So I was riding home last night... - The Chainlink2024-03-29T11:27:58Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724&feed=yes&xn_auth=noWow jeff, thats interesting.…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-20:2211490:Comment:186692008-10-20T18:39:41.448ZAbbyhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Abby
Wow jeff, thats interesting. Now that you said it, I asked around and several people in my office admit they were told that as children learning to ride.<br />
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I wonder why this is taught in the first place?<br />
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<cite>Jeff Koss said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724&page=2&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A18664&x=1#2211490Comment18664"><div>I usually tell the person to ride on the correct side of the street, pointing to the…</div>
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Wow jeff, thats interesting. Now that you said it, I asked around and several people in my office admit they were told that as children learning to ride.<br />
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I wonder why this is taught in the first place?<br />
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<cite>Jeff Koss said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724&page=2&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A18664&x=1#2211490Comment18664"><div>I usually tell the person to ride on the correct side of the street, pointing to the opposite side. Strangely enough, 80% of the time they tell me that they are, and that I'm wrong because you're supposed to ride against traffic so cars can see you more clearly. Every time I hear this my jaw kind of drops. If I'm in a bike lane at the time, I can usually find a huge arrow on the pavement pointing in the direction they're coming from, and ask them what they think that means...<br/> <br/>
As for honking, carry a $2 air horn in your pocket, and if they honk at you, "honk" back :P</div>
</blockquote> I usually tell the person to…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-20:2211490:Comment:186642008-10-20T18:16:10.768ZJeff Kosshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JeffKoss
I usually tell the person to ride on the correct side of the street, pointing to the opposite side. Strangely enough, 80% of the time they tell me that they are, and that I'm wrong because you're supposed to ride against traffic so cars can see you more clearly. Every time I hear this my jaw kind of drops. If I'm in a bike lane at the time, I can usually find a huge arrow on the pavement pointing in the direction they're coming from, and ask them what they think that means...<br />
<br />
As for honking,…
I usually tell the person to ride on the correct side of the street, pointing to the opposite side. Strangely enough, 80% of the time they tell me that they are, and that I'm wrong because you're supposed to ride against traffic so cars can see you more clearly. Every time I hear this my jaw kind of drops. If I'm in a bike lane at the time, I can usually find a huge arrow on the pavement pointing in the direction they're coming from, and ask them what they think that means...<br />
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As for honking, carry a $2 air horn in your pocket, and if they honk at you, "honk" back :P This summer the 66 (Chicago A…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-19:2211490:Comment:185262008-10-19T23:42:43.258ZNataliehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Natalie
This summer the 66 (Chicago Avenue) bus brushed past me about a foot away on the Chicago River bridge and again east of the bridge after I'd passed while the bus was picking up passengers. After I unleashed a string of profanities, a pedestrian yelled at me that I should report the driver. So I went to CTA's site and emailed customer service (ctahelp@chicagotransit.com) with the approximate time and the bus's number. In polite language I explained what happened and received an almost immediate…
This summer the 66 (Chicago Avenue) bus brushed past me about a foot away on the Chicago River bridge and again east of the bridge after I'd passed while the bus was picking up passengers. After I unleashed a string of profanities, a pedestrian yelled at me that I should report the driver. So I went to CTA's site and emailed customer service (ctahelp@chicagotransit.com) with the approximate time and the bus's number. In polite language I explained what happened and received an almost immediate reply that the CTA takes safety seriously and that the driver would be reprimanded. I don't know whether that actually ever happened, but it made me feel better.<br />
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One time my sister confronted a bus driver after he squeezed her off the road. He opened his door and yelled at her threateningly, "Just who do you think you're talking to?"<br />
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She looked directly at him and his CTA patch. "I'm talking to CTA operator number 4329" (or whatever it was). That shut him up pretty fast, and he closed his door and drove off.<br />
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<cite>Eric said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724#2211490Comment17807"><div>I got cut off by a bus on Sunday riding down Roosevelt. I know there's a bike lane, and I was in it! This driver thought he'd just go ahead of me then cut me off to get to his next bus stop! Then he proceeded to drive IN THE BIKE LANE from Halstead almost the whole way to Ashland. I was so ticked off when I finally rode past him I slapped his window and scared the shit out of him. I'm still kinda peeved about it and still considering calling CTA about it. I still remember the bus number and the exact time of day. I think my gps even has where I had to slam on my brakes because he started merging right in front of me.</div>
</blockquote> Eric said:I got cut off by a…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-19:2211490:Comment:183702008-10-19T17:50:05.234ZBrian Curtinhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/BrianCurtin
<cite>Eric said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724#2211490Comment17807"><div>I got cut off by a bus on Sunday riding down Roosevelt. I know there's a bike lane, and I was in it! This driver thought he'd just go ahead of me then cut me off to get to his next bus stop! Then he proceeded to drive IN THE BIKE LANE from Halstead almost the whole way to Ashland. I was so ticked off when I finally rode past him I slapped his window and…</div>
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<cite>Eric said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724#2211490Comment17807"><div>I got cut off by a bus on Sunday riding down Roosevelt. I know there's a bike lane, and I was in it! This driver thought he'd just go ahead of me then cut me off to get to his next bus stop! Then he proceeded to drive IN THE BIKE LANE from Halstead almost the whole way to Ashland. I was so ticked off when I finally rode past him I slapped his window and scared the shit out of him. I'm still kinda peeved about it and still considering calling CTA about it. I still remember the bus number and the exact time of day. I think my gps even has where I had to slam on my brakes because he started merging right in front of me.</div>
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If you <i>don't</i> call, the drivers don't think there is a problem and they will keep on doing that to you or others. Just call, it's very quick. I have called CTA twice and both times a manager called me back within the week to take down more details. I don't know for sure what action was taken on the driver (not my business anyways), but they got my details, knew who was driving given the route number and bus ID I gave them, and took down my side of the story.<br />
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If you don't do anything about it, just get used to it happening. Nevermind.
Kevin Mulcky said:…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-18:2211490:Comment:182332008-10-18T16:46:35.792ZKevin Mulckyhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/KevinMulcky
Nevermind.<br />
<cite>Kevin Mulcky said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724#2211490Comment17907"><div>I mutter to myself, "many people believe in the myth that a car horn actually <i>does</i> something," when people honk at me and continue to go about my business. All that name calling and fist shaking just pisses me off soooo much. For my own sake and sanity, i stopped yelling at people.</div>
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Nevermind.<br />
<cite>Kevin Mulcky said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724#2211490Comment17907"><div>I mutter to myself, "many people believe in the myth that a car horn actually <i>does</i> something," when people honk at me and continue to go about my business. All that name calling and fist shaking just pisses me off soooo much. For my own sake and sanity, i stopped yelling at people.</div>
</blockquote> a recent, and fun, encounter…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-17:2211490:Comment:180952008-10-17T21:46:25.559ZL. Jeromehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/LJerome
a recent, and fun, encounter riding east on division comes to mind - there was a bit of a stretch between lights so, as we know, cars gun it up to about 40mph to get to the next red light and stop... although I was as far to the right as is reasonable i got a long honk - i did my sit up, put left arm straight and way back like WTF? and then swing it forward showing how much room they have to go by me and that they really just should stop being a douche<br />
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the car guns its engine and flies past…
a recent, and fun, encounter riding east on division comes to mind - there was a bit of a stretch between lights so, as we know, cars gun it up to about 40mph to get to the next red light and stop... although I was as far to the right as is reasonable i got a long honk - i did my sit up, put left arm straight and way back like WTF? and then swing it forward showing how much room they have to go by me and that they really just should stop being a douche<br />
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the car guns its engine and flies past me, honking again, government plates - so i pick up the pedaling a bit, knowing i will catch the fool in a light or two... two later the traffic is very clumped, backed up, and stopped - i cannot ride down the right side if i wanted to ...<br />
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so i slither between two lanes and roll up alongside Mr. Honker (driver side) with all windows down. i lean down/in and loudly say "HONK!" into his car as i pass -- and again a longer, drawn-out honk comes from the driver<br />
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light went green as i got to the intersection and traffic was so backed up that i was able to continue my way down division while he sat wasting gas and time I've done that, as well as ki…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-17:2211490:Comment:180932008-10-17T21:41:17.799ZAmmohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Ammo
I've done that, as well as kicking thier doors closed and spitting on thier hoods. =X<br />
<cite>Jessica said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724&page=2&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A18089&x=1#2211490Comment18089"><div>Yeah, and that's when people get my trademarked 'smacks'. I just reach out and open hand whatever part of the car gets to me first...windshield, bumper, quarter panel, passenger's face......</div>
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I've done that, as well as kicking thier doors closed and spitting on thier hoods. =X<br />
<cite>Jessica said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topic/show?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A17724&page=2&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A18089&x=1#2211490Comment18089"><div>Yeah, and that's when people get my trademarked 'smacks'. I just reach out and open hand whatever part of the car gets to me first...windshield, bumper, quarter panel, passenger's face......</div>
</blockquote> Yeah, and that's when people…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-17:2211490:Comment:180892008-10-17T21:19:33.455ZJessicahttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Jessica
Yeah, and that's when people get my trademarked 'smacks'. I just reach out and open hand whatever part of the car gets to me first...windshield, bumper, quarter panel, passenger's face......
Yeah, and that's when people get my trademarked 'smacks'. I just reach out and open hand whatever part of the car gets to me first...windshield, bumper, quarter panel, passenger's face...... hah, I especially love it whe…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-17:2211490:Comment:180872008-10-17T21:17:06.138ZAmmohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Ammo
hah, I especially love it when the bike lane becomes a lazy passing lane for cars.
hah, I especially love it when the bike lane becomes a lazy passing lane for cars. That's true Chris...I probabl…tag:thechainlink.org,2008-10-17:2211490:Comment:180772008-10-17T21:05:04.797ZJessicahttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Jessica
That's true Chris...I probably shouldn't have yelled at the guy, but situations were not ideal and (__Fill in obligatory excuse here__).<br />
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I'd straight up say something Abby. When you see them coming, say loudly, 'Hey! We wouldn't have to play this game if you were on the CORRECT side of the road!!' And perhaps tell them it's illegal. And unsafe.<br />
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Isn't it anything with a 'Mechanical Advantage' that has to be ridden on the road/bike lane??
That's true Chris...I probably shouldn't have yelled at the guy, but situations were not ideal and (__Fill in obligatory excuse here__).<br />
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I'd straight up say something Abby. When you see them coming, say loudly, 'Hey! We wouldn't have to play this game if you were on the CORRECT side of the road!!' And perhaps tell them it's illegal. And unsafe.<br />
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Isn't it anything with a 'Mechanical Advantage' that has to be ridden on the road/bike lane??