I rode Dearborn today...anyone else?

I just missed the press conference and just hung out at lunch to see how it would all work. It seemed easy enough, so I took Dearborn as my starting route home to Roscoe Village. Normally I hit Franklin to Orleans then north to Lincoln.

I have to say, it was pretty easy and relatively safe. The ambassadors were helpful with the the auto traffic. The walkers were easy enough to avoid. I had to chuckle at two riders riding side by side in the lane.

What I didn't see was any oncoming traffic; southbound riders. I am guessing that will come in time or at other times during the day.

Way to go Mayor RE! This is really making a statement.

Who else rode the new path?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on June 20, 2013 at 5:03am

Sorry if I felt entitled to use the bike lane for its intended purpose.

I would argue that it was the other party that was entitled because they were monopolizing the lane for their own purposes (probably photos for their website/blog), while making everyone else wait for them. When I pointed this out to them, I was met with a reply of "well, we helped build this lane!". Seems pretty entitled to me.

Jason W said:

Fuck, is there anything people won't complain about? Tony, I think you meant entitlement, not enlightenment.

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Permalink Reply by 1s20gdv3auw5h on June 20, 2013 at 5:10am

Stop wining and just peddle and enjoy the city in the summer!

(that comment is not directed at anyone specific. just the hope that we learn to get along)

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on June 20, 2013 at 5:19am

I'm not trying to sell anything…

Domenica Cresap said:

Stop wining and just peddle and enjoy the city in the summer!

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Permalink Reply by NYC (7.0 mi) on June 20, 2013 at 5:28am

Jason complains about plastic signs in the street that get in his way while driving - this is ok.

Adam complains that people get in his way riding in the bike lane - this is not ok with Jason.

Hmmmm?

Jason W said:

Fuck, is there anything people won't complain about? Tony, I think you meant entitlement, not enlightenment.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on June 20, 2013 at 5:49am

When I was there, the group was riding at almost a walking pace, then stopped abruptly, blocking the entire southbound lane. They then proceeded to make a U-turn, almost colliding with another cyclist in the oncoming lane.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

I was part of that group of cyclists at the photoshoot this morning. It was People for Bikes (www.peopleforbikes.org), not Active T's event.
Can't guarantee that every "model" was very careful all the time (when I wasn't looking), but I'm sure we tried not to be a hazard there. Really, pedestrians suddenly stepping into the bike lane from the sidewalk or from the street side between the parked cars were more of an obstruction.
Relax.

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Permalink Reply by David P. on June 20, 2013 at 5:50am

I was also part of that group. I do think we were a bit of an obstruction, but we tried not to be too much of one. I did, anyway. There was very little traffic at 7A when we begain; it only picked up later. Agree with Serge re: peds. I don't blame the woman waiting on the corner who saw all these people on bikes going back and forth and back and forth and asked her companion, "what the f*** is going on??"

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Permalink Reply by David P. on June 20, 2013 at 5:53am

Adam - not that you're complaining ;) - we were all given a free 16oz glass of extra-strength entitlement when we showed up. It was very fortifying! I'm sorry you were inconvenienced. I will buy you a beer if I meet you and you don't complain too much about it, but be sure to keep an eye on me, because if you're not looking I might slip some entitlement into your beer. (re: your text-deleted post - that, finally, is the sound of you not complaining!) That was a pretty silly response you got from whomever, though.

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Sorry if I felt entitled to use the bike lane for its intended purpose.

I would argue that it was the other party that was entitled because they were monopolizing the lane for their own purposes (probably photos for their website/blog), while making everyone else wait for them. When I pointed this out to them, I was met with a reply of "well, we helped build this lane!". Seems pretty entitled to me.

Jason W said:

Fuck, is there anything people won't complain about? Tony, I think you meant entitlement, not enlightenment.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on June 20, 2013 at 6:19am

And you sent it to 311 and to Carriage Cab, right? :-)

Serge Lubomudrov said:

By the way, I posted this morning a picture of a cab in the Dearborn bike lane. Now, THAT was an obstruction!

https://api.ning.com/files/tA1e*yQbLBkXi2m85WyQaZvxCcrMxvN16dhoukoE8Sj9TkLg-UBIjW8z*DLT6I4VwL0XQpgAO67ZSkkvQLDpDLon-IgjK2mI/1025393_10201419449268099_1377645495_o.jpg
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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 24, 2013 at 5:54am

This morning in the block between Harrison and Congress I noticed some huge "P"s and "S"s painted on the parking lane to help drivers differentiate between parking and standing(?) spaces. The hotel in that block has been getting better about keeping limos and taxis such out of the bike lanes. (Or perhaps the limo/taxi drivers are just catching on?) Having a clearly marked designated space for loading and unloading seems like sensible addition during our transition to more bike friendly streets.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on June 24, 2013 at 6:32am

A painted curb separating the cycle track from the car lane would help more.

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

Similar to more pavement makings, I wonder if colored bollards in places where a painted curb would be used on a traditional street arrangement would help drivers differentiate.

Tony Adams 7 mi (dirtbag hipstr) said:

This morning in the block between Harrison and Congress I noticed some huge "P"s and "S"s painted on the parking lane to help drivers differentiate between parking and standing(?) spaces. The hotel in that block has been getting better about keeping limos and taxis such out of the bike lanes. (Or perhaps the limo/taxi drivers are just catching on?) Having a clearly marked designated space for loading and unloading seems like sensible addition during our transition to more bike friendly streets.