I rode Dearborn today...anyone else?

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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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on May 21, 2013 at 1:43am

Today I almost hit a pedestrian. I was southbound coming over the bridge and crossing Wacker on my green light. A man stood on the southwest sidewalk corner waiting to cross Dearborn. He looked right, then left, so I thought he had seen me coming, just a few yards away, but no, I guess his brain didn't register me. He waited another second, then stepped out RIGHT in my path. I had been riding my brake anyway but had to brake hard and fishtailed as I screamed, and missed him by two inches. I could tell from the shocked look on his face that he had had no clue that I was there until I was two inches away.

 

I'd also like to put in a general plea that when you, my fellow bicyclists, are turning right to get onto the southbound lane of Dearborn from Washington or other eastbound streets, please do NOT make a fast and wide turn that arcs into the northbound bike lane, because there may well be a bicyclist in that northbound lane who wants to avoid head-on crashes as much as you do. :) Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on May 21, 2013 at 2:22am

Good advice, on the last point.

 

I'd add that I do think it may be wise to take things a bit slower on Dearborn in general, especially when approaching an intersection where pedestrians are likely to step out without looking.

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on May 21, 2013 at 2:37am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inattentional_blindness

Or in the words of the Rock Man: "You see what you want to see and hear what you want to hear."  He wanted to see a clear path.  The predominant moving obstructions on a city street are the big, four-wheeled variety, so that's what he was looking for.  If we lived in Amsterdam, he'd probably be looking for a bike. :-)

Not saying it would help in this instance, or very often, but I always ride with my front light set to flash, even in bright daylight.  I figure if it snags the glance of an occasional pedestrian or cager who is about to leap in front of me and causes them to stop, it's worth having it going all the time.


Michelle Stenzel said:

I could tell from the shocked look on his face that he had had no clue that I was there until I was two inches away.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on May 21, 2013 at 2:53am

Lake is the worst (heading southbound, anyway) because peds bunch up due to the 'L' station being nearby and you're going downhill from Upper Wacker.

Alex Z said:

Good advice, on the last point.

 

I'd add that I do think it may be wise to take things a bit slower on Dearborn in general, especially when approaching an intersection where pedestrians are likely to step out without looking.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on May 21, 2013 at 3:10am

Also I think you almost always have a green light going SB at Lake after crossing at Wacker (whereas I usually get stopped at a red at Randolph; so Lake and Washington are the two big "conflict points" for me).

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on May 21, 2013 at 3:51am

Apologies for beating a bit of a dead horse, but Clark (southbound) and Franklin (northbound) are reasonable alternatives. :-)


Chi Lowe 12.5+ mi said:

It's actually safer for me to ride in traffic some days, and I don't think that was the intent.

Permalink Reply by CaptFinny on May 21, 2013 at 4:06am

I did as well, from the south starting point, up to Madison. Not too bad, just have to wathc for the pedestrians. I find the afternoon MUCH more dangerous...

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 21, 2013 at 4:28am

That would be the Westin Hotel, which has always been a traffic black hole as far as I'm concerned.

Chi Lowe 12.5+ mi said:

I did.  And it was a special morning where the lane was blocked by:..  A cab in front of the "Whatever All The Cabs Stop At" just N of the bridge

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on May 21, 2013 at 4:33am

Oh that that was true.  Wouldn't it be great if cars went in and never came out? :-)

Anne Alt said:

That would be the Westin Hotel, which has always been a traffic black hole as far as I'm concerned.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on May 22, 2013 at 4:09pm

like a car black hole!

or

car quick sand!

or

car eating monster!

Skip Montanaro 12mi said:

Oh that that was true.  Wouldn't it be great if cars went in and never came out? :-)

Anne Alt said:

That would be the Westin Hotel, which has always been a traffic black hole as far as I'm concerned.

Permalink Reply by WillG on May 23, 2013 at 2:35am

So yesterday was awesome.

Going home from work around 4:50. Up over the river, headed north, crest the little hill/bridge. Oh look! a car has turned RIGHT off Kinzie and is using the PBL as a northbound southbound automobile lane.

I actually stopped, put my foot down and just started clapping. Unbelievable.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on May 23, 2013 at 4:00am

So, Will, did the driver take a bow?

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