Took Dearborn then Clark home. Very slippery. The protected lane was covered in icy snow. Had a few near falls on Clark in Lincoln Park. Rode past the Biden motorcade. It was most slippery on the lane and crosswalk paint (saw a couple of peds nearly wipe out on the brick crosswalks). The city got caught napping on the salt. I was glad to have another rider with me when we took the lane on most of Clark. Cars were taking it slow too. We were keeping up with traffic most of the time; stayed in the line of cars at stoplights too. No real hassles from drivers. The bike lane was clearly iced over.
Made me laugh to think of the latest Key & Peele: “That’s right, Marci. Keep your loved ones safe and warn them to stay off the streets at night because of menacing life-robbing black black ice.” "But the oppressive white snow keeps all people from advancing"
Same thing happened to me. Northbound on Halsted just after Division. I'm glad I skidded out of the direction of traffic. 3 cars passed me before one asked if I was okay. I was--skinned my elbow (not sure how that happened on the ice), but that's it.
Hopefully the city will send out the salt trucks sooner next time.
Barclor said:
Went down hard on Halsted. Hit my head hard but that's why we wear helmets! I have a little headache but it could be a lot worse. Had a few people check on me after the fall... it's nice to know there are still decent people out there. I've ridden EVERY day for over three years and have never fallen. I managed to finish the ride upright and got to see a young college kid wipe out on the sidewalk bringing a pizza home. Hope everyone is staying safe!
Yeah, black ice almost claimed me this eve. Elston was pretty rough. Fish-tailed a bunch. Took the lane a bunch. Most drivers were being really cool about it. As with Julia, courtesy waves were the thing tonight. Stay safe out there!
Elston is still pretty rough this morning - took the lane from N. Central Ave. to Milwaukee for much of my ride in (granted this was at 5am so not too many cars to deal with). Be careful out there it is very slick in many spots.
I too went down on a sidestreet half a block from home last night at Damen - thank god no cars around. Lost my second bar-end mirror of the year, and hurting a little this morning, but otherwise fine.
Then went out with friends - rode slow as molasses and took the center of the street, and only had a few cars get really pissed.
Thinking about studded tires for the first time ever. Careful, people!
I took a vacation day yesterday, which I spent nursing a cold. Given all the fall reports, it seems good that I didn't go to work yesterday. I rode to the train today (here in Evanston). I didn't have any problems, but I did encounter some compressed snow/ice in just the few blocks I did ride.
Milwaukee Ave. is good. Only had to take the lane just south of Division. Kinzie protected bike lane is fine, but it looked potentially icy in parts, so I was moving pretty slowly.
Fell twice last night, hurt my right knee a bit when I landed in the rear wheel of a car and vowed I wouldn't ride in today...
I rode in because I always regret it when I don't. And I fell this morning too! On Lincoln and hit my left elbow good. Then some idiot walked into the Dearborn lane without looking after I had a green light. I hit his arms and think he may have spilled his coffee he just got from 7-11 on himself. I didn't stop. I would not have been nice because I saw him and called out twice, luckily I swerved to miss most of him or I would have had another fall today!!
I may leave the bike and come back for it later this evening. This has been the worst 24 hours in my 3 years of riding in Chicago!
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