Think of this as a Missed Connection.

You blew the red light east bound on Lawrence at Damen at 5:26 pm this evening.

 

There was enough time for the biker in front of me to make it half way into the intersection, northbound on Damen, before you came whizzing past my front wheel.

 

I yelled "You're an idiot!" at your big haired chick, self, and you looked back at me. I meant it!

 

I woulda testified for any of the cars, that managed to not kill you, if they had.

 

Keep riding like a tard!

love,

gabe

 

Witness bad behavior during your commute? Feel free to post. Maybe that lovely human can read it and think they are famous. Maybe you can also inspire the whole generation of kids to shower but we can start with small things.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa Gordon on September 28, 2014 at 12:44pm

As long as we're doing positive (good idea!)....  I had a similar experience turning onto Howard from a side street across from where water main work was going on--a tough place to turn on any day.  The flagger stopped all traffic to let me make my turn and get on my way.  Otherwise, I was going to have to ride a couple blocks out of my way in order to turn around and come back.  Hooray for construction workers who are extra considerate to bikers!

Alex James said:

Hey, that's a positive story! You're in the wrong thread! 

Just kidding, I had an awesome experience last week where a construction worker directing traffic physically stood in front of the car parallel to me and proceeded to flag me through. That was very thoughtful, and appreciated. 

Jeff Schneider said:

You: SUV driver northbound on Clark.

Me:  Standing on the corner at Deming, waiting to walk my bike across the street.

Despite the fact that, at this corner, there is no marked crosswalk, you stopped to let me cross!  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to smile and wave.  It's so much more fun to acknowledge courtesy than to protest thoughtlessness.

Permalink Reply by David P. on September 29, 2014 at 3:59am

You: college bro-looking guy in a Camry on a 4- or 6-lane road in Madison, WI

Me: driving down the road in the middle lane in my Beigemobile

Him: pedestrian waiting to cross in a crosswalk

The crosswalk is plain as day with good marking, bright signs and lit up like Christmas (either it lights up when someone walks up to it or when they press a button) but I was in just enough of a 'car mode' that, given the car-favored nature of the street, I _almost_ didn't stop to let him cross. Then I saw bro start to slow to a stop next to me and snapped out of my mindlessness enough to stop also to let the guy cross.

I found it surprisingly easy to adopt habits contrary to my usual ones (I never would have spaced out in the city) merely because I was in a suburban-looking environment!

Permalink Reply by David Altenburg on September 29, 2014 at 4:32am

You: Truck driver who was about to pull out on Elston this morning.

Not only did you stop before crossing the bike lane to look for people on bikes; when you saw me, you gestured so that I could know that you did in-fact see me and saved me from having to brake and/or swerve into the traffic lane. I wish more drivers were as thoughtful as you.

Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on September 29, 2014 at 11:30am

I was in Boston last Friday waiting for a bus on a crowded sidewalk. The street was pretty crowded as well. Along came a hipster type on a fixie (on the sidewalk) calling out "Bikers' rights! Bikers' Rights!" as he drove right through the waiting pedestrians. I said "Dude, you're on the *sidewalk* and he gave me a dirty look.

Is there some kind of special law on the East coast?

Steve

Permalink Reply by David Barish on September 29, 2014 at 12:03pm

No bikes in this interlude. I stood at the corner of Randolph and Clark watching a couple of well dressed pedestrians cross against a red light. They look surprised as they notice cars approach the green light those cars had. The pedestrians hop across as if skipping stones to cross the street. As they reach the far side  they encounter the driver sitting in the left turn lane with his phone in his left hand engaged in conversation before  making his turn.  He successfully does so. The light starts to turn and the driver behind Mr. Verizon decides to rev his engine and announce that he will make that left turn regardless of the changing light. The dozen or so of us who were not in a hurry to cross are rewarded for our leisure by not being hit by Mr. I'mgonnamakeit.  Nobody seems to see each other but fortunately  no Darwin awards today. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 29, 2014 at 2:32pm

If not, it should be. ;)

Jeff Schneider said:

Wasn't that a scene in Portlandia?

Steve Weeks said:

I was in Boston last Friday waiting for a bus on a crowded sidewalk. The street was pretty crowded as well. Along came a hipster type on a fixie (on the sidewalk) calling out "Bikers' rights! Bikers' Rights!" as he drove right through the waiting pedestrians. I said "Dude, you're on the *sidewalk* and he gave me a dirty look.

Is there some kind of special law on the East coast?

Steve

Permalink Reply by Cheryl on October 1, 2014 at 4:25am

A big thank you to the truck driver on sb Elston who stopped & waved me out from a side street when there was an endless stream of traffic behind him. He saved me from a realllly long wait for a break in the traffic!

Permalink Reply by pherm on October 1, 2014 at 4:47am

It was!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3nMnr8ZirI

Anne Alt said:

If not, it should be. ;)

Jeff Schneider said:

Wasn't that a scene in Portlandia?

Steve Weeks said:

I was in Boston last Friday waiting for a bus on a crowded sidewalk. The street was pretty crowded as well. Along came a hipster type on a fixie (on the sidewalk) calling out "Bikers' rights! Bikers' Rights!" as he drove right through the waiting pedestrians. I said "Dude, you're on the *sidewalk* and he gave me a dirty look.

Is there some kind of special law on the East coast?

Steve

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 9, 2014 at 3:00am

About 8:40 this morning: 3 guys riding north in Dearborn bike lane blasted through red light. One continued at speed onto the sidewalk next to the Monadnock building, then jumped the curb back into the lane mid-block. That was really special.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on October 10, 2014 at 3:48pm
One for the books today! Halsted and Elston you tried to push the arrow and I had to put my hand out saying stop. Fulton and Halsted you were doing 35-40 and slammed the brakes as I was going through a clear intersection. Ravenswood at Sunnyside you were stopping but rolling as you stated at your phone then smiled and waved sorry. Clark and Winona you were looking right then pulled out as you looked left,gave me a cute wave as I swerved and hit the brakes.
Permalink Reply by A.K.A Paul on October 10, 2014 at 4:33pm
That was hilarious!



pherm said:

It was!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3nMnr8ZirI

Anne Alt said:

If not, it should be. ;)

Jeff Schneider said:

Wasn't that a scene in Portlandia?

Steve Weeks said:

I was in Boston last Friday waiting for a bus on a crowded sidewalk. The street was pretty crowded as well. Along came a hipster type on a fixie (on the sidewalk) calling out "Bikers' rights! Bikers' Rights!" as he drove right through the waiting pedestrians. I said "Dude, you're on the *sidewalk* and he gave me a dirty look.

Is there some kind of special law on the East coast?

Steve

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on October 13, 2014 at 6:03am

Doing a good clip down Wells in Old Town the 3 of you bar hoppers? just ran out into the street from behind a parked SUV I couldn't have stopped or swerved, luckily I threaded the needle.

 Maybe look first before you cross the street?

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