How Bikes and Bike-Share Threaten a Way of Life in Chicago Magazine

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How Bikes and Bike-Share Threaten a Way of Life

Why is so much anger directed towards cyclists? They’re the vanguard of a great—and frightening—inversion.

BY WHET MOSER

PUBLISHED YESTERDAY AT 3:34 P.M.

Rahm rides into the future. PHOTO: TERRENCE ANTONIO JAMES/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

John Kass issued another anti-bike emission the other day, something I continue to find perversely fascinating. Streetsblog Chicago’s John Greenfield captured his rhetorical dispatch in all its spittle-flecked glory:

“This is the problem with the Divvy bikes, with all the bikes,” Kass says in the video. “This is a city made for people who want to go from point A to point B. This is not some Seattle coffee, grunge, pothead experiment. This is Chicago… Shut the whole Divvy bike thing down. Get off Dearborn. I’m tired of you people.”

(He doesn’t like coffee either, at least not good coffee. Or the people who make good coffee: “When I go for coffee, I want a cup of coffee. What I don’t need is some kid wearing a sweater and his shirt tails sticking out because it’s the style, pointing to a list of coffees, each of which are described sensually, in language that would have caused my mom to wash my mouth out with soap.")

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on November 22, 2013 at 10:52am

Bicyclists are certainly getting a lot of attention when they're only 1.6% of mode share (less since November 1st). Think about how much attention we'll get when it increases to 1.9%!!!

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on November 22, 2013 at 11:48am

LOL. Anyone know the current stats regarding trends in mode share in Chicago, Illinois and the US? 2000, 2010, 2013?

Kevin C said:

Bicyclists are certainly getting a lot of attention when they're only 1.6% of mode share (less since November 1st). Think about how much attention we'll get when it increases to 1.9%!!!

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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on November 22, 2013 at 11:50am

This is why I try to make an extra effort to look relaxed and happy while riding on my bike at all times, no matter how I really feel inside. It may annoy drivers to see it, but in the long run, I think it helps to recruit others to try it themselves.

Carter O'Brien said:

I think you're on to something here. I think there is something about the independence and freedom a bicycle offers that inherently annoys people driving through an increasingly congested and gridlocked city. Especially when you are stuck in traffic and it looks like the cyclists are just breezing by without a care in the world.

(snip)

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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on November 22, 2013 at 12:14pm

The League of American Bicyclists just published their report this week from 2012 data, discussed on this Streetsblog article, with link to the PDF report. To summarize: Chicago is rocking it. As I see it, Philly is our only real competition right now.

Julie Hochstadter said:

LOL. Anyone know the current stats regarding trends in mode share in Chicago, Illinois and the US? 2000, 2010, 2013?

Kevin C said:

Bicyclists are certainly getting a lot of attention when they're only 1.6% of mode share (less since November 1st). Think about how much attention we'll get when it increases to 1.9%!!!

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on November 22, 2013 at 12:26pm

Michelle Stenzel said:

This is why I try to make an extra effort to look relaxed and happy while riding on my bike at all times, no matter how I really feel inside.

BITD, I used to commute by bike from my home in Scotia, NY to my job at GE's Corporate R&D Center in Niskayuna(now called GE Global Research Center, in the lower right). The route took me over Balltown Road, the main artery to the suburb of Clifton Park (think sort of North Shore or Hinsdale/Naperville, though not as hoity toity or as far). As you can see from the attached image, the bike path crosses Balltown just south of the Mohawk River (there is an overpass). Back then, Balltown was just a two-lane road (still is, I think) so it was often jammed with traffic during both rush hours. I will admit to waving at the stuck cagers on more than one occasion. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on November 22, 2013 at 1:06pm

I couldn't agree more! Inside every frustrated person stuck in traffic is a happy cyclist with the breeze in their face.

Michelle Stenzel said:

This is why I try to make an extra effort to look relaxed and happy while riding on my bike at all times, no matter how I really feel inside. It may annoy drivers to see it, but in the long run, I think it helps to recruit others to try it themselves.

Carter O'Brien said:

I think you're on to something here. I think there is something about the independence and freedom a bicycle offers that inherently annoys people driving through an increasingly congested and gridlocked city. Especially when you are stuck in traffic and it looks like the cyclists are just breezing by without a care in the world.

(snip)

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on November 22, 2013 at 3:51pm

I thought of this last night as I was behind the wheel of an automobile, a company car that I had no choice to be operating. The skies were drizzling and traffic was backed up heading west on Randolph towards the expressway. Most of the drivers were on their way home. I looked longingly at the bikes as it took about 25 minutes to go one mile. I saw a well appointed cyclist navigate in between the hulking vehicles. I thought to myself, "careful lad, these drivers are frustrated, annoyed, and likely distracted." They all sat going nowhere. He safely danced away. He brought a smile to my face but I am uncertain of the reaction he may have brought to the others in my predicament.

Carter O'Brien said: