'Walk your bike on the sidewalk' sting operation...I got a ticket as did others

Corner of Michigan and Monroe..last couple of blocks before lakefront path

Just wishing they would pick a more clear cut spot if they wanted to enforce some of the many traffic violations that bikers are responsible for.

There's really no good choice here (in my opinion). Cars are going faster past Michigan going East on Monroe and there's not a lot of room for bikes on the side. Many if not most bikers, ride on the sidewalk here for this reason.

According to the grumpy cop who wrote my ticket, he doesn't care and I can call my alderman. Yay.

tckt.jpg

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Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on September 4, 2014 at 10:01am

I am not 100% sure but I believe Illinois requires people over 18 to have a ID on their person at all times.

I have my license number memorized but if they ran it my weight listed is my former 30 lbs fatter self.

Davis Moore said:

I'm sure you're being tongue in cheek but in case you're not, you might want to rethink that. If a cop really wants to write you a ticket, and needs to determine your identity to do so, they can detain you for as long as is reasonably necessary to do so. That can mean cuffing you and taking you to the district precinct office and holding you there until your identity can be confirmed.

Furthermore, while it's not illegal to not have id on you while riding a bike, lying to an officer about your identity is against the law.

The Korn said:

I know I'm going to get crucified by the uptight law & order types for this, but this is the main reason why I almost never bike with ID.

My name? Uhhh... Bob Johnson. From Denver. Yeah, that'll do. I'm Bob Johnson from Denver.

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Permalink Reply by The Korn on September 4, 2014 at 10:19am

There is no law to that effect. (The state would have to issue IDs for free to everyone, and they're not about to do that!) http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.dsp_conte...

Chitown_Mike said:

I am not 100% sure but I believe Illinois requires people over 18 to have a ID on their person at all times.

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Permalink Reply by The Korn on September 4, 2014 at 10:28am

It was half tongue in cheek. Every time I ride it's pretty much without ID, unless I'm going to the store or have other reason to have my wallet on me. (I've had a really bad run of lost wallets this year, much safer to just leave them at home.)

Of course it's not a great idea to lie to cops. The other half of the coin is that realistically most cops can't be bothered to haul you anywhere (let alone you and your bike), at least not for the types of things they typically get in bikers' faces over. As long as you're not flagrantly being an asshole towards them, they'll tend to just write down your name and address on the citation and be done with it. YMMV, of course.

Respectfully, Bob from Denver. ;)

Davis Moore said:

I'm sure you're being tongue in cheek but in case you're not, you might want to rethink that. If a cop really wants to write you a ticket, and needs to determine your identity to do so, they can detain you for as long as is reasonably necessary to do so. That can mean cuffing you and taking you to the district precinct office and holding you there until your identity can be confirmed.

Furthermore, while it's not illegal to not have id on you while riding a bike, lying to an officer about your identity is against the law.

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Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on September 4, 2014 at 10:53am

Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets looking for bike blogs and a place to sleep; on the side in Chicago shoulda seen him go go go.. they said hey babe, walk you bike on the side walk!

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Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on September 4, 2014 at 11:31am

There are so many meme pictures I want to post....but won't because I don't think the site could handle it.

But I will post this, just because it makes as much sense......

Irvin Steinert said:

Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets looking for bike blogs and a place to sleep; on the side in Chicago shoulda seen him go go go.. they said hey babe, walk you bike on the side walk!

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Stahlman on September 5, 2014 at 3:40am

Looks like it was Parks and Rec. that was filming there.

http://chicagoist.com/2014/09/04/nbcs_parks_and_recreation_filming_...

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Permalink Reply by KayCee on September 5, 2014 at 4:47am

I am so familiar with that stretch- it's awful. I seriously try to ride on Michigan, but I feel really out of place in the street- it starts around Jackson. Cabs, busses, and speeders. I was thinking the other day it's wide enough in some spaces they probably could designate part of the sidewalk for bike traffic. Or the street for bikes. Or SOMETHING. I have walked my bike or ridden suuuupeeer slooowly and apologetically, depending on pedestrian traffic.

Sorry about your ticket!

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Permalink Reply by Jordan M S on September 7, 2014 at 12:25am

I don't bike on sidewalks and I have no problem with cops cracking down on behavior, even if it's just to collect money (I say that now at least...). But whether the goal is revenue or pedestrian safety, I would think a crosswalk sting would be a much better use of resources.

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Permalink Reply by The Korn on September 7, 2014 at 2:10am

What do you mean by that?

Jordan Schlife said:

I would think a crosswalk sting would be a much better use of resources.

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Permalink Reply by Lee Crandell on September 7, 2014 at 2:56am

Where exactly were you riding? I'm pretty sure it's perfectly legal to ride on the sidewalk if you're in a Chicago Park District park, including Grant Park. The distinction is a little murky around Grant Park, but you should be able to bike on the sidewalk through Grant Park or along the east side of Michigan Ave., as long as you are yielding to pedestrians and riding on the right-hand side per park rules. Though Millennium Park is excluded and prohibits biking. It wouldn't surprise me if the cops didn't know exactly where the sidewalk riding rule change happens, since it's a confusing mess of rules.