Almost hit by a car at Clark/Madison

Hi Chainlink,

 

No real point to this post other than that I almost got hit by a SB car at Clark/Madison as I was heading west on Madison. The car blew through the red light and it was a pretty close call, or, at least, it felt close to me. Strangely, it was our WB green light that was nearing the end of its countdown, so this really was just a car straight-up plowing through a red (as opposed to trying to beat a yellow and failing).

 

Feel pretty shaken up. Bike safe, Chainlinkers.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on June 24, 2013 at 1:25am

As I am fond of saying, the right of way is for suckers and their heirs. You always have to double check that traffic control devices are controlling traffic.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on June 24, 2013 at 4:37am

A red light has never, ever, stopped a car.

Kevin C said:

As I am fond of saying, the right of way is for suckers and their heirs. You always have to double check that traffic control devices are controlling traffic.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 24, 2013 at 5:09am

Glad to hear that you are ok Alex. Thanks for posting this. I don't think we can be reminded enough about how many bad drivers there are out there. 

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on June 24, 2013 at 5:24am

Thanks, Tony.

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on June 24, 2013 at 5:38am

Yes, as others have mentioned, be wary of traffic. Had the same thing happen to me on State and Van Buren. Car blows through an intersection on the red light as he is distracted by his passenger and his smart phone.

Permalink Reply by dan brown on June 24, 2013 at 7:37am

good reminder. to add to what others have posted here - basically I pretty much look left and right the entire time I am passing through an intersection : especially newly turned green lights, what I am learning is that the distracted nature of folks' driving lately is that the last thing they hope (expect?) to see is a bike. I think the mindset sometimes is as long as there is no police around people will continue to drive

like idiots. This morning I was coming south on Clinton at the RR Tracks just south of Kinzie; this gray-haired dude pulls out of the high-rise in a BMW cutting me off (I have the right of way) and wasn't planning to stop until he saw the METRA police car directly beside me. Only then does he wave me on and wait impatiently (and then a train came - so he had no where to go anyway). I had both hands ready to squeeze the brakes hard as I maintained constant eye contact with this j'moke.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on June 24, 2013 at 12:12pm

May I add:  scanning all of the time, not just at intersections.  Today being a hot summer day I took Dearborn north instead of heading to the LFP.  I saw three drivers in three different places go from one side of the street to the other with absolutely no warning, all within a distance of about four blocks.  

And total non sequitur--huge wind with unbelievable gusts RIGHT NOW in Belmont Harbor.  I hope no one is out on the lake.

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on June 24, 2013 at 5:31pm

Add it to the Close Calls database.

http://cc.stevevance.net/

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on June 25, 2013 at 1:57am

It's like reading my autobiography of close calls in the city, complete with crazy cab interactions.

Steven Vance said:

Add it to the Close Calls database.

http://cc.stevevance.net/

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on June 25, 2013 at 3:01am

Done, thanks.

Steven Vance said:

Add it to the Close Calls database.

http://cc.stevevance.net/

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