Impeding the flow of traffic - The Chainlink2024-03-28T23:50:19Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/impeding-the-flow-of-traffic?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A108185&feed=yes&xn_auth=no'where's the fire?' i always…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-18:2211490:Comment:1110652009-08-18T14:45:24.579ZMark Kensethhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MarkKenseth
'where's the fire?' i always say.<br />
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this story reminds me of how cops and people just don't care. many do, but some are living in the stone age.<br />
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one time a mini-van of ladies yelled at me to 'get on the sidewalk'. at the light i pulled up next to them and kindly pointed out that i wasn't under the age of 12. they were dumfounded.<br />
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one time i went into a police station to fill out an accident report to have on record. i wasn't blaming the driver or pursuing legal action. i just wanted to file a…
'where's the fire?' i always say.<br />
<br />
this story reminds me of how cops and people just don't care. many do, but some are living in the stone age.<br />
<br />
one time a mini-van of ladies yelled at me to 'get on the sidewalk'. at the light i pulled up next to them and kindly pointed out that i wasn't under the age of 12. they were dumfounded.<br />
<br />
one time i went into a police station to fill out an accident report to have on record. i wasn't blaming the driver or pursuing legal action. i just wanted to file a report about a bicyclist getting hit. the police officer gave me an attitude. his name was pikinik (sp?). and let me tell you, pikinik was no picnic.<br />
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why are chicago cops so gruff? why are some people so ignorant and frankly uncool about sharing the road? do they own the road? well ...i'm going to buy my own road. anyone want to ride it? i'll give you a password.<br />
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keep doing it. I don't generally ride on Ran…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-18:2211490:Comment:1110312009-08-18T13:45:25.309ZGary Gilberthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/GaryGilbert
I don't generally ride on Rand in AH (or in MP or Palatine either). I was surprised when you wrote that the speed limit was 35, I think most drive faster and some sections are 40 or 45.<br />
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There are plenty of alternatives. In fact there is a short 5' sidewalk cut-through behind Best Buy that gets you into the neighborhood just south of Town & Country and from there you easily can go S or E or W.<br />
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Relations between cyclists and the police in AH are very good. Just because we can legally ride…
I don't generally ride on Rand in AH (or in MP or Palatine either). I was surprised when you wrote that the speed limit was 35, I think most drive faster and some sections are 40 or 45.<br />
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There are plenty of alternatives. In fact there is a short 5' sidewalk cut-through behind Best Buy that gets you into the neighborhood just south of Town & Country and from there you easily can go S or E or W.<br />
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Relations between cyclists and the police in AH are very good. Just because we can legally ride on Rand, doesn't mean we should want to. So basically if you have not…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-10:2211490:Comment:1083212009-08-10T18:00:40.573ZDoug Hayneshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/DougHaynes
So basically if <i>you</i> have not experienced it, or if something is unlike <i>your</i> past experience, it could not have happened like that?<br />
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In that case I think you are a liar because about 3 years ago I hit a cop car on a bike when they made a turn in front of me and I didn't go to jail.<br />
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I also don't believe the OP because the officer I dealt with was very apologetic, helpful and polite over the incident.<br />
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Both of your stories are false because they go against <i>my…</i>
So basically if <i>you</i> have not experienced it, or if something is unlike <i>your</i> past experience, it could not have happened like that?<br />
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In that case I think you are a liar because about 3 years ago I hit a cop car on a bike when they made a turn in front of me and I didn't go to jail.<br />
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I also don't believe the OP because the officer I dealt with was very apologetic, helpful and polite over the incident.<br />
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Both of your stories are false because they go against <i>my</i> experience.<br />
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<cite>Video_Drome said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/impeding-the-flow-of-traffic?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A107840&page=2#2211490Comment108166"><div><cite>Brian Ellison said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/impeding-the-flow-of-traffic#2211490Comment107859"><div>I have been seeing a trend in cops lately. This trend is cops being downright ignorant and disrespectful to cyclists. a few weeks ago while working downtown, i was riding my bike under the train tracks in between canal and clinton on randolph. there was a bus in the left lane, and a county police SUV in the right. Since i had nowhere to go, i made myself visible in the rear view mirror of the officers SUV and then went back behind him. As soon as i did this, he slams on his breaks causing me to slam into the back of his SUV causing no damage. Now I know for a fact I caused a loud thud but he proceeded to drive off. Since this is randolph, there are a ton of lights so i was able to catch up to him. As I caught up to him I asked him why he had stopped in the middle of the road like that. He turns to me quickly and yells "Because I can stop wherever the hell I want to!" All of this while he was on his cellphone.<br/> <br/> The Second incident happened last week. I was traveling southbound on wells somewhere just north of chicago I think. If I'm not mistaken, wells that far north is only a 2 lane road so from what i can remember, there was a bus and an ATV officer. The bus slowed down and the officer quickly became inpatient. The whole time i was watching him carefully when he suddenly without signaling or even looking in his mirrors flies into the bike lane right as im passing him. I was barely able to avoid him only having what seemed like an inch on either side of me in between his four wheeler and the parked cars. It was very close to say the least and I was not going slow so it could have been really bad. I stopped at the next light but the officer had disappeared.<br/>
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My first instinct was to call and/or visit to report these incidents but they will simply fall on the deaf ears of a disgruntled officer who is suspended for two weeks and has to take all of the complaints for the precinct. I truly feel that it is a lack of respect for ordinary people on the part of the police. I have only run into a few officers who did not talk to me in a condescending tone.</div>
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you seem to like to tell tall tales. Wells is a 2 lane street in its entirety.<br/>
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If you hit the back of a cop car, county or city, you'd be in so much trouble, that your parents would never let you ride the downtown streets ever again. Another messenger I know slammed a cop car in the same way you describe and he got thrown in jail instantly. I just have a hard time believing any of this. sorry.</div>
</blockquote> Standardizing the hodge podge…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-10:2211490:Comment:1082632009-08-10T16:19:49.529ZTony Adamshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/TonyAdams
Standardizing the hodge podge of local regulations seems like it also might be worth fighting for. If only we still had a dedicated bicycling advocacy organization in Chicago instead of the diffuse and aimless ATA...<br />
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<cite>Brian Kennedy said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/impeding-the-flow-of-traffic#2211490Comment107966"><div>Exactly...because he doesn't know the law. Stay on the street M.A.R.K. This one is worth fighting.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>M.A.R.K.…</cite></div>
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Standardizing the hodge podge of local regulations seems like it also might be worth fighting for. If only we still had a dedicated bicycling advocacy organization in Chicago instead of the diffuse and aimless ATA...<br />
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<cite>Brian Kennedy said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/impeding-the-flow-of-traffic#2211490Comment107966"><div>Exactly...because he doesn't know the law. Stay on the street M.A.R.K. This one is worth fighting.<br/> <br/>
<cite>M.A.R.K. said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/impeding-the-flow-of-traffic#2211490Comment107962"><div>The officer said nothing about me not having a bell..</div>
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</blockquote> this is about the lamest and…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-10:2211490:Comment:1082612009-08-10T16:00:59.667Zdan brownhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/danielbrown
this is about the lamest and most moronic thing I had heard recently.<br />
un freakin' believeable<br />
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REMINDER : If anyone ever gets hassled by Chicago cops - do the following : *demand* a 'white-shirt"<br />
(a.k.a. Seargent) be dispatched to the scene. It is your right and they will try to convince you otehrwise;<br />
but hold your ground. You do *not* have to do anything (yes : anything) until one shows up.<br />
Another district is preferred (checks and balances, you know)<br />
<br />
DB
this is about the lamest and most moronic thing I had heard recently.<br />
un freakin' believeable<br />
<br />
REMINDER : If anyone ever gets hassled by Chicago cops - do the following : *demand* a 'white-shirt"<br />
(a.k.a. Seargent) be dispatched to the scene. It is your right and they will try to convince you otehrwise;<br />
but hold your ground. You do *not* have to do anything (yes : anything) until one shows up.<br />
Another district is preferred (checks and balances, you know)<br />
<br />
DB The League of Illinois Bicycl…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-10:2211490:Comment:1082382009-08-10T15:20:53.556ZPablohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Pablo
The League of Illinois Bicyclists card seems like a good idea. I would prefer a sticker to just put on the seat tube. Just an outline of the actual statutes. Mabye 1 for Chicago laws and 1 for Illinois laws? Anybody sell stickers out there?
The League of Illinois Bicyclists card seems like a good idea. I would prefer a sticker to just put on the seat tube. Just an outline of the actual statutes. Mabye 1 for Chicago laws and 1 for Illinois laws? Anybody sell stickers out there? VD, what i say is true in its…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-10:2211490:Comment:1081852009-08-10T11:26:37.678ZBrian Ellisonhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/BrianEllison
VD, what i say is true in its entirety. if you dont believe me about wells, go look for yourself. its 2 lanes with a bike lane on either side. also, the only thing that hit the SUV were my arms absorbing the blow. no damage but a decent sound was made. he was on his cellphone, maybe he didnt hear it. the other day Josh hit the back end of some big cadilac and the driver never even noticed. maybe i got lucky but i stand firmly behind my experiences.
VD, what i say is true in its entirety. if you dont believe me about wells, go look for yourself. its 2 lanes with a bike lane on either side. also, the only thing that hit the SUV were my arms absorbing the blow. no damage but a decent sound was made. he was on his cellphone, maybe he didnt hear it. the other day Josh hit the back end of some big cadilac and the driver never even noticed. maybe i got lucky but i stand firmly behind my experiences. Guess i'd better get one or t…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-10:2211490:Comment:1081352009-08-10T03:33:31.447Zmike w.https://thechainlink.org/profile/mikew
Guess i'd better get one or two bells for my transits through AH...<br />
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Also, thanks to M.A.R.K. and Ian for the legal quotes. i'm going to print them down amd carry a copy or two.<br />
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<cite>M.A.R.K. said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/impeding-the-flow-of-traffic#2211490Comment107962"><div>The officer said nothing about me not having a bell..</div>
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Guess i'd better get one or two bells for my transits through AH...<br />
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Also, thanks to M.A.R.K. and Ian for the legal quotes. i'm going to print them down amd carry a copy or two.<br />
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<cite>M.A.R.K. said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/impeding-the-flow-of-traffic#2211490Comment107962"><div>The officer said nothing about me not having a bell..</div>
</blockquote> The League of Illinois Bicycl…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-09:2211490:Comment:1079792009-08-09T22:32:58.139ZMike Bullis 5.5-6.5 mileshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MikeBullis
The League of Illinois Bicyclists has a nice, wallet sized copy of Illinois Bicycle Laws and I carry it with me always. I have had to show it to police twice to prove my point. I'd get one and keep it handy.<br />
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Does not help much if you don't know if where you are has a mandatory sidepath law or not, but at that point I'd ask to see the statute.<br />
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<a href="http://www.BikeLIB.org">www.BikeLIB.org</a>
The League of Illinois Bicyclists has a nice, wallet sized copy of Illinois Bicycle Laws and I carry it with me always. I have had to show it to police twice to prove my point. I'd get one and keep it handy.<br />
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Does not help much if you don't know if where you are has a mandatory sidepath law or not, but at that point I'd ask to see the statute.<br />
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<a href="http://www.BikeLIB.org">www.BikeLIB.org</a> If you want to check out the…tag:thechainlink.org,2009-08-09:2211490:Comment:1079632009-08-09T19:35:58.575ZIanhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/IanKasper
If you want to check out the State Statutes, go to (…
If you want to check out the State Statutes, go to (<a href="http://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh.+11+Art.+XV&ActID=1815&ChapAct=625%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B5%2F&ChapterID=49&ChapterName=VEHICLES&SectionID=59725&SeqStart=120900000&SeqEnd=122700000&ActName=Illinois+Vehicle+Code">http://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh.+11+Art.+XV&ActID=1815&ChapAct=625%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B5%2F&ChapterID=49&ChapterName=VEHICLES&SectionID=59725&SeqStart=120900000&SeqEnd=122700000&ActName=Illinois+Vehicle+Code</a>.) You will find the statute that some police and cyclists and many drivers don't seem to be able to understand:<br />
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(625 ILCS 5/11‑1505) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑1505)<br />
Sec. 11‑1505. Position of bicycles and motorized pedal cycles on roadways ‑ Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.<br />
(a) Any person operating a bicycle or motorized pedal cycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable and safe to the right‑hand curb or edge of the roadway except under the following situations:<br />
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle, motorized pedal cycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; or<br />
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; or<br />
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, motorized pedal cycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right‑hand curb or edge. For purposes of this subsection, a "substandard width lane" means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or motorized pedal cycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.<br />
4. When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.<br />
(b) Any person operating a bicycle or motorized pedal cycle upon a one‑way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left‑hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.<br />
(Source: P.A. 95‑231, eff. 1‑1‑08.)