i bike pass?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-0822-2012...

is all this for real? 

Views: 3124

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on August 22, 2012 at 12:47pm

For a minute I was excited at the possibility of riding a fast protected bicycle lane along the highway to the suburbs!

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on August 22, 2012 at 12:57pm

Interesting analysis here too: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/August-2012/Angr...

Thanks,

Ethan, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Don on August 22, 2012 at 1:58pm

It may seem like bicycle commuting is for the elites with plenty of cash for a revenue source, since almost all of the cycling infrastructure money is spent in gentrified neighborhoods.

But throughout most of the world and quite frankly most of Chicago, bicycling is a way for the poor to get around.  

That's why there will never be a serious push to tax bike riding...imagine all of the human interest stories about the guy who can't afford a car and rides his beater bike to work to support his family.  He's barely making ends meet as it is, and is losing sleep over where he can come up with the registration fees and tolls.

Permalink Reply by Joe TV on August 22, 2012 at 7:36pm

+1.  This article is a must read about why and how the kind of plan Kass jokes about has been tried and abandoned elsewhere. 

Active Transportation Alliance said:

Interesting analysis here too: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/August-2012/Angr...

Thanks,

Ethan, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on August 23, 2012 at 1:47am

IF...I ever have to pay for a bike registration, I'm going to find Kass' driving route to work and plant my meandering, slow, ass in the middle of the lane in front of his car to accompany him on his commute as a fellow contributor to the great coffers of Chicago.
Otherwise, I'll continue to dodge door zones, potholes, buses, cabs, texting drivers, snow piled in bike lanes, etc.
BUT...If/when we get the registration requirement; our voices will be louder and we'll have the "I'm paying my way too..." argument everytime we rally for bike friendly improvements.
HOWEVER...Hey jackass (Kass), I'm paying property tax, sales tax, and many other taxes that pay for this fine city of ours. And as a taxpayer, I want the bicycle improvements in our city. So BACK OFF.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 23, 2012 at 2:32am

I don’t know John Kass, but I imagine that he would like to send this letter to the cycling community.  For reasons that are probably obvious, he can’t so I decided to send it for him:

Dear Chicago area cyclists:

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your reactions to my August 22, 2012 Tribune column.  I would like to send each of you a personal note, but that would take too much time and thought, so this will have to do.  I am especially grateful to those of you who posted rants—oops, I mean comments—in response to the column.  In particular, I appreciate the comments which include expletive(s) deleted.  

You might have noticed that it recently has been pretty boring in the local political arena.  Even Alderman Moreno has both of his feet firmly on the ground.  I have had a hard time coming up with a column that would generate any real reaction, until yesterday.   I had an inkling that a column about bicycling in Chicago might get a few comments, but I had no idea that you, members of the cycling community, would give me such a gift, wrapped in shiny paper and topped with a big, bright bow. 

In fact, given that it is August and I thought you all might be out riding your bikes, I was afraid that I might be ignored, or that those who read the column might understand the sarcasm and just let it pass unnoticed.  Fortunately, you jumped off of your bikes and into the morass of newspaper rants—oops again, I meant comments—and have provided fodder for at least today’s column and perhaps enough to get me through until everyone comes back from vacation and I can return to my usual subjects of the Rahmfather and the aldermen of this great city.

Gratefully,

John Kass

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 23, 2012 at 2:35am

Who said crap legacy media is dead?

Schlock talentless journalism still pays -and John Kass even admits it!

Permalink Reply by Fran Kondorf on August 23, 2012 at 2:35am

This.

in it to win it said:

IF...I ever have to pay for a bike registration, I'm going to find Kass' driving route to work and plant my meandering, slow, ass in the middle of the lane in front of his car to accompany him on his commute as a fellow contributor to the great coffers of Chicago.
Otherwise, I'll continue to dodge door zones, potholes, buses, cabs, texting drivers, snow piled in bike lanes, etc.
BUT...If/when we get the registration requirement; our voices will be louder and we'll have the "I'm paying my way too..." argument everytime we rally for bike friendly improvements.
HOWEVER...Hey jackass (Kass), I'm paying property tax, sales tax, and many other taxes that pay for this fine city of ours. And as a taxpayer, I want the bicycle improvements in our city. So BACK OFF.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 23, 2012 at 3:00am

Ugh! A comments on comments column. Kass' tank is on empty. (and probably has been for some time).

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 23, 2012 at 5:51am


Thanks--glad someone got the joke :-).

 


 Cameron Puetz said:

I know that you meant this as a joke, but it's much better written than Kass's actual response.

Permalink Reply by Mike Keating on August 23, 2012 at 9:04am

I wrote John Kass an "open letter" that I sent to him via email at jskass@tribune.com and posted it on my blog, www.IllinoisBicycleLaw.com. Link here. Here's the letter:

John Kass
Chicago Tribune
435 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Via Email: jskass@tribune.com

Dear Mr. Kass,

Your attack on Chicago's bicyclists is not only inaccurate and misguided, it borders on delusional. The reality is that the purpose of increasing Chicago's bicycling infrastructure was to make Chicago more easily accessible, more affordable and less congested. These are goals that no Chicagoan should oppose.

Yet, in spite of these truly noble efforts and the opportunity for "The City That Works" to make this happen, you chose to aim your sights on bicycles and portray bicyclists as free-loading scofflaws. Equally troublesome is that you use the very serious issue of gang-related murder in Chicago as a contrasting issue. This is a simple minded tactic to try and transfer Chicago's residents' real concern about the serious issue of crime overwhelming parts of the city onto Chicago's plans for the development of bicycling infrastructure.

As I understand your point, all the money spent on bicycles and bicycle infrastructure by the City of Chicago could otherwise be used to help fund the Chicago Police Department's efforts to fight crime in the city. This same argument could be made about any single line item in the City's budget. In addition, instead of using your considerable platform to shine light on an issue that does not get the attention a crime wave should, you want to write about bicycles and the relatively minor budget for the development of Chicago's bicycle infrastructure. Shame on you and the Chicago Tribune for printing this nonsense.

In the most simple terms I can use, bicycling is a good thing and it is good for Chicago. Bicycling increases citizens' quality of life and their relationship with their city. It also promotes a healthy lifestyle and reduces the number of cars on the roads. Chicago's plans to make itself one of the world's great bicycling cities is the kind of vision that makes this city great. Chicago's master architect Daniel Burnham's is famously quoted as saying, ""Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized."

Chicago, led by Mayor Emanuel, has made no small plans when it comes to bicycling. For that, Chicagoans should be grateful. The violence that currently plagues this great city is a totally separate issue. And one that needs a voice with a powerful platform. Someone like John Kass of the Chicago Tribune, "The World's Greatest Newspaper." Rise to the occasion, Mr. Kass, and fight the good fight. And let Chicago's plans for bicycling be a positive force in this city. We need all the positivity possible.

Sincerely,

Michael S. Keating
Keating Law Offices, P.C.
Author: www.IllinoisBicycleLaw.com

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on August 23, 2012 at 9:18am

Here's the letter to the editor we just submitted with partners AARP Illinois, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation and New Communities Program.

Thanks,

Ethan, Active Trans

John Kass’ column, “Introducing bike tolls and the Rahm-PASS” (8/22/2012), implies all Chicagoans who ride bikes are “elitist” “hipsters” only concerned about “carbon-footprintless pedaling” and not worthy of our city’s investment. If Mr. Kass could get beyond his stereotypes, he would know that all kinds of Chicagoans ride bikes and want safer streets.

 

We are Chicago’s children, sisters and grandmothers. We live on the north side, west side and south side. We are black, white and Hispanic. We speak English, Spanish and Polish. We are going to the grocery store, dropping by the park and visiting family. We are going to work as your teachers, your waiters and your IT professionals. We are poor, we are wealthy, we are middle class. We are also drivers. We pay gas taxes, sales taxes and property taxes that pay for roads. We write today because we share one thing in common: we ride bikes because it’s healthy, affordable and convenient – and we want “complete streets” in our neighborhoods that safely accommodate everyone – people on foot, in cars, and, yes, on bikes.

 

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey, 24 percent of Midwesterners ride a bike at least once a week; and 71 percent of Americans would like to bicycle more, but fewer than half feel that their community is designed for making biking safe. Most Chicagoans avoid riding on city streets for fear of their safety. We need safer streets for biking in order to access jobs and basic services in our communities. Biking also provides a rare opportunity for healthy physical activity in our busy daily routines.  

 

The 100 miles of protected bike lanes that Mayor Emanuel is adding will enable thousands more Chicagoans to get out of cars and onto bikes and, by giving bikes their own space, will make streets more orderly and safer for everyone. But 100 miles is less than two percent of our street network, and cars still get to use streets with protected bike lanes.

 

For about the same cost as just one mile of freeway, Chicago can build an entire city-wide network of protected bike lanes. This could provide safe and easy access to a healthy, affordable and convenient form of transportation that our neighborhoods need. It’s a wise investment for Chicagoans and our neighborhoods.

 

Ron Burke, Executive Director, Active Transportation Alliance, Chicago, IL

Bob Gallo, State Director, AARP Illinois, Chicago, IL

Joy Aruguete, Executive Director, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, Chicago, IL

Christy Prahl, Director, New Communities Program – Humboldt Park, Chicago, IL

RSS

Groups

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service