protected bike lane downtown

Gotta say, I don't like it for two reasons. It seems people who are getting into their cars use it as a sidewalk, and garbage tends to gather in the lane, especially around the Bloomer chocolate factory. I've ridden this a few times, and it's kinda sketchy. I think it was modeled after ones in Europe, but i don't think it's the best for Chicago. just saying.

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Permalink Reply by ad on July 14, 2011 at 3:52am

For some I'm probably preaching to the choir and for others this will fall on deaf ears, but please please please stop at stop signs for pedestrians crossing Kinzie when cycling in the protected lane on Kinzie.  Today the Chicago Bike Ambassadors were out at certain stop signs near the Merchandise Mart.  I stopped at the first stop sign right after the bridge heading east and tried to let a pedestrian go who had been patiently waiting cross Kinzie.  As soon as the pedestrian neared the curb, a cyclist rushed by me on my right and almost took the guy out.  A cycling ambassador had to literally walk out into the middle of the lane and halt three other cyclists approaching the stop sign just to make sure the guy could cross okay.  That just seems unacceptable to me. 

 

I'm all in favor of Idaho stops when appropriate and other realistic road rules for cyclists, but some of the riding I've seen cyclists pull on Kinzie lately just reinforces the point to me that there are selfish inattentive road users on both sides of the equation.  If cyclists act with little to no responsibility for others safety, those that oppose this type of infrastructure just get more ammo to fight with.  End rant.   

Permalink Reply by jennifer james on July 14, 2011 at 4:19am
Interesting to hear the bike ambassadors were out again today. That says to me that the city is getting complaints about something with the lane. I think the bike ambassadors are so great. We've run into them a bunch this year with our kids and they are always so unfailingly nice regardless of who is letting loose on them. They kind of get it from both sides. Cyclists treat them like the man and car people treat them poorly because they essentially represent bikes. Try to be nice if you come across the ambassadors out at Kinzie. They are just trying to support cycling in the city too.
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on July 14, 2011 at 4:23am
+1. I complimented two cyclists yesterday for yielding the right of way to a pedestrian and a car, each of which had the right of way. I see a lot of bicyclists on that protected bike lane riding like it's a bobsled track.

ad said:

For some I'm probably preaching to the choir and for others this will fall on deaf ears, but please please please stop at stop signs for pedestrians crossing Kinzie when cycling in the protected lane on Kinzie.  Today the Chicago Bike Ambassadors were out at certain stop signs near the Merchandise Mart.  I stopped at the first stop sign right after the bridge heading east and tried to let a pedestrian go who had been patiently waiting cross Kinzie.  As soon as the pedestrian neared the curb, a cyclist rushed by me on my right and almost took the guy out.  A cycling ambassador had to literally walk out into the middle of the lane and halt three other cyclists approaching the stop sign just to make sure the guy could cross okay.  That just seems unacceptable to me. 

 

I'm all in favor of Idaho stops when appropriate and other realistic road rules for cyclists, but some of the riding I've seen cyclists pull on Kinzie lately just reinforces the point to me that there are selfish inattentive road users on both sides of the equation.  If cyclists act with little to no responsibility for others safety, those that oppose this type of infrastructure just get more ammo to fight with.  End rant.   

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 14, 2011 at 4:43am

Idaho stop treats a stop sign as a YIELD -not a green light with ultimate god-level right of way over all other vehicles or peds.

 

Idaho stop or no, bikes still must yield to a ped in a crosswalk or attempting to enter the crosswalk from the curb cut.  Period.  END of story.

 

The Idaho-type Stop actually has nothing at all to do with this as the requirement to yield the right of way to a ped crossing would trump all other considerations.  

ad said:

I'm all in favor of Idaho stops when appropriate and other realistic road rules for cyclists, but some of the riding I've seen cyclists pull on Kinzie lately just reinforces the point to me that there are selfish inattentive road users on both sides of the equation.  If cyclists act with little to no responsibility for others safety, those that oppose this type of infrastructure just get more ammo to fight with.  End rant.   

Permalink Reply by JTO on July 14, 2011 at 4:44am

I've ridden it a few times and I like it, with reservations.

It seems a lot of people, especially around East Bank Club, are using it as a jogging / walking lane, even though a huge, empty sidewalk exists 10' to their immediate right.

Motorists, on the other hand, seem to really get it, even cabbies.

So, if I need to squirt water on a couple of rich ladies who decide to use the bike lane for their personal running track (in my defense, I called out to them at least 5 times) in exchange for a tiny bit more goodwill with motorists, I'll take it.

Permalink Reply by ad on July 14, 2011 at 4:57am

Just to clarify, I wasn't trying to say that an Idaho stop-situation actually applied--or should apply--to this particular set of facts.  I was just pointing out I am in favor of the concept in general--when appropriate--before someone tried to call me out for being overly tied to car-centric derived rules, which seems to be how several of these conversations eventually go on here when someone calls out another cyclist's conduct. 

 

I do agree 100% with your description of what an Idaho stop should be, though.  Here, however, the cyclist behind me was clearly in the wrong and should have come to a complete stop to let the guy cross.        

James BlackHeron said:

Idaho stop treats a stop sign as a YIELD -not a green light with ultimate god-level right of way over all other vehicles or peds.

 

Idaho stop or no, bikes still must yield to a ped in a crosswalk or attempting to enter the crosswalk from the curb cut.  Period.  END of story.

 

The Idaho-type Stop actually has nothing at all to do with this as the requirement to yield the right of way to a ped crossing would trump all other considerations.  

ad said:

I'm all in favor of Idaho stops when appropriate and other realistic road rules for cyclists, but some of the riding I've seen cyclists pull on Kinzie lately just reinforces the point to me that there are selfish inattentive road users on both sides of the equation.  If cyclists act with little to no responsibility for others safety, those that oppose this type of infrastructure just get more ammo to fight with.  End rant.   

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 14, 2011 at 5:01am

You are right that motorists dont' have the monopoly or sole-franchise on being aggressive road users that selfishly and regularly violate other road user's right-of-way.

 

There are plenty of bicyclists that do it too.  The problem with humans is that they are often all too human...

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on July 14, 2011 at 5:11am

Within the Loop, Dearborn & Clark are wide and would be good North/South candidates. 

Maybe going under the tracks on Lake/VanBuren would be good East/West candidates; move parking off those streets altogether and use the sides outside the track posts for the bike lanes?

 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 14, 2011 at 5:13am

Not going to happen.

 

LAZ

in it to win it said:

move parking off those streets altogether and use the sides outside the track posts for the bike lanes?

 

Permalink Reply by Rich S on July 14, 2011 at 5:56am

I didn't think Illinois Ave needed a protected bike lane until a couple Jersey Shore looking a-holes in a white Chevy Tahoe passed me on the right while I was in the bike lane. This was on Tuesday just east of State St. Then they proceeded to give me a brake job on the downhill going under Michigan Ave. 

 

Dearborn and Ontario is always a fun one. The bike lane is on the left when going north on Dearborn and the left turn lane is to the left of the bike lane when approaching Ontario. I almost always have to deal with cars turning left in front of me from the lane to the right even though they're supposed to go straight thru the intersection. 

in it to win it said:

Within the Loop, Dearborn & Clark are wide and would be good North/South candidates. 

Maybe going under the tracks on Lake/VanBuren would be good East/West candidates; move parking off those streets altogether and use the sides outside the track posts for the bike lanes?

 

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on July 14, 2011 at 6:09am

Exactamente.  There is nothing inherently magical about a bicycle that turns a jackass into Mother Teresa, it brings out the best in some people, and exacerbates the worst in others. 

 

That said, there is something inherent to riding a bike that makes cycling more acutely aware of their surroundings, and there is nothing about a car that seems to bring out the best in anybody.

 

Took Elston>Milwaukee>Kinzie>Clinton>Roosevelt this morning, the Kinzie lane is really quite refreshing, it actually makes you feel like you are welcome on the street. 

 

Too many cyclists on Milwaukee blowing lights and in general acting the fool is another story altogether. 

The closest I came to an accident this morning was the cyclist who blew through a red going south where Elston ends at Milwaukee.  I had the green/right-of-way as I turned left and almost t-boned him as he didn't even slow down as he blew through. 

 

What is about Milwaukee?  It's much worse than Elston, Lincoln, it's even worse than the Lakefront, which is really saying something.  On Milwaukee I see cyclists passing cars on the right who are actually doing what they are supposed to and have their turn signals on and have left room for cyclists to get by on their left, cyclists are riding two or three abreast, cyclists are trying to pass the bus on the right, fighting to get past each other at the intersections, ugh.  General rules of the road apply to everyone, in that if you're passing someone on the right, you're probably in the wrong.


James BlackHeron said:

You are right that motorists dont' have the monopoly or sole-franchise on being aggressive road users that selfishly and regularly violate other road user's right-of-way.

 

There are plenty of bicyclists that do it too.  The problem with humans is that they are often all too human...

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 14, 2011 at 6:17am

I have to resepectfully disagree.

 

I have a hard time ascribing evil to inanimate objects.  Good or bad comes from within ourselves.  Lifeless matter, be it liquid/solid/gas harbors no ill will and does not control or influence us any more than the mind lets it (unless it is ingested and effects our internal chemistry, of course.) 

 

 

Carter O'Brien said:

 

That said, there is something inherent to riding a bike that makes cycling more acutely aware of their surroundings, and there is nothing about a car that seems to bring out the best in anybody.

 

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