The Chainlink

My commute to the office...I expect to be slammed by some, but not all.

Daytime...last leg into the loop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vslhVSNGV3o

First leg home at night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GodWWlVTehY

Now don't be too mean...I am a bit sensitive if you didn't know.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Figler on November 19, 2009 at 11:05am
your duncle said:
Additionally, why not enter the alley off Dearborn south of Madison instead of going the wrong way down Madison? Or was that move for added drama?
But seriously, are you holding packages that people are waiting for? Why is everyone so aggressive? What's the hurry? You're like that guy that blazes 100 mph past you, and then you both get to the same place and he is still fumbling around in his looking for his dirty underwear. I understand the whole "fun in traffic" aspect, but give respect (space) to the people that are doing things the right way.

I've tried taking the alley from Dearborn...it's not the best for me...easier to take Madison. I arrive at the light, Madision, before it changes or is about the change (that is W/B traffic on Madison is stopped, about to stop, or about to start).

And no...allow me to clarify this for hopefully the last time in this thread:

Nothing about this "video" was done outside of my typical commute to work. This is it.
Permalink Reply by Jason Figler on November 19, 2009 at 11:09am
Morgan said:
it does happen--a jaywalking pedesrian RAN right into me as i legally crossed in front of him on my green. he was looking the other way to make sure he didn't get hit by a car that was down the block. i could not get out of his way as he accelerated into me. yeah, it would suck to get hit by a car, but if my bike and i hit you it's going to hurt a lot too. so now i'm careful when i know that the ped doesn't realize i'm near them, because who knows what the hell they're about to do.


That sucks...sorry to hear that. Hope you both came out of it okay. But since you're writing I guess you are fine eh?

I know the feeling though with jaywalking peds, but they are mostly predictable, mostly. I anticipate what they are going to do and I've yet to nail/be nailed by any. But, if a ped were to suddenly change direction in mid-step, we could both be going down. So that's something to consider in the future.
Permalink Reply by your duncle on November 19, 2009 at 12:02pm
Hey Figler, Would you mind doing a video where you stop at all the lights and obey all the laws and stuff. I think it would be an interesting comparison.
Permalink Reply by Jason Figler on November 19, 2009 at 12:27pm
your duncle said:
Hey Figler, Would you mind doing a video where you stop at all the lights and obey all the laws and stuff. I think it would be an interesting comparison.

No...but I'd love to watch yours!
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on November 19, 2009 at 1:42pm
Jason Figler said:
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
So let me see if I understand your response.
You say it's ok to weave among people crossing the street with the light on the crosswalk because you have a very low record for running into one. And yet, it irks you when cars turn from the middle lane or speed to get through a yellow. So you can be lawless, but cars can't? And I don't think I'll touch the "I don't have too many issues unless I choose to." comment. I just hope you never choose to get hit by a car, bus or truck. Jason Figler said:
Erin said:
Who comes out better when a speeding cyclist hits a pedistrian

Seriously...have any of you people hit peds? Like knocked them down/you? Am I somehow an exception to this? Many seem to think that I regularly hit and knock people down??

No...maybe I have a talent for this, as I'm sure many members do, that is an ability to "blend" with traffic, or run against it depending on the moment. But I don't have too many issues unless I choose to.

As a bicycle commuter, what irks me is the people turning right from the middle lane (cabs) long after the light has turned red. And of course the people that think the yellow actually extends into the red in a positive correlation to their speed. E.G., if you're going 45 and the light is turning red, you've got another 2 seconds from when the yellow ends to keep going, at 50, 2.5 seconds.

As I like to say...there is only one shade of red.

The peds who jaywalk are being kinda dumb...but really, as I catch myself doing it now, jaywalking, I have to say that it's pretty easy to forget that bikes also ride the streets. Which makes me a better ped, and I give room to the peds who are crossing in the middle of the block most of the time. Everyone deserves a little grace, which is hard to remember all the time, but you never know what kind of a day that person is having right?

Look...is it okay for me to do what I do on my ride? I don't know, who is to answer this? There really is no right or wrong here it's all perspective.

As cyclists I think we all can say that when riding in the loop we are charged with being far more aware than the people walking, or the people in cars/truck/buses driving. Our lives depend on it far more than the motorized transportation people do. They hit shit downtown, big deal, a bent fender, a scratched bumper, no biggie. We/I get hit and it's far more serious. The same for peds. Certainly I ride with a bit of selfishness and some might call me an jerk, an ass, or other things. And indeed going between peds is inconsiderate. But I guess in the ROI aspect of it all I've chosen that this is how I roll. But, as stated earlier, I do verbally apologize when a particular dick move is executed on a ped.

And really, it's just a commute, it is not warfare right? However, there is not too much concern on the part of most four, and six wheelers for my personal safety...that is mostly my concern.

Who's to say if how you ride is ok? Well, let's see, since you're breaking laws left and right (running reds, going the wrong way down streets, rolling across crosswalks when it's not your turn, did I miss any?), I think the police are who is to say if your riding is ok. So to hell with your "perspective", none of those three things is legal unless you're driving a police car, fire truck or ambulance to an emergency.

And then you go on to condemn yourself with your own words: "We/I get hit and it's far more serious. The same for peds."
followed later by
"I do verbally apologize when a particular dick move is executed on a ped."

So what happens if a "particular dick move" injures a pedestrian? You've already said they're at more risk than motor vehicles, which is true; however, they don't mill about downtown wearing helmets, so who's most at risk of the 3 categories? And an apology isn't going to do a damn thing for someone who's injured due to your (more than a bit of) selfishness and lawlessness on your "commute".
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on November 19, 2009 at 1:47pm
LOL

your duncle said:
Hey Figler, Would you mind doing a video where you stop at all the lights and obey all the laws and stuff. I think it would be an interesting comparison.
Permalink Reply by Jason Figler on November 19, 2009 at 2:50pm
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
Who's to say if how you ride is ok? Well, let's see, since you're breaking laws left and right (running reds, going the wrong way down streets, rolling across crosswalks when it's not your turn, did I miss any?), I think the police are who is to say if your riding is ok. So to hell with your "perspective", none of those three things is legal unless you're driving a police car, fire truck or ambulance to an emergency.

And then you go on to condemn yourself with your own words: "We/I get hit and it's far more serious. The same for peds."
followed later by
"I do verbally apologize when a particular dick move is executed on a ped."

So what happens if a "particular dick move" injures a pedestrian? You've already said they're at more risk than motor vehicles, which is true; however, they don't mill about downtown wearing helmets, so who's most at risk of the 3 categories? And an apology isn't going to do a damn thing for someone who's injured due to your (more than a bit of) selfishness and lawlessness on your "commute".

Dude...you are way too by the rules. Let's see what's going on in your glass house...so then you are telling us that you never, ever go through red lights, or roll stop signs? And when living large as a ped you also only cross on walk signals? And never mid-block? Could anyone possibly be this straight-laced? If you are, my hat is off to you. This is your choice and good for you.

But a question, do you live in the suburbs? If you actually do live in the city, wake up and smell yourself, a statically significant portion of peds, and vehicles do NOT comply with the law downtown. Which does not give me license to do what I do, this is my choice and you don't have to agree with it. I'm not looking for your validation or anyone's.

For me, when the opportunity to cross safely on a red light, and interfere little if at all with peds, and the flow of vehicular traffic, sorry if you're against this, because I take it.

And BTW, my riding does not change even if the cops are present, they have seen me plenty of times ride like this and I'm guessing don't really care. If I have not said it before, I don't expect them to enforce any laws. For those of us that ride in The Loop, every trip just to my office I could check off more dangerous, and illegal moves executed by motor vehicles that I have fingers and toes.

Again, to be clear, I do not/have not hit any peds. This is a fact. One time I hit a jaywalker's hand and as already mentioned brushed a ped, like touched their clothing. I do not...and have not, hit any peds...and again to save you the trouble of combing the thread at this point we are looking at somewhere around eight hundred-ish bicycle rides to The Loop. So not too bad of a record for being all dangerous and putting all these people's safety at risk I'd say. Would you? Or is this just a fluke? The blind squirrel finding a nut maybe?
Permalink Reply by Jason Figler on November 19, 2009 at 3:02pm
You follow-the-rules people will not agree with my POV no matter what, and I will not agree with yours. I'm sure there's some common ground we could find, but some of ya wanna be "haters" and not try to find any.

And with that...I'm feeling a bit done with this. But who knows, maybe I'll be back to comment. I'm sure this will only incite you nasty-posters! So have it.
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on November 19, 2009 at 4:21pm
Here is the thing you have to realize:

While I would bet there is not a single person here who breaks no law on their regular rides that does not mean that people should be free to use that as an excuse to ride irresponsibly through pedestrians and put themselves, and others, in danger. There is a big difference between me blowing the light at Rockwell and Milwaukee at 2AM and you blowing lights downtown at rush hour and for you to claim otherwise is shaky logic.

There are 3 reasons, based on your video I think it is OK for you to be criticized by the other riders here; some of whom I know to be, even if not 100% law abiding at all times, safe and considerate cyclists.

1. You showed little regard for pedestrians who where in a crosswalk and crossing with a walk signal! These people are protected by having the unquestioned right of way int he eyes of the law, if you free to ignore the law and encroach on their space and safety why should a car not be allowed to encroach on your space and safety? With the exception of a jay-walker, I have never had a conflict, let alone contact, with a pedestrian. While you do ride more then I, and have been for longer, I think the incidents you say you have had are to many.

2. Your total lack of respect for the law and risky behavior has, I am sure, upset a driver or two and probably a couple of pedestrians. Every single person you cut off, dart in front of or otherwise upset becomes yet another stumbling point for bike advocacy. The driver you pissed off may be the same driver you acts hostile towards me latter for no reason I know of because of what you did.

3. When you run a red and don't beat the odds not only will you have fucked up yourself but another person; your fault or not how do you think that person who hit you because of your irresponsible actions is going to feel. Never mind the pain to your friends and family.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on November 19, 2009 at 4:22pm
Really? You didn't see this coming?
You cut a video that showcases what some folks would classify as unnecessary aggresive behavior. (others might agree with your riding style). You then proceed to taunt everyone (just look at your thread title). When people take your bait, you call them haters.
You didn't see this coming? Really?

Jason Figler said:
You follow-the-rules people will not agree with my POV no matter what, and I will not agree with yours. I'm sure there's some common ground we could find, but some of ya wanna be "haters" and not try to find any.

And with that...I'm feeling a bit done with this. But who knows, maybe I'll be back to comment. I'm sure this will only incite you nasty-posters! So have it.
Permalink Reply by Jason Figler on November 19, 2009 at 5:34pm
Video_Drome said:
Jason Figler said:
Video_Drome said:
I've probably seen you riding on jefferson as this is the main part of my morning route I do in the south loop (i deliver pay checks for a client of the company i work for). You basically road down my morning route. At Jefferson and Adams, I feel you cut it close to that silver car on purpose just for the sake of "getting a close call for my video".
I also wasn't feeling your little move on monroe and clinton where you sort of dart into traffic heading south on clinton, then falling into a line of cars going east on monroe. Plus, you rode through some nasty potholes because of that. Then right after, you pass on the right. But you do however seem to be on your game on the hill between wacker and and franklin on monroe (you squeeze between 2 taxis and i'm SURE you were riding your break) but then you decide to dart into traffic on wells. Then you squeeze between a bus and a taxi when all you really need to do is go one lane over and cruise the middle. And then comes my favorite part where you STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION FOR A COP TO PASS, THEN YOU TRY AND CUT THE COP CAR!!! what are you thinking?
And 6 Minutes from Jefferson and Harrison to 1 south dearborn is pretty slow if you ask me. Even with the red lights and close calls edit:

amazing that you don't die? I do that for 8 hours a day. PLEASE.

Nothing about my ride was done for "cinematic drama." I do/did not get any closer to any cars just b/c this was being recorded.

I did not post this to impress you with my speed, or lack of.

I just posted for the hell of it. Moreover, I can appreciate your Monday morning quarterback-ness...thanks for the tips...but I have a typical route I take, typical lanes and well, they work for me. Feel free to tag along someday and "show me how it's done" please. I look forward to your tutelage.

can't tag a long sorry, I have work to do. Hey when it snows, do you put your bike away like everyone else?

No...I ride year-round.

Why should snow or cold stop anyone from riding?
Permalink Reply by Jason Figler on November 19, 2009 at 5:37pm
Duppie said:
Really? You didn't see this coming?
You cut a video that showcases what some folks would classify as unnecessary aggresive behavior. (others might agree with your riding style). You then proceed to taunt everyone (just look at your thread title). When people take your bait, you call them haters.
You didn't see this coming? Really?

Jason Figler said:
You follow-the-rules people will not agree with my POV no matter what, and I will not agree with yours. I'm sure there's some common ground we could find, but some of ya wanna be "haters" and not try to find any.

And with that...I'm feeling a bit done with this. But who knows, maybe I'll be back to comment. I'm sure this will only incite you nasty-posters! So have it.

Oh no...I did see this coming, and really it's not been that bad. I freely agree that some of this little hazing is justifiable.

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