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 Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin on November 3, 2016 at 12:17pm

I kinda deserved it. :/

I usually do. You win some, you lose some.

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Permalink Reply by SixtyTwoPercent on December 11, 2016 at 9:46am

So, I am driving a fair bit to work now. I take the same route as my bike or run route; Damen>Elston>Milwaukee>Des Plaines. When I have to drive, I wish I were riding. And, I note how other drivers react to cyclists.

Lately, I have been having to dial 911 on cars flying through the bike lane on southbound Milwaukee at Ohio just past Erie. It scares the crap out of me when I see a car jump in at speed and then two or three more doing same...without regard to cyclists. So, I fumble to call and then to turn on camera (while stopped.) Really, it burns me up.

I think a no right turn onto Ohio is the next move to keep people from cutting across that bike lane (or worse driving in it.)

Now that I think about it, I wonder if we ought to have another thread with the top ten challenging driver/bad behavior spots. Might make sense to get a tally and send onto our reprsentative(s) for their involvement.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on December 11, 2016 at 10:24am

I've been having trouble with drivers on the Jackson Blvd bike lane. Almost every day there's a left-turning car halfway across the bike lane, or someone who thinks it's their personal lane.

Then there's the fact that the lane ends abruptly at Halsted, dumping cyclists out into traffic a short distance from the bridge over the expressway. I've been complaining to the ATA for a couple years about this... I think they should continue the bike lane over the bridge with a turn lane to the *left* of the bike lane. If it were marked, I think there would be less confusion between cars and bikes. The ATA recommended I contact my alderman. Problem is, I work at UIC but live way north in Mundelein, so I have no dog in the hunt as far as the local alderperson is concerned.

This sort of thing could indeed have its own thread... sorry if this seems like a hijack.

Steve

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Permalink Reply by kb on February 16, 2017 at 9:31am

Just read this while skimming the thread. I totally agree with you that this area is problematic. I usually make an effort to get over to the right side of Jackson just before the bike lane ends at Halsted which I find to be a bit safer anyway traveling into the loop.

I ride a good stretch of Jackson on my morning commute and see cars double parked in the bike lane daily and repeatedly (although I know this isn't out of the ordinary for most commuters). The worst bit of it for me is around Malcolm X where the bike lane feeds into a 'protected' bike lane. It is utter chaos from Damen to Ogden trying to dodge folks that are dropping off and picking up students. There are also no signs to keep drivers alert as they go in and out of the parking garages. Over the last year I've reached out to the College's Facility Management and the Alderman several times with everyone suggesting that it is out of their hands.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on February 16, 2017 at 11:55am

I'm going to try messaging the ATA again expressing the hope that *this* could be the year when this problem gets resolved. They were talking about a "bikes-only" signal at Halsted to allow bikes to get to the right. That seems a bit unnecessarily complicated to me, but maybe it's the best. I am heading to Union Station when I cross the expressway so I'm turning left almost immediately. Being on the right would be somewhat awkward, but I guess I could adapt. ;-)

As for the people in the bike lanes, I'd be using an air horn... but they probably wouldn't all pay attention.

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on December 17, 2016 at 2:26am

To the person from the restaurant that places the valet sign in the bike lane EVERY night on Damen (Wicker Park).... responded to me with, "keep f**king riding!!" when I protested the sign in the lane -

... the best of me thinks I should go back and take a photo and post to twitter, etc. to illuminate the dangers of placing a valet sign in the bike lane right after the intersection (and at a narrow point of the road).

--- the worst of me wanted to post the location and name of the restaurant here and ask everyone to kick it over as they pass it.

Ok, I won't the doing the "worst" option. There is just NO need to park that sign in the middle of the bike lane and force cyclists in the street to avoid it.

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on December 17, 2016 at 3:01am

Maybe that sign could just, ya know, disappear?

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on December 17, 2016 at 3:15am

I don't want to be the cyclist "Godfather/mother", making things I don't like "disappear" but it is fun to think about. ;-)

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on December 17, 2016 at 5:23am

Heh...

Your sign sleeps with the fishes tonight.

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on December 17, 2016 at 6:08am

There are a few places here in Wicker Park that do that all the time, regardless. If anyone questions their intentions or 'kick's it to the curb' they get the f-bomb attack and it's put back in the same spot by their 'meathead' promptly. As for removing it, I'm sure that they have another one at the ready.