The Car Culture's disdain.....

OK, this example concerns pedestrians, rather than cyclists, but my point is the general ingrained disdain this car culture has for all other road users. I really detest it when businesses have the chutzpah to completely block the sidewalk with their snow. We need to remember we are all pedestrians when we get out of our wheeled metal boxes.

OK, rant over. Breathing normally now....

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on February 12, 2011 at 2:23pm

Because the city doesn't know how to properly clear the streets for plowing (instructional post forethcoming).

 

It's a shame that everyone in the bike-lane-is-now-parking crowd don't drive VW Beetles - those can be lifted by a group 4.  "That one?  Hmm....looks like the third snow pile down is Beetleless."  Oh, and the Geek Squad ones will be turned turtle and set on fire regardless.


Jeff Schneider said:

OK, here's my rant.  Why is it OK to park cars in bike lanes when the parking lanes are full of snow?  I guess when it snows, cyclists lose their rights while drivers get a new right to treat any public space as their personal parking lot.
Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on February 12, 2011 at 3:24pm

There's no law to clear sidewalks in Chicago, meaning if you slip and fall on your ass you can't sue.

 

It will (hopefully) be over in 8 or so days with temps forecast to be reaching 50 in the next week, then we can go back to banging on hoods, mirrors,trunks and giving the finger because we are riding in the bike lane.

Permalink Reply by mindfrieze on February 14, 2011 at 4:52am
Mike Zumwalt said:

There's no law to clear sidewalks in Chicago,....


The CDOT Pedestrian Program would probably cry to hear that you think that.  From the Municipal Code of Chicago:
10-8-180  Snow and ice removal.

     Every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person having charge of any building or lot of ground in the city abutting upon any public way or public place shall remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of such building or lot of ground.

     If the sidewalk is of greater width than five feet, it shall not be necessary for such person to remove snow and ice from the same for a space wider than five feet.

     In case the snow and ice on the sidewalk shall be frozen so hard that it cannot be removed without injury to the pavement, the person having charge of any building or lot of ground as aforesaid shall, within the time specified, cause the sidewalk abutting on the said premises to be strewn with ashes, sand, sawdust, or some similar suitable material, and shall, as soon thereafter as the weather shall permit, thoroughly clean said sidewalk.

     The snow which falls or accumulates during the day (excepting Sundays) before four p.m. shall be removed within three hours after the same has fallen or accumulated. The snow which falls or accumulates on Sunday or after four p.m. and during the night on other days shall be removed before ten a.m.

(Prior code § 36-19)
Permalink Reply by Liz on February 14, 2011 at 5:53am

I'm wondering when the city will start enforcing the laws about parking vehicles in the bike lane.

People should shovel to the curb if there's snow within a parking space.  Snow shouldn't mean that the bike lane may be blocked.

 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/bicycling...

 

Motorists found parking or idling in a bike lane or marked-shared lane will be issued $150 tickets — and may have their vehicles towed.

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on February 14, 2011 at 6:22am
Well sh*t!  If the city wanted to make some really good money, just send a few officers down Elston.  I rode The Knife on Saturday and stopping counting cars parked in the bike lane when I got to 30.

Liz said:

I'm wondering when the city will start enforcing the laws about parking vehicles in the bike lane.

People should shovel to the curb if there's snow within a parking space.  Snow shouldn't mean that the bike lane may be blocked.

 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/bicycling...

 

Motorists found parking or idling in a bike lane or marked-shared lane will be issued $150 tickets — and may have their vehicles towed.

Permalink Reply by Joel on February 14, 2011 at 6:34am
The outrage would be awe-inspiring.  Tens of thousands of motorists being absolutely furious that they were ticketed for blatantly breaking the law in a "time of crisis".  It would a blast to watch.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
Well sh*t!  If the city wanted to make some really good money, just send a few officers down Elston.  I rode The Knife on Saturday and stopping counting cars parked in the bike lane when I got to 30.

Liz said:

I'm wondering when the city will start enforcing the laws about parking vehicles in the bike lane.

People should shovel to the curb if there's snow within a parking space.  Snow shouldn't mean that the bike lane may be blocked.

 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/bicycling...

 

Motorists found parking or idling in a bike lane or marked-shared lane will be issued $150 tickets — and may have their vehicles towed.

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on February 14, 2011 at 7:13am
It would indeed. 

Joel said:
The outrage would be awe-inspiring.  Tens of thousands of motorists being absolutely furious that they were ticketed for blatantly breaking the law in a "time of crisis".  It would a blast to watch.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
Well sh*t!  If the city wanted to make some really good money, just send a few officers down Elston.  I rode The Knife on Saturday and stopping counting cars parked in the bike lane when I got to 30.

Liz said:

I'm wondering when the city will start enforcing the laws about parking vehicles in the bike lane.

People should shovel to the curb if there's snow within a parking space.  Snow shouldn't mean that the bike lane may be blocked.

 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/bicycling...

 

Motorists found parking or idling in a bike lane or marked-shared lane will be issued $150 tickets — and may have their vehicles towed.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on February 14, 2011 at 4:27pm

My bad then, I figured with so many un shoveled sidewalks it was not a law. And according to this http://chicagopersonalinjurylegalblog.com/2010/01/city-not-enforcin...

it's like the 3 foot passing law, maybe I'm the only one who has gotten a ticket for riding on the sidewalk, or drinking alcohol in the park too. So many of these aren't enforced why bother having them?


Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:

It would indeed. 

Joel said:
The outrage would be awe-inspiring.  Tens of thousands of motorists being absolutely furious that they were ticketed for blatantly breaking the law in a "time of crisis".  It would a blast to watch.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
Well sh*t!  If the city wanted to make some really good money, just send a few officers down Elston.  I rode The Knife on Saturday and stopping counting cars parked in the bike lane when I got to 30.

Liz said:

I'm wondering when the city will start enforcing the laws about parking vehicles in the bike lane.

People should shovel to the curb if there's snow within a parking space.  Snow shouldn't mean that the bike lane may be blocked.

 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/bicycling...

 

Motorists found parking or idling in a bike lane or marked-shared lane will be issued $150 tickets — and may have their vehicles towed.

Permalink Reply by S on February 14, 2011 at 4:38pm


Joel said:
The outrage would be awe-inspiring.  Tens of thousands of motorists being absolutely furious that they were ticketed for blatantly breaking the law in a "time of crisis".  It would a blast to watch.


A coworker said that he saw a cop going down ashland ticketing all the cars that where parked too far out from the curb (or possibly in the bike lane).  Looks like the city is cracking down.

Permalink Reply by Joel on February 14, 2011 at 4:40pm
I can understand it for a couple days, but it has been more than a week.  Shovel your spot -- be you a business or resident.  The time for being lazy is over.

S said:


Joel said:
The outrage would be awe-inspiring.  Tens of thousands of motorists being absolutely furious that they were ticketed for blatantly breaking the law in a "time of crisis".  It would a blast to watch.


A coworker said that he saw a cop going down ashland ticketing all the cars that where parked too far out from the curb (or possibly in the bike lane).  Looks like the city is cracking down.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on February 14, 2011 at 5:15pm
The way it was told to me was I can't sue the property owner I have to sue the city then they have to sue the property owner so essentially not worth doing.

Mike Zumwalt said:

My bad then, I figured with so many un shoveled sidewalks it was not a law. And according to this http://chicagopersonalinjurylegalblog.com/2010/01/city-not-enforcin...

it's like the 3 foot passing law, maybe I'm the only one who has gotten a ticket for riding on the sidewalk, or drinking alcohol in the park too. So many of these aren't enforced why bother having them?


Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:

It would indeed. 

Joel said:
The outrage would be awe-inspiring.  Tens of thousands of motorists being absolutely furious that they were ticketed for blatantly breaking the law in a "time of crisis".  It would a blast to watch.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
Well sh*t!  If the city wanted to make some really good money, just send a few officers down Elston.  I rode The Knife on Saturday and stopping counting cars parked in the bike lane when I got to 30.

Liz said:

I'm wondering when the city will start enforcing the laws about parking vehicles in the bike lane.

People should shovel to the curb if there's snow within a parking space.  Snow shouldn't mean that the bike lane may be blocked.

 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/bicycling...

 

Motorists found parking or idling in a bike lane or marked-shared lane will be issued $150 tickets — and may have their vehicles towed.

Permalink Reply by S on February 14, 2011 at 7:15pm


Joel said:
I can understand it for a couple days, but it has been more than a week.  Shovel your spot -- be you a business or resident.  The time for being lazy is over.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that the city is cracking down on this.  Frankly, they should have done it earlier.  Same deal with the sidewalks.  Do what Minneapolis and other cities further north do,  if the home owner doesn't clear the sidewalk within 2 days of the snowfall, send out some city workers to do it and bill the owner directly for the labor.  That'd certainly get streets cleared fairly quickly.

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