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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-perspec-0719-biking-2...

 

Crazed cyclists run rampant

Enforce existing bike laws to collect needed revenue

  • By John D. Thomas

My wife and I love Chicago, and we are always thinking about ways that might improve the city. Lately, we came up with an idea that would not only make where we live safer and less stressful but also could substantially fill our depleted municipal coffers. And, best of all, getting it done would merely require enforcing regulations that are already on the books.

What's our plan? Start fining the heck out of the city's insane number of crazed bike riders.

Now don't get me wrong: I do not hate on cyclists. Actually, quite the opposite.

In 1979, when I saw the amazing cycling-coming-of-age film "Breaking Away," I became a lifelong fan of the sport. The movie inspired me to pedal my bike across Florida and Iowa in group tours when I was in my early teens; when I was in college, I dabbled in both road- and mountain-bike racing. I also love to sit for hours watching long stages of theTour de France,which is currently taking place.

I have ridden a bike literally thousands and thousands of miles. That much time in the saddle taught me a lot about how to coexist and respect people driving in cars and to expect them to respect me as well.

All of which makes me very attuned to the driving patterns of Chicago cyclists. And I must say, for the most part they are simply awful. It would not be an exaggeration to say that on an average outing in our car to run a few errands, my wife and I see at least half a dozen egregious driving infractions by cyclists.

They range from blithely running through red lights and stop signs to passing on our right just as we are about to turn. And if we ever yell out a complaint about their poor understanding of the rules of the road, we almost always get that sickeningly smug grin that implies that pedal power trumps a gas guzzler every time, no matter what a bike rider does.

In my experience talking with Chicago bike riders, I get the sense that most believe that our traffic laws do not apply to them. Nothing could be less true and, in fact, the part of the Chicago Municipal Code related to riding bicycles is more than 4,000 words long.

This is my favorite portion of the code, and it is a rule that, if vigorously enforced, would give Chicago an enormous budget surplus:

"(c) Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left turn or turn in the opposite direction is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign unless he dismounts from the bicycle to make the turn, in which event he shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians."

"(d) Every person convicted of a violation of any provision of this chapter regulating bicycles shall be fined $25.00."

However, not only have I seen literally hundreds of people on bikes pay absolutely no attention to those kinds of road signs, I have also never seen a Chicago cop giving a cyclist a ticket. And, yes, I have been in many, many situations where I have seen police officers witness horrendous and dangerous bike riding and do nothing about it.

In my mind, all great cities embrace cyclists, and more Chicagoans are biking on our city streets all the time. And while bike lanes and more places to park and lock your bike are great advancements, if the people riding bikes don't do so with a sense of common sense and safety, then what will develop is a vicious car-versus-bike climate that will only end up creating chaos and accidents.

Chicago writer John D. Thomas is currently finishing a book on the cultural history of saliva.

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That's "Cyclists Gone Wild."  ;)

Huh.  I always beat those traffic sitters to the next light, anyway.

Juan said:

Fair weather CYCLIST? ranting on behalf of those frowny faced cagers as I take the bike line on Wells st. passing me by on my left with thier nodding noggins of disapproval.

I posted my further thoughts on this on my blog Bike Walk Lincoln Park.

Experiment #1: Aim car at people. Press gas pedal to floor.

Experiment #2: Aim bike at people. Press pedal down.

Golly those bicycles sure are dangerous haha!

Michelle, your Venn Diagram might need just a wee bit of work. This year's Tour de France has been one of the bloodiest in memory. I doubt seriously that the problems you show for professional riders is adequately vetted:
 
 
 

Just wanted to share that Active Trans sent the following response to the Tribune on Friday.

- Lee Crandell, Active Trans

John Thomas comes to the wrong conclusions in his column about biking behavior (“Crazed cyclists run rampant,” July 19). Everyone has the right to use a public street and a responsibility to follow the rules. Of course people can be jerks on a bike. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty in cars as well, which outnumber bikes roughly 50-to-1 citywide. But it’s a cop out to call everyone on a bike “crazed” when the biggest reason for bad behavior is poor street design. Cities that calm traffic and give people on bikes their own space see more harmony and fewer crashes. Chicago isn't there yet, but it’s moving in the right direction.

For example, Mayor Emanuel is installing 100 miles of protected bike lanes. By adding a physical barrier to separate bike traffic from motorized traffic, protected lanes give bikes and cars their own space and help everyone feel more comfortable. Mr. Thomas implies adding new bike lanes will create more animosity between people on bikes and in cars, but the facts suggest otherwise. Statistics gathered by transportation engineers in Chicago and around the country show protected bike lanes actually reduce conflicts by encouraging more predictable and responsible behavior for people who walk, bike or drive. This includes fewer speeding cars, bikes on sidewalks and close calls.

Enforcement is important, but police should focus limited resources on road behavior that's most likely to injure or kill others, not just targeting cycling.

We also need to move beyond childish labels and recognize each other as people. An endless volley between competing tribes of “cyclists” and “motorists” only feeds the fire. People riding bikes aren’t “crazed.” We’re your neighbors, co-workers, family members and friends. And like you, we’re just trying to get around town. With better street design, smart enforcement and a little empathy, we can all get along on our streets.

- Ron Burke, Executive Director, Active Transportation Alliance

Thank you Lee and Ron! Keep up the great work, ATA!



Lee Crandell said:

Just wanted to share that Active Trans sent the following response to the Tribune on Friday.

- Lee Crandell, Active Trans

John Thomas comes to the wrong conclusions in his column about biking behavior (“Crazed cyclists run rampant,” July 19). Everyone has the right to use a public street and a responsibility to follow the rules. Of course people can be jerks on a bike. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty in cars as well, which outnumber bikes roughly 50-to-1 citywide. But it’s a cop out to call everyone on a bike “crazed” when the biggest reason for bad behavior is poor street design. Cities that calm traffic and give people on bikes their own space see more harmony and fewer crashes. Chicago isn't there yet, but it’s moving in the right direction.

For example, Mayor Emanuel is installing 100 miles of protected bike lanes. By adding a physical barrier to separate bike traffic from motorized traffic, protected lanes give bikes and cars their own space and help everyone feel more comfortable. Mr. Thomas implies adding new bike lanes will create more animosity between people on bikes and in cars, but the facts suggest otherwise. Statistics gathered by transportation engineers in Chicago and around the country show protected bike lanes actually reduce conflicts by encouraging more predictable and responsible behavior for people who walk, bike or drive. This includes fewer speeding cars, bikes on sidewalks and close calls.

Enforcement is important, but police should focus limited resources on road behavior that's most likely to injure or kill others, not just targeting cycling.

We also need to move beyond childish labels and recognize each other as people. An endless volley between competing tribes of “cyclists” and “motorists” only feeds the fire. People riding bikes aren’t “crazed.” We’re your neighbors, co-workers, family members and friends. And like you, we’re just trying to get around town. With better street design, smart enforcement and a little empathy, we can all get along on our streets.

- Ron Burke, Executive Director, Active Transportation Alliance

Well said, Ron!

No reply yet.  Too bad.  I would love to point all the positive things that come with biking to work.

 

 



in it to win it said:

I just sent him an invitation to ride to work with me for a week.  I'll advise of his reply.

 

John,

I live in Lakeview like you.  I read with interest your article about the crazed cyclists.  I ride from Montrose to Wells/Van Buren daily.  Have been for the last 4+ years; year round.  Since it looks like you're in my neighborhood, I'd like to invite you to ride to work with me for a week just to get a look at things from the side your article is complaining about.  This is serious invitation and I look forward to our rides.

Kent Hamilton

It's just occurred to me that 'John Thomas' is English slang for penis. Which figures, really - the guy comes across as a bit of a prick.

Reference: 

http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml

Ticketing bicyclists for $25 per infraction is a non starter. Considering for instance that the city just decriminalized Marijuana infractions, making it an optional fine of $500, shows how important bicycle infractions are to the police. Would $25 even cover the cost of processing the ticket? I kind of doubt it. With homicides up this year, the police have much more important things to worry about than a few scofflaw bicyclists.

Ride Safe.

Agreed Liz.  In other cities and countries pedestrians don't jaywalk cause if they do they will get a ticket.   We go through red lights, stop signs, and don't use lights cause there is no implications for us.  I understand why drivers hate cyclists, we do whatever we want and they have to be extra vigilant in case a cyclists goes through a red light as they are driving to obey the rules of the road.

Liz said:

While I don't think he should being singling out cyclists, he does have a point. I actually do wish that more laws where actually enforced, be if for cyclists, motorists or pedestrians.  The rate that ALL 3 violate codes is dangerous. I don't think cyclists should be targeted more heavily than drivers, but it should be targeted at the same rate.  Chicago is pretty bad in terms of compliance for all modes of transportation. 

Things like red light running and riding without lights are not just dangerous to that individual, they're dangerous to the other road users as well.  I've had several times this summer I had been nearly hit on my bike by another cyclist blowing a red light.  This is not someone who approaches an empty intersection, stops than proceeds if its clear, this is someone who just never bothered to slow down, look or yield to others.  While a bike wouldn't do as much damage to me as a car, I'd rather not find out how much damage getting t-boned by a one will do. 

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