars tap mine.  Its a miracle we both stayed vertical.  Note to speedsters: Calling out that you're passing is only useful if you do it before you reach my space.

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