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I just missed the press conference and just hung out at lunch to see how it would all work. It seemed easy enough, so I took Dearborn as my starting route home to Roscoe Village. Normally I hit Franklin to Orleans then north to Lincoln.

I have to say, it was pretty easy and relatively safe. The ambassadors were helpful with the the auto traffic. The walkers were easy enough to avoid. I had to chuckle at two riders riding side by side in the lane.

What I didn't see was any oncoming traffic; southbound riders. I am guessing that will come in time or at other times during the day.

Way to go Mayor RE! This is really making a statement.

Who else rode the new path?

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The least we could do for ourselves is not give them that true reason.  If you want to crush lights in the loop - hit up Clark.  It's what I do when feeling aggressive.  The DBL has to be mellow.  Something is gonna happen on it this Spring.  I just hope a cyclist isn't at fault.

 

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

While I agree with you, opponents of bike infrastructure will always come up with some BS excuse why they hate cyclists, whether it's true or not.

Anne Alt said:

Exactly. Bike traffic in the Dearborn lane is SO visible to thousands of people every day. If some cyclists blow red lights there, they are BEGGING for the disrespect of other road users. Is disrespect what we really want?

NYC (7.0 mi) said:

I'm with you.  This is the one road that I wish we would all be willing to obey the signals.  It is the prime example that most non-cyclists have of bike infrastructure in Chicago.  We lose the ability to call others out for stepping into the lane, turning against the red arrow, standing obliviously in the lane, etc. if we are jumping lights, waiting in the crosswalk, etc.  Why would anyone have to respect the lane if the cyclists don't?

 

I roll nearly all reds EXCEPT in the DBL.


Alex Z said:

I always obey the traffic signals on Dearborn.

I agree that I think that Dearborn is a special case and will warrant some truely mellow riding. (and I've been making an effort to mellow my own riding out in general)  I also agree that the bike haters will always find a reason to hate even if they have to make it up.

But I also think that its fair that if we are expecting drivers and pedestrians to respect the rules of the road that protect cyclists' rights of way (the bike lane, using their signals etc) that we should be prepared to expect cyclists to respect the rules of the road that protect pedestrian and cage drivers' rights of way too.

I don't think that logic is unique to the DBL.

Earlier this week, in the DBL...

Me: Are you drafting?

Bike Cop riding behind us: Of course. 

Me: What do we do about all of the pedestrians in this lane?

Bike Cop: Run 'em over.

:-/

I think I'll just stick to giving them a shout.  It's not intentional.  The lane needs better paint and some time to get used to.  

haha! When a cop tells you that, it says a lot!

Melissa said:

Earlier this week, in the DBL...

Me: Are you drafting?

Bike Cop riding behind us: Of course. 

Me: What do we do about all of the pedestrians in this lane?

Bike Cop: Run 'em over.

:-/

I think I'll just stick to giving them a shout.  It's not intentional.  The lane needs better paint and some time to get used to.  

I yelled a lot of cheery "good mornings" on the way in today. ;-)  Too bad I did not have your bike cop.  Of course, no self-respecting bike cop would be drafting me even on the DBL!

Here's my "earlier this week in the DBL"...

Pickup truck is parked in the bike lane.

I knock on the window and plan to politely remind the driver he's in a bike lane.

His significant other runs up to the truck and says, "We know, we know!  We're sorry - moving now."

I thank her and start pedaling off.

I get 10 or so feet away and now she's yelling, "Yeah, that's right!  Ride your white a** somewhere else before I do something!"

Humans are the worst.

blair_ said:

Humans are the worst.

Much worse than dogs...

blair_ said:

Humans are the worst.

Holy cow! The weather forecast for Tuesday shows a high of 83! Looking forward to seeing lots of bikes on Dearborn then.

Had a lovely ride there this morning - before and after doing my volunteer shift at the CDOT traffic count.  Enjoyed a serenade by a pair of cardinals while I was hanging out in Printers Row.

For a moment I thought I was in Amsterdam this afternoon. Riding north on Dearborn I was surrounded by about a dozen cyclists, almost all of them stopping for the redlight.

Quite the sight.

Hey Rahm, can we have more of these please? I might even vote for you the next time around.

I got on Dearborn at Wacker going northbound, so I didn't get to enjoy the two lanes of bike traffic in the lane.  I took the Dearborn bike lane up to Chicago Ave until... it just ended.   I know there are only so many miles of bike lanes and I know they will end sometime somewhere but... the bike lane is on the left side of the street and when it ends, I'm still on the left side of the street wishing I could get to the right where I belong when there is no bike lane.

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