Why is this an exciting time to be a bike commuter in Chicago?

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 30, 2012 at 12:48pm

I'm confused by all the references to "protected" bike lanes. Is this in reference to the current lanes that have flexible plastic bollards sticking up every few feet? My understanding is that these are temporary measures to assess the potential for true protected bike lanes, which I'm still hoping for.

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Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on August 30, 2012 at 1:00pm

The parked cars, not the white posts, are supposed to provide the physical protection that keeps motorized traffic from going into the bike lanes, according to CDOT planner Mike Amsden in this interview:

http://gridchicago.com/2012/a-post-about-posts-why-cdot-took-out-bo...

Since a lot of people have complained that they don't like the way the posts look (personally I think they look nice as long as they're installed in even intervals fairly close together) CDOT is hoping that they eventually won't need to use them for protected lanes because drivers will already know to park on the left side of the bike lane.

Mike says that while permanent protective infrastructure, like concrete curbs or bollards on the left side of the bike lane, is not politically or economically feasible at this point, that's the eventual goal.

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Permalink Reply by william on August 30, 2012 at 6:33pm

speaking of reactionaries, check out the comments of this rightwing cop blog: http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/2012/08/bike-lane-problems.html

jeez.

"I'll cruise through bucktown. And not give up my right of way to bicyclists. I've only had one flip over my hood so far."

Bill Savage said:

John

It's an exciting time to be a cyclist in Chicago because we are about to see a major collision between theory and reality.

The theory is that dedicated bike lanes will improve cycling for one and all.

The reality is that dedicated bike lanes will simply produce a new political conflict between advocates for cycling and the status-quo folks.

This conflict will be exacerbated by physical realities produced by the very improvements in cycling infrastructure that cyclists otherwise embrace.  We're seeing the beginning of the backlash in articles by jackasses like Konkol in the ST and Kass in the Trib. 

But that jackassery will gain momentum, as cyclists who don't play nice make things hard on cyclists who do--just like they did before the city spent millions on infrastructure to make it easier on bikers.  I have lost count of how often riders blow past me on Kinzie or Elston, out into the "car only" lanes that "bike only" lanes logically and necessarily produce. 

As much as drivers and pedestrians already hate cyclists who blow red lights and stop signs, and who swerve around people in crosswalks, they will hate us even more when we do so in areas with "bike only" lanes.  For crissakes, they'll say, we give 'em their own lane, and they still run me over or cut in front of my car!

So, I continue to avoid both the Lakefront Bike Path and the Kinzie Corridor and other places where cyclists congregate.  Let me take my own routes, quiet side streets, and calm.

In short, it's an exciting time to be a bike commuter in Chicago the same way it was an exciting time to be an enlisted man in a European army in 1939.  Things are about to heat up.

Cheers!

Bill

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 30, 2012 at 6:39pm

Looks like Mr Pork-Rind needs to be put on permanent bike patrol or else righsized and sent back down to the minors as a mall-security guard. 

william said:

speaking of reactionaries, check out the comments of this rightwing cop blog: http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/2012/08/bike-lane-problems.html

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 30, 2012 at 6:43pm

Good to hear, as we seem to have bought into the idea that what they're currently placing is "protected."

We need a more accurate term for them; "bollarded?"

John Greenfield said:

or bollards on the left side of the bike lane, is not politically or economically feasible at this point, that's the eventual goal.

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 30, 2012 at 6:50pm

Bollardized?   Too close to Bowdlerized I guess. 

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Permalink Reply by Bill Savage on August 30, 2012 at 9:56pm

Bollixed is more like it.  But the England-English meaning of the term might elude people.

James BlackHeron said:

Bollardized?   Too close to Bowdlerized I guess. 

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 30, 2012 at 10:12pm

But what do you think of the new bike lanes overall?

Bill Savage said:

Bollixed is more like it.  But the England-English meaning of the term might elude people.

James BlackHeron said:

Bollardized?   Too close to Bowdlerized I guess. 

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on August 31, 2012 at 12:48pm

I have been riding in the city for over 30 years.  I commute but not every day.  Its not such a solitary pursuit these days. In the early 80's I was one of only a handful of cyclists on the road.  Because of this most cars were surprised to see me they didn't know what to do with a bike on the street. This made things more dangerous regardless of intent.   There are more and more bikes on city streets these days. That reality has made motorized vehicles more aware.  This is more and more true the farther in you get.  in the few miles surrounding the loop there are often a gaggle of bikes at a stop light. This reality has made it easier for us all.  With more and more bikes there are more and more riders who can help with a pump, a patch or a phone.  City blocks have lots of bikes, all kinds of them, locked up. Its a beautiful sight.  More an more somebody rides up and says, "nice wheels" and that's what they really mean.

 

Unchanged is the sense that we are junior citizens of the road. That remains a problem and a mission.  Hence the chatter of protected lanes,  whether the law does and should apply to us, and whether we are protected by those who are supposed to serve and protect.  This forum, even when divisive, helps us focus on that mission.  We may disagree on what should be done but all seem to agree that there is plenty to do.  Thanks Ethan at ATA, Elizabeth at Ride of Silence Chicago and the many other activists who keep up the good fight on behalf of cyclists. 

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Permalink Reply by Bill Savage on September 1, 2012 at 9:50pm

Waste of time and money.  They aren't true separated lanes for bikes, and delivery vans park in them with impunity.  They are not safe, as now we get doored by passengers rather than drivers exiting their cars.  The money spent on them would have been better spent on covering up the bike lane portions of steel grate bridges (how many thousands of flats a year do those things cause) and on many many more miles of the newly-widened painted lanes.  A few miles here and there of half-assed separate lanes do not transform Chicago into Copenhagen.

h' said:

But what do you think of the new bike lanes overall?

Bill Savage said:

Bollixed is more like it.  But the England-English meaning of the term might elude people.

James BlackHeron said:

Bollardized?   Too close to Bowdlerized I guess. 

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Permalink Reply by Jason Greenberg on September 2, 2012 at 9:56am

Hear, Hear David Barish! Great attitude; love your way of putting your experience into words.

Reading the angry, intolerant and divisive comments on that police blogsite was depressing; so was finding some of that bile right here on the 'ole chainlink. David's focus on being constructive and sharing kudos for the positive efforts of folks to support growth and acceptance of cyclists is a model for us all. Sharing these positives will do more to bridge the gap between motorists/cyclists, in-city/suburban commuters, bike infrastructure lovers/haters, than the bickering that only cements people's dislike of the people on the other side of the issue.

The point is there are a lot more of us all sharing the roads in new ways that change. We are building (or constantly updating) the social pact of public space use; and we all have to figure out how to get along and adapt. That's why this is an exciting time to be a bike commuter in Chicago, because we have reached the tipping point of noticeable, constant presence of cyclists on the streets, so that motorists, pedestrians, and other commuters in transport are experiencing cyclists as a daily growing presence. We (the people of Chicago) are now actively working out (in our laws, in news & social media, in community discussions, and in personal experience) how we interact with bikers and make best use the streets.

I love this time in Chicago. I actually feel much safer on the streets (while still understanding all the dangers) knowing that all street users are getting much more familiar with cyclists and its about to get even better. Still much work to be done, for sure, but its heading in the right direction...

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Permalink Reply by Bill Savage on September 2, 2012 at 10:05pm

Jason: right on.  I know my own comments can be negative, because I'm a pessimist, but you frame things well.  We're all working out a new way of sharing the road.  And I'd hope that cyclists, pedestrians and drivers (and many, if not all, of us are not just ONE of these things: I usually ride, often walk, and occasionally drive) can all learn to get along and share the space so everyone gets where they want to go swiftly and (most important!) safely. 

Jason Greenberg said:

Hear, Hear David Barish! Great attitude; love your way of putting your experience into words.

Reading the angry, intolerant and divisive comments on that police blogsite was depressing; so was finding some of that bile right here on the 'ole chainlink. David's focus on being constructive and sharing kudos for the positive efforts of folks to support growth and acceptance of cyclists is a model for us all. Sharing these positives will do more to bridge the gap between motorists/cyclists, in-city/suburban commuters, bike infrastructure lovers/haters, than the bickering that only cements people's dislike of the people on the other side of the issue.

The point is there are a lot more of us all sharing the roads in new ways that change. We are building (or constantly updating) the social pact of public space use; and we all have to figure out how to get along and adapt. That's why this is an exciting time to be a bike commuter in Chicago, because we have reached the tipping point of noticeable, constant presence of cyclists on the streets, so that motorists, pedestrians, and other commuters in transport are experiencing cyclists as a daily growing presence. We (the people of Chicago) are now actively working out (in our laws, in news & social media, in community discussions, and in personal experience) how we interact with bikers and make best use the streets.

I love this time in Chicago. I actually feel much safer on the streets (while still understanding all the dangers) knowing that all street users are getting much more familiar with cyclists and its about to get even better. Still much work to be done, for sure, but its heading in the right direction...

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