I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

 

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Permalink Reply by blair on February 6, 2013 at 9:36am

We need one of these...

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on February 6, 2013 at 9:44am

I had a very pleasant ride into work today on all of the roads without protected bike lanes. The busier roads are plowed and salted, 95+% of it was dry pavement, side streets with snow on them, had dry pavement where the automobile tires had worn the snow down to dry pavement. In the Loop, LaSalle, Randolph, and Wells-all dry pavement.

Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on February 6, 2013 at 10:14am

No but it is ridiculous to assume it will be spotless, which can only be understood if you shovel/move snow during winter.   It's just not as simple as you think it is to keep snow, water and ice off of streets sidewalks and BLs, at all times. 1 mini plow for all of Chicago?  And you assume it should keep all BL's clear all of the time?  I don't understand your logic but I do understand where you are coming from, and it is a place of cyclist-entitlement.  Perhaps you should go tell the guy who clears the snow how to do it correctly.


Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

So it's ridiculous to assume that the new protected bike lane on Dearborn that the city spent tons of time and money on should basically be left to ice over all winter and become unusable?

FYI, the city has a mini plow specifically for bike lanes.


Apie 10.64 said:

I'm not sure if you have shoveled during the last few snowfalls, but it is heavy stuff.  Its ridiculous to think anywhere but main roads should be salted to excess so you and your bike will have a perfectly smooth snow/ice/water free path.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on February 6, 2013 at 10:31am

It's not entitlement. If the city is building infrastructure for cyclists, then they'd better be damn sure that said infrastructure is maintained throughout the year. It is a slap in the face to build protected bike lanes, only to let them ice over and become unusable during the colder months. Especially considering the city manages to properly plow and salt the roads and sidewalks in the winter. Imagine the backlash if the city decided to not plow Lake Shore Drive, or let snow pile up in the sidewalks in the Loop.

That being said, I do think CDOT / Streets and San are doing a decent job keeping the bike lanes clear for the most part. There is more they could be doing, such as plates on the Dearborn bridge and better de-icing, however. My main complaint is with the businesses that have been dumping snow into the protected bike lanes, causing them to ice over, then claiming the city is responsable for correcting the business' mistake.

The only bike lanes that need the mini-plow are the protected ones. Buffered and door-zone lanes can be plowed with a normal-sized plow, since there are no bollards to run over.

Apie 10.64 said:

No but it is ridiculous to assume it will be spotless, which can only be understood if you shovel/move snow during winter.   It's just not as simple as you think it is to keep snow, water and ice off of streets sidewalks and BLs, at all times. 1 mini plow for all of Chicago?  And you assume it should keep all BL's clear all of the time?  I don't understand your logic but I do understand where you are coming from, and it is a place of cyclist-entitlement.  Perhaps you should go tell the guy who clears the snow how to do it correctly.


Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

So it's ridiculous to assume that the new protected bike lane on Dearborn that the city spent tons of time and money on should basically be left to ice over all winter and become unusable?

FYI, the city has a mini plow specifically for bike lanes.


Apie 10.64 said:

I'm not sure if you have shoveled during the last few snowfalls, but it is heavy stuff.  Its ridiculous to think anywhere but main roads should be salted to excess so you and your bike will have a perfectly smooth snow/ice/water free path.

Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on February 6, 2013 at 10:38am

You have solidified my point(s), carry on.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on February 6, 2013 at 10:39am

Wanting equal treatment and consideration is not the same as entitlement.

Apie 10.64 said:

You have solidified my point(s), carry on.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on February 6, 2013 at 10:48am

While I agree that there is a certain amount of time needed for everyone to get used to the new road configuration and education needed about the new bike lane, I feel it is irresponsible of the city to promote use of the new protected bike lane, only to not maintain it and allow it to get to dangerous conditions.


Chi Lowe 12.5+ mi said:

*SHEESH* Adam.  

Find some slack out there bro, and cut the city and The Goodman some of it.

What if the city has the political will and gumption to build the infrastructure but can't assure its maintenance until everyone affected by it is educated, and all the new personnel and logistics are in place to maintain it?  Would you rather the city not build it at all?  

I can assure you there's a Trib columnist (and lot of people in metal boxes) that would agree with you if that's the case.


Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

... If the city is building infrastructure for cyclists, then they'd better be damn sure that said infrastructure is maintained throughout the year. 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on February 6, 2013 at 1:37pm

Hey, pardon me for butting in, but I just wanted to say that the weather on the ride home was spectacular and I really enjoyed that ride!

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on February 6, 2013 at 2:30pm
Indeed it was. :-)

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

Hey, pardon me for butting in, but I just wanted to say that the weather on the ride home was spectacular and I really enjoyed that ride!

Permalink Reply by Will on February 7, 2013 at 2:04am

Yes, it was a great ride home last night. And I agree with Adam. :)

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on February 7, 2013 at 2:29am

No.  Freezing rain is my kryptonite.

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on February 7, 2013 at 2:50am

I haven't seen any pictures of the mini-plow in action yet, have any of you? They should add it to the Plow Tracker site so we can know its whereabouts.

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