Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 24, 2014 at 9:18am

Gah!

Just got into my car and read this.

Teresa, please pass the paper towels. I have to wipe the coffee off the inside of my windshield...



Teresa Lavender Fagan said:

I'll be eager to see the segway riders navigate cars stopped in the bike lanes.  Now that will lead to some interesting conflicts.  

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Goldbeck on July 24, 2014 at 12:05pm

As an avid cyclist and professional tour guide that sometimes does Segway tours, may I just say: sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 24, 2014 at 1:52pm

In all fairness, walking tours are every bit as bad in some places, it's just there are no politicians asking tourists to walk in the middle of the road.

And Aaron, I suspect you have experienced that moment of uncertain fight-or-flight when you've seen a flashing Divvy approaching on the sidewalk next to the bike lane. No monopolies here...

Aaron Goldbeck said:

As an avid cyclist and professional tour guide that sometimes does Segway tours, may I just say: sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry

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Permalink Reply by JohnK on July 25, 2014 at 11:15am

Just one Seqway is a rude claim on public real estate.   A line of them is a hazardous to life and limb.   Just when roller skating is wanning in popularity and the jogging in packs seems to be falling off -- now the segways are the bikers' problem.   Confine them to the new Grant Park Skate Park.  They are too big for sidewalks - why are they allowed in the city at all?

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Permalink Reply by T.C. O'Rourke on July 28, 2014 at 4:44pm

Hey Julie,

Simon is correct, the ordinance was proposed by Alderman Tunney, but the Rush Hour Loop, Michigan and State bans added at the request of Alderman Reilly. 

Many pedicabbers voiced opposition to the onerous portions of the ordinance at public meetings and at the public committee hearing, where our pleas were ignored.  A few of us met with Tunney before the committee vote and he was unwilling to make any of the changes we requested.

I think it is important to note that we are seeking only three revisions to the ordinance: removal of the aforementioned restrictions, elimination of the 1-year Driver's License requirement and a reduction of the fine structure to a reasonable level.  We are tolerating numerous other ridiculous requirements, such as a doctors exam, drug testing, fingerprinting, criminal background checks, supplying driving records, etc., etc., all of which add expense for us and were designed for taxi drivers.

We are actively working on getting the ordinance amended and have meet with a few Aldermen towards this end. 

Everyone can help by:

Signing our online petition

Liking us on Facebook

Making a small donation

Thanks!

Julie Hochstadter said:

Simon, 

Sounds like for the pedicab ordinance it was Tunney in lakeview who proposed it, which is surprising since it was written for an ordinance related to the pedicabs downtown, correct?  

Now that I think about it, there was more to the ordinance change than the location bans, but that seemed to be the largest part that irked pedicab drivers (or maybe just us cyclists) who found the fact that they decided to ban pedicabs from certain areas but not taxicabs.  See below.

From the city of chicago website

Pedicabs may not operate in the Loop during weekday rush hours (between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and
between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m)

Pedicabs may not operate on Michigan Avenue and State Street from Congress Parkway to Oak Street

Simon Phearson said:

It may not have been introduced by Reilly, but he was definitely in favor of it, in principle. He apparently voted against advancing from committee - only because it didn't go far enough, thinking it should cover a broader geographical area at more times. 

Julie Hochstadter said:

which alderman first introduced the pedicab ordinance?

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