Cyclist Fatality In Illinois: Deborah Wright Died While Riding Near Rock Cut State Park - The Chainlink2024-03-29T01:17:35Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/cyclist-fatality-in-illinois-deborah-wright-died-while-riding-nea?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A1059648&feed=yes&xn_auth=noYou're spot on. Drivers are e…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-12:2211490:Comment:10600152017-06-12T17:22:09.677ZJordan M Shttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JordanSchlife
You're spot on. Drivers are extra hostile if there is a bike lane and you're not in it.
You're spot on. Drivers are extra hostile if there is a bike lane and you're not in it. I don't know that protected b…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-12:2211490:Comment:10599392017-06-12T16:00:39.462ZTonyPhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/TonyP
<p>I don't know that protected bike lanes legitimize us on the road so much as allow drivers to expect us off "their" roads and onto "ours".</p>
<p>We are traffic, and should be treated as such, bike lanes or not, and that is what is needed. As of now many motorists resent both cyclists on the road and giving up lane space for the priority of cycling use.</p>
<p>I also want to say that while there are many drivers out there that wish us ill will, in my experience more of them mean us no harm…</p>
<p>I don't know that protected bike lanes legitimize us on the road so much as allow drivers to expect us off "their" roads and onto "ours".</p>
<p>We are traffic, and should be treated as such, bike lanes or not, and that is what is needed. As of now many motorists resent both cyclists on the road and giving up lane space for the priority of cycling use.</p>
<p>I also want to say that while there are many drivers out there that wish us ill will, in my experience more of them mean us no harm and allow the room needed to cycle safely. My riding is south and west of Chicago and the very SW side of the city so I am not fully aware of the circumstances of the rest of the city and 'burbs.</p> I completely agree with your…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-12:2211490:Comment:10601912017-06-12T15:26:48.187ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>I completely agree with your assessment about education and awareness.</p>
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<p>In addition, I think part of what infrastructure does (esp. protected bike lanes) is legitimize us on the road - truly one way a city can show a commitment is by making an investment. That said, there needs to be enforcement e.g. ticketing bike lane parking/blocking and stop having city vehicles use it as a parking spot. I feel like one part of the city is on board while the other part of the city didn't…</p>
<p>I completely agree with your assessment about education and awareness.</p>
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<p>In addition, I think part of what infrastructure does (esp. protected bike lanes) is legitimize us on the road - truly one way a city can show a commitment is by making an investment. That said, there needs to be enforcement e.g. ticketing bike lane parking/blocking and stop having city vehicles use it as a parking spot. I feel like one part of the city is on board while the other part of the city didn't get the memo.</p>
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<p>I truly prefer roads that have a well maintained bike lane infrastructure.</p> I really think that education…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-12:2211490:Comment:10601882017-06-12T15:17:46.368ZTonyPhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/TonyP
<p>I really think that education is the root, not infrastructure. What good is infrastructure when a distracted driver isn't paying attention to his\her surroundings, or cyclists are considered 2nd class citezens? Until we are taken to task for our responsibility as drivers, cyclists, hell, as people, all the infrastructure in the world is only going to be a soft cushion of safety.</p>
<p>Counting on politicians to come up with the monies for infrastructure for a minority of constituents is an…</p>
<p>I really think that education is the root, not infrastructure. What good is infrastructure when a distracted driver isn't paying attention to his\her surroundings, or cyclists are considered 2nd class citezens? Until we are taken to task for our responsibility as drivers, cyclists, hell, as people, all the infrastructure in the world is only going to be a soft cushion of safety.</p>
<p>Counting on politicians to come up with the monies for infrastructure for a minority of constituents is an uphill battle, while the monies to implement bicycle awareness into drivers education, while also a battle, is a less costly investment with, maybe, an easier chance of passing.</p>
<p>A number of years ago I was ticketed and did the traffic school thing, and during the discussion brought up bicycles in traffic. The response was, "yeah, any other questions?". That has to change for us to see change in the perception of cyclists on the road, or cycling infrastructure to be taken seriously.</p> I looked up Harlem Road near…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-11:2211490:Comment:10599802017-06-11T02:29:12.299ZShawn Evanshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/ShawnEvans
<p>I looked up Harlem Road near Rock Cut State Park on Street View. Another high speed country road, with no shoulder east of the expressway and a dirt shoulder west of the expressway. Be very careful.</p>
<p>I looked up Harlem Road near Rock Cut State Park on Street View. Another high speed country road, with no shoulder east of the expressway and a dirt shoulder west of the expressway. Be very careful.</p> If you say 16 & 17 year o…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-11:2211490:Comment:10600812017-06-11T02:19:32.707ZShawn Evanshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/ShawnEvans
<p>If you say 16 & 17 year olds can't drive and they have to be 18 to get a driver's license, then the fatal crash rate for 18-19 year olds will go up. And if you ban 18 & 19 year olds, the crash rates for ages 20-21 will jump. The crash rate is tied to inexperience. The only way to bring it down is more experience behind the wheel.</p>
<p>If you say 16 & 17 year olds can't drive and they have to be 18 to get a driver's license, then the fatal crash rate for 18-19 year olds will go up. And if you ban 18 & 19 year olds, the crash rates for ages 20-21 will jump. The crash rate is tied to inexperience. The only way to bring it down is more experience behind the wheel.</p> Most certainly agree! Maybe 2…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-10:2211490:Comment:10600732017-06-10T21:49:48.400ZJuan 2-3 or more mi.https://thechainlink.org/profile/JohnDominguez
<p>Most certainly agree! Maybe 21 would be so much better.</p>
<p>Most certainly agree! Maybe 21 would be so much better.</p> On roads like that, for examp…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-09:2211490:Comment:10596552017-06-09T23:59:36.691ZJim Rehohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JimReho
<p>On roads like that, for example two-laners in Michigan or Wisconsin with 55-mile-per-hour speed limits, you're really kind of just praying that the drivers are paying attention. It's kind of a helpless feeling sometimes. But usually they are, and usually we're OK. Usually. </p>
<p>On roads like that, for example two-laners in Michigan or Wisconsin with 55-mile-per-hour speed limits, you're really kind of just praying that the drivers are paying attention. It's kind of a helpless feeling sometimes. But usually they are, and usually we're OK. Usually. </p> It's notable how when teenage…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-09:2211490:Comment:10598512017-06-09T23:52:54.610ZJim Rehohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JimReho
<p>It's notable how when teenagers commit crimes, a factor in their treatment in the criminal system is that their minds are considered to still be unformed and their cognitive faculties immature. Yet, we let sixteen-year-olds drive 3500-pound metal behemoths, with often catastrophic effect. As noted by Tom A.K.,and to quote the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "<span>In the United States, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is nearly 3 times the rate for drivers…</span></p>
<p>It's notable how when teenagers commit crimes, a factor in their treatment in the criminal system is that their minds are considered to still be unformed and their cognitive faculties immature. Yet, we let sixteen-year-olds drive 3500-pound metal behemoths, with often catastrophic effect. As noted by Tom A.K.,and to quote the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "<span>In the United States, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is nearly 3 times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over. Risk is highest at ages 16-17. In fact, the fatal crash rate per mile driven is nearly twice as high for 16-17 year-olds as it is for 18-19 year-olds." In my opinion, the driving age should be 18. Those are not tractors and Model Ts out there any more. A lot of lives would be saved that way. And maybe more cyclists would be created, too.</span> </p> Ah, ok, thanks for clarifying…tag:thechainlink.org,2017-06-09:2211490:Comment:10596492017-06-09T18:30:30.504ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>Ah, ok, thanks for clarifying. Sometimes these threads aren't 100% clear. :-) </p>
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<p>I was impressed with the visibility she had in the article and how cyclists have a voice in answering questions about the tragedy so quickly. </p>
<p>Ah, ok, thanks for clarifying. Sometimes these threads aren't 100% clear. :-) </p>
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<p>I was impressed with the visibility she had in the article and how cyclists have a voice in answering questions about the tragedy so quickly. </p>