The Chainlink

Alderman wants to ban Segways from lakefront path

I'm more concerned about Segways on sidewalks in the Loop, but it's nice to see at least some thought being given to the tourists zipping around on motorized vechicles that they can barely control.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-alderman-want...

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 2, 2012 at 9:43am

Except I'm pretty sure that motorized vehicles are already banned on the LFP. Set the worms free!

kiltedcelt said:

... You ban one type of transport on the LFP and then you've opened a whole can of worms.

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on July 2, 2012 at 9:49am

I'm not sure I've ever seen a Segway on the LFP either - where do they run the tours?  I agree with Cameron on this, they seem like a bigger problem on the crowded stretches of Michigan Ave and in Millennium Park, for the users as much as anyone - I have seen people take some nasty, nasty falls on those things.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 2, 2012 at 10:45am

I"ve seen large groups of folks on Segways a few time with a "leader" giving them instructions that I figured  was some sort of tour, class, or group-rental thing.  I've never had any issues with these folks.

But by far the most common folks on them are the cops.  They usually are acting in an entitled manner on the path and operating the segways just like they operate their patrol cars on the street -blocking bike lanes, cutting folks off, running through intersections to get to the donut shop faster and basically violating every rule of the road and basic human polite co-existing considerations of all other people in their general vicinity because they are better and more important than anyone else. 

Then again, I suppose it is much better for them to be on the segways than when they take their damn gas-guzzling ATV's and SUV squad cars onto the path -which I see often enough too. 

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on July 2, 2012 at 11:23am

Because you, as an all knowing being, are fully aware of where a cop is going and why...

James BlackHeron said:

 running through intersections to get to the donut shop faster
Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on July 2, 2012 at 7:19pm

Today for the first time I saw about 12 of them get on the LFP heading north from DuSable Harbor.  They turned onto the path right before the hill starts leading up to the bridge.  Lots of blind spots and an interesting attempt by me to sprint up (I am not too good at sprinting) past them before we got to the really narrow parts.

Carter O'Brien said:

I'm not sure I've ever seen a Segway on the LFP either - where do they run the tours?  I agree with Cameron on this, they seem like a bigger problem on the crowded stretches of Michigan Ave and in Millennium Park, for the users as much as anyone - I have seen people take some nasty, nasty falls on those things.

Permalink Reply by Craig S. on July 3, 2012 at 10:26am

Careful there, Dug, you're risking the ire of Über Iconoclast for ours is not to question or critique.  When he's done enlightening others around the interweb he may come after you.

notoriousDUG said:

Because you, as an all knowing being, are fully aware of where a cop is going and why...

James BlackHeron said:

 running through intersections to get to the donut shop faster
Permalink Reply by Chuckchuck on July 3, 2012 at 11:26am

Ah yes, an above-board alderman (oxymoron).  Sounds like shaking the can to me.

h' said:

Hmm... my impression of Reilly is that he's pretty much above-board. Do you have knowledge to the contrary?

Chris C said:

Segways but not 4-seat pedals cars.  Hmm.  Could it be that Segway has deeper pockets and the Honorable Alderman is looking to squeeze another vendor.  Nah!

Permalink Reply by Josh.E on July 3, 2012 at 11:36am

As often as you see them on the LFP whats the point but the crap-tastic 4 wheelers are the pain.  Yes they are slow and thats good but they also clog the path which causes problems.  The segways just need to be ridden on the street just like bikes and not on the sidewalks.  

Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on July 3, 2012 at 12:08pm

+1

Tony Adams said:

I don't ride the LFP very often, but I've never noticed a problem with electric bikes. Spandex clad training riders present a much larger problem when they plow down the path at recklessly high speeds.


Permalink Reply by April on July 3, 2012 at 12:32pm

Perhaps the real problem is not which modes of transport are used on the path but instead the design of the path itself.   If the path were wider to allow for two lanes in each direction (a slow lane and a faster lane) It would be easier for everyone to enjoy the path.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 3, 2012 at 1:06pm

I agree on the design issue.  It's not an easy design or an easy problem to solve.

I don't think 2 more outside lanes are going to cut it for safety's sake.

There will still be clueless peds who either don't pay attention to the lanes or just wander across them/turn sharp or walk dogs on 20' leashes.   People tend to spread out like a gas and use up whatever space there is.  If there is more space they will just spread out more using every last bit of it available.

What I think the lakefront corridor really needs is a separately buffered bike zone pavement with well-painted graphics on the tarmac and signs saying "NO PEDS/BIKES ONLY."  This would be more or less like a freeway for bikes only and other fast-moving non-motorized path users.   It might even take some sort of low fence or chain/ropes on the sides to keep the peds off it and from crossing except for certain areas of limited access.  

Anything less than this isn't going to work very well IMHO.  But I'd love to be proven wrong.    I just don't see how it would work in such a densely-used park like the lakeshore and so many peds wandering around randomly on and off the paths.   Peds are going to bleed over onto any bike area and shamble around like zombies without some sort of buffer or barrier.  



April said:

Perhaps the real problem is not which modes of transport are used on the path but instead the design of the path itself.   If the path were wider to allow for two lanes in each direction (a slow lane and a faster lane) It would be easier for everyone to enjoy the path.

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