Dangerous patch on the lakeshore path near Addison

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on June 25, 2013 at 12:01pm

It's been there since at least 2007 when I started commuting along the lake.  That's a fairly steep slope and turn that can be dangerous at any time since a lot of bikes go in to it too fast.  All you can do is slow down for it and watch out for other people.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on June 25, 2013 at 12:06pm

You can take the frontage road from the entry to the golf course parking lot (on the south edge of the tennis courts) to the stop sign at the bike path.  I often do, because the little stretch you highlighted leans the wrong way and has some bumps that briefly disconnect your tires from the surface.  As a result, as you indicated, navigating it can be a bit dicey, especially when wet.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on June 25, 2013 at 12:08pm

The asphalt is relatively new (done in the last year or so), and I slipped recently over the yellow line when it was raining (and I have good tires, they never, ever slip)

But I'd agree, slowing down is the best approach to keep yourself, and others, safe

Tricolor said:

It's been there since at least 2007 when I started commuting along the lake.  That's a fairly steep slope and turn that can be dangerous at any time since a lot of bikes go in to it too fast.  All you can do is slow down for it and watch out for other people.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bailey on June 25, 2013 at 12:28pm

Thanks to posters so far, but I already know that slowing down helps. So more specifically:

1. Is there any person or organization likely to have data on whether this is a serious trouble spot? (I'm betting it is.)

2. Is there anywhere to submit a complaint or request for fixing?

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Permalink Reply by WillG on June 25, 2013 at 12:50pm

1. Probably not.

2. Chicago Park District is the bureaucratic group with control of the Lake Front Trail. I would bring the issue up with them.

I've never noticed an issue with that portion of the trail except, as Skip pointed out, the uneven transition between concrete and asphalt.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew on June 25, 2013 at 1:02pm

Regarding #2, this seems like good data for a new site recently launched by Steven Vance and Gin Kilgore.

Introducing "Close Calls", website to record your near misses

Michael Bailey said:

Thanks to posters so far, but I already know that slowing down helps. So more specifically:

1. Is there any person or organization likely to have data on whether this is a serious trouble spot? (I'm betting it is.)

2. Is there anywhere to submit a complaint or request for fixing?

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Permalink Reply by Tim S on June 25, 2013 at 1:38pm

never have had an issue there, well aside from loads of runners. 

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy on June 25, 2013 at 2:04pm

My rear wheel went out from under me on that very turn in a rainstorm, but that was back in 2009 (right after I was told I was about to get laid off, it was a rough week) and I think that was before the patch you're mentioning went in.  Since then I take that turn much slower, an obvious solution which has worked.  But that doesn't stop every patch that goes in from seemingly making the path worse, in that they're all uneven and lead to even more up and down bumps than any problem areas they're "fixing."

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on June 25, 2013 at 3:31pm

I don't recommend using the frontage road because then you have to slow down to turn back on to the path and that gets in the way of people riding straight through, which is more dangerous than slowing down a bit when it's wet.

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