Bike Path Courtesy
IME people using the west suburban Prairie Path are pretty courteous about warning when passing, making room and such. They're also friendly and chatty. On the other hand it's rare that people on the Lake path act as nicely.
I toodle along on my bike (kind'a strolling you might say) and people come out of nowhere and pass at high speeds without so much as a by your leave. I wonder why so many city cyclists are so self absorbed and rude.
I stick to the south end of the path; between 12th St. and Hyde Park.
Views: 150
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on
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Courtesy is really the point here, IMO. And I like Barbara Brotman's rules. ;)
Marty A. said:Let's not forget that there is a responsibility of all riders, runners and lollygaggers on LFP. If I ride fast, I should be able to. If I ride slow, I should be able to. If I ride fast but not fast enough, I get passed. I think it comes down to courtesy...
I just read an article that seems very appropriate for this discussion even though it is not directly tied to cycling:
www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-talk-brotman-rules-0531-20100531,0...
chicagotribune.com
Rules for enjoying the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Or else.
On the famous span, it's our way or the highway
Barbara Brotman
May 31, 2010
As the summer tourism season begins, it is time to go over the rules.
Specifically, the rules governing arguably the spot most crowded with tourists and Chicagoans jockeying for space — the Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Chicago River....
The rules are as follows:
Keep right except while passing. It's the same as on the highway, folks. The left lane is the passing lane....
Minimum speed. There is one ...
No stopping. No standing. ...
Walk in a straight line. ...No weaving....
Two people abreast, maximum. Blocking the entire sidewalk is strictly forbidden. You must leave enough room for passing. Walking with a larger party? See below....
No cell phones, ear buds or headphones....
One stroller per lane, maximum. And no double or triple strollers. ...
Children must be within two feet of their parents at all times, and trotting to keep up. ...
No sudden lane changes. If you are seized by a sudden urge to veer to the left, you must first look around to make sure you are not walking into someone else's path. Repeat violators will be required to wear bike helmets with rearview mirrors....
bbrotman@tribune.com
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
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Permalink Reply by Joel on
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Anne Alt said:Courtesy is really the point here
Yes. Courtesy. Why is it so hard?
1. Don't block the entire path -- even if you are with a group of people. Don't stop in the path; there is plenty of grass a couple feet away that is perfect to stand and talk with friends.
2. Stay to the right of the path when you can. Try not to weave in the lane.
3. If you are slow, let people pass you graciously. Be aware that you are going to be passed so you aren't surprised all of the time.
4. If you are fast, pass people politely with plenty of space. Slow down and given an "OYL" if space is a bit tight. If there isn't space to safely pass, wait until there is.
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Permalink Reply by Carl on
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Walking to Navy Pier yesterday reminded me why I don't ride the LFP anymore. It's an intermodal path, not a racetrack. When you consider that you have toddlers toddling on the same path as cyclists winding up on downhills, you have speed variations from 1mph to 30mph. That's the equivalent of cars on the highway going from the required minimum of 45mph to 1,350mph!
The racers, who are supposed to be the most self-aware of LFP users, exhibit the worst kind of rudeness, and I suspect are responsible for many of the injuries that happen there. They should be on the street. If you want a workout, go get a cast iron bike with rusty bearings, put on sweats and a coat, and go race cars on LSD. Now THERE's a workout!
"it is strange that people buy light bicycles for physical exercise" -- Beukers/Van Hinte, Lightness
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Permalink Reply by RyanG on
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The problem with this is that we're talking about this online. We already know the rules, proper courtesy etc. We need multi-lingual signage on the path to educate the people that have no clue.
A lot of the people I pass are in shock or dumbfounded by the concept of multiple types of traffic all trying to travel down a path at the same time. Each type has it in their head that they own the path and everyone is in their way. The signage will establish the fact that it's a shared path and if everyone obeyed simple rules, conflicts and collisions would go way down.
Joel said:Anne Alt said:Courtesy is really the point here
Yes. Courtesy. Why is it so hard?
1. Don't block the entire path -- even if you are with a group of people. Don't stop in the path; there is plenty of grass a couple feet away that is perfect to stand and talk with friends.
2. Stay to the right of the path when you can. Try not to weave in the lane.
3. If you are slow, let people pass you graciously. Be aware that you are going to be passed so you aren't surprised all of the time.
4. If you are fast, pass people politely with plenty of space. Slow down and given an "OYL" if space is a bit tight. If there isn't space to safely pass, wait until there is.
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Does anyone know what type of information they give the people who rent bikes? I think everyone can agree that they tend to be some of the more clueless about the rules. If we could get some large signs at the rental stands, or convince the vendors to make the people read and sign off on a list of rules of the path before renting, it could help immensely. At least they would be aware of the rules, even if they didn't follow them perfectly.
Ryan Godfroy said:The problem with this is that we're talking about this online. We already know the rules, proper courtesy etc. We need multi-lingual signage on the path to educate the people that have no clue.
A lot of the people I pass are in shock or dumbfounded by the concept of multiple types of traffic all trying to travel down a path at the same time. Each type has it in their head that they own the path and everyone is in their way. The signage will establish the fact that it's a shared path and if everyone obeyed simple rules, conflicts and collisions would go way down.
Joel said:Anne Alt said:Courtesy is really the point here
Yes. Courtesy. Why is it so hard?
1. Don't block the entire path -- even if you are with a group of people. Don't stop in the path; there is plenty of grass a couple feet away that is perfect to stand and talk with friends.
2. Stay to the right of the path when you can. Try not to weave in the lane.
3. If you are slow, let people pass you graciously. Be aware that you are going to be passed so you aren't surprised all of the time.
4. If you are fast, pass people politely with plenty of space. Slow down and given an "OYL" if space is a bit tight. If there isn't space to safely pass, wait until there is.
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Permalink Reply by Marty A. on
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Actually on the Brooklyn Bridge (ahhhh my ol' Brooklyn) has a line down the middle with a pedestrian logo on one side of it and a bike on the other. I am not sure that could be done on LFP but it does HELP (not totally cured) address the issue of those GD lollygaggers and other ignorant hooligans!
And I have to agree that 1,350mph is fast . . .
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There is a section near Belmont that has signage for peds on one side and bikes on the other. That seems to help somewhat.
Marty A. said:Actually on the Brooklyn Bridge (ahhhh my ol' Brooklyn) has a line down the middle with a pedestrian logo on one side of it and a bike on the other. ...
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Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on
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My experience with the Brooklyn Bridge is that there are always tourists standing in the bike lane at the base of the bridge in Manhattan, either taking pictures or marveling at the big city. Coming from the Bklyn side one is likely to be descending rapidly, and veering left into the pedestrian lane is not an option. I heard a lot of screaming. I think this is why the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges have become the preferred routes into Manhattan. Most European cities also have divided riverside or city lanes, and I can personally testify that it was usually American tourists who persisted in walking in the bike lane. There is actually a similar division to the LFT, although no one seems to abide by this. The paved area is supposed to be for bikes and strollers and wheeled thingies, and the softer dirt and/or limestone outline between the trail and grass was designed for runners, to dampen the stress factor of pavement. Obviously this doesn't work in practice. I don't run, so I don't know why most joggers seem to prefer pavement. Is this a fashion issue somehow? I think the city should also design "photo-shoot nests" at particularly scenic spots, where tourists can station themselves out of the way of all traffic and click away to their hearts' content.
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