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 Steve Weeks on June 6, 2014 at 3:07am

I may have been wrong about "illegal" (Bike Law) as the statute seems to apply only to motor vehicles. However, the consensus among accident lawyers and the Illinois Department of Transportation is that it's dangerous.

Yes, there are different levels of "isolation"; for example wearing only one ear bud, which is all your friends would need. The Divvy rider I encountered was wearing two buds, and riding quite leisurely.

Sorry if I hurt your feelings. ;-)

Steve

Rich S said:

I have friends that are on call for their jobs. They ride with earbuds so they know if their phone rings or get a message but don't listen to music. 

Way to cast judgement! 


Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 6, 2014 at 3:07am

I wear headphones. I don't ride a divvy. I'm definitely not a hipster. And if you'd said "on your left" I would have heard you over whatever I was listening to.

Or you could just pass at a safe distance and no one would notice.

This is always an amusing debate. Ear buds or no ear buds. There is a volume control for headphones. Also far as I know it's based off the law for cars that a driver can't wear headphones so as to hear emergency vehicles.  However, cars are more and more sound proof (and they advertise as such) so who cares about headphones. Not to mention that hands free devices for cell phones mostly go in your ear.

Happy Friday!

Rich S said:

I have friends that are on call for their jobs. They ride with earbuds so they know if their phone rings or get a message but don't listen to music. 

Way to cast judgement! 

Steve Weeks said:

You: Hipster dude on a Divvy heading East on Jackson bike lane. I didn’t think it was worth the effort to say “on your _____” as I passed you since I noticed your prominent white ear buds.

I guess when you pay $75 a year you aren’t required to bother with insignificant details… like the law!

Steve

Permalink Reply by dan brown on June 6, 2014 at 5:36am

what Vilda Said dammit !

Vilda said:

I wear headphones. I don't ride a divvy. I'm definitely not a hipster. And if you'd said "on your left" I would have heard you over whatever I was listening to.

Or you could just pass at a safe distance and no one would notice.

This is always an amusing debate. Ear buds or no ear buds. There is a volume control for headphones. Also far as I know it's based off the law for cars that a driver can't wear headphones so as to hear emergency vehicles.  However, cars are more and more sound proof (and they advertise as such) so who cares about headphones. Not to mention that hands free devices for cell phones mostly go in your ear.

Happy Friday!

Rich S said:

I have friends that are on call for their jobs. They ride with earbuds so they know if their phone rings or get a message but don't listen to music. 

Way to cast judgement! 

Steve Weeks said:

You: Hipster dude on a Divvy heading East on Jackson bike lane. I didn’t think it was worth the effort to say “on your _____” as I passed you since I noticed your prominent white ear buds.

I guess when you pay $75 a year you aren’t required to bother with insignificant details… like the law!

Steve

Permalink Reply by Michelle Milham on June 6, 2014 at 5:44am

I agree. Although I do tend to just wear one and shove the other one down my shirt so it's not flapping around. (My best friend told me to do this based on how mictrophones are wired in theatre and I realized how freaking genius that is haha.) Often for my commute I skip them, it's only 5.5 miles. But for longerrides, especially on a path, I definitely switch my sound over to mono (it's in the accessibility settings on the iphone) instead of stereo and just use an earbud. I often just need that beat to keep me not just pedaling, but HAPPILY pedaling :) 

Permalink Reply by Davo on June 6, 2014 at 11:10am

Vilda: I'm definitely not a hipster.

Says the person with an Owl tattoo :P

This coming from a guy with a bike chain tattoo that incorporates the Chicago Stars

That tattoo is pretty sweet btw

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 12, 2014 at 7:12am

Didn't know Owl tattoo's were "hipster." I know they are trendy.

It's a memorial tattoo for my G-ma who had the nickname Owelette. Vilda Chaya written in her hand writing in the tattoo. Means "Wild Animal" in Yiddish. Was the term that inspired Maurice Sendak to write "Where the Wild Things Are".

And for the missed connection. Dude gave me an "on your left" yesterday during my commute home but passed within inches IN THE BIKE LANE with cars passing.

As I explained earlier - giving an "on your left" is great but not needed - what is needed is passing at a safe distance you jack-wad! If I hit a pothole we're both going under a car cause you were in a damn hurry!

Putz!


Davo said:

Vilda: I'm definitely not a hipster.

Says the person with an Owl tattoo :P

This coming from a guy with a bike chain tattoo that incorporates the Chicago Stars

That tattoo is pretty sweet btw

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on June 12, 2014 at 7:15am

Thank you (seriously) to the Potbelly messenger who said on your left and didn't just zoom by me on Clybourn this morning. 

Permalink Reply by Jeremy on June 19, 2014 at 8:40am

On June 18, around 6:00 pm:  You were driving a Comcast van facing east on Webster.  You were stopped at Halsted at the red light with your left turn indicator on.  I was the rider of the Divvy bike that pulled up on your right.

Despite the left turn indicator, you made a right turn inches in front of me even though there are four "No Turn On Red" signs posted at that intersection.

If you would be so kind as to send me your information, I would be happy to tell Comcast customer service about your adroit driving abilities.  As a bonus, I will also tell them about how you turned from Bissell onto Webster without wasting time with your turn signal.  Your time management skills should be acknowledged by your supervisors.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 19, 2014 at 8:46am

Too bad you didn't get a photo with identifying info.

Jeremy S said:

On June 18, around 6:00 pm:  You were driving a Comcast van facing east on Webster.  You were stopped at Halsted at the red light with your left turn indicator on.  I was the rider of the Divvy bike that pulled up on your right.

Despite the left turn indicator, you made a right turn inches in front of me even though there are four "No Turn On Red" signs posted at that intersection.

If you would be so kind as to send me your information, I would be happy to tell Comcast customer service about your adroit driving abilities.  As a bonus, I will also tell them about how you turned from Bissell onto Webster without wasting time with your turn signal.  Your time management skills should be acknowledged by your supervisors.

Permalink Reply by Julia 3.5/7.5 mi on June 19, 2014 at 1:05pm
To the Lincoln Park mom, driving her BMW suv down Clybourn - thanks for not only encouraging your elementary aged boys to throw sh*t at me, but swerving closer so they could hit me?!?! Congratulations on creating the next generation of road-raging assholes. You're a TERRIBLE parent.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 20, 2014 at 4:16am

I had a pleasant one this a.m. while riding up the Dearborn bike lane. As I rolled up to Adams, the bike signal was turning red and the left turn signal turned green. Drivers were starting to turn as I came to a stop. The 3rd or 4th driver in the line turned to me as I stopped and put my foot down and said "thank you." That was a refreshing and welcome change of pace.  

I like to practice positive reinforcement. It's nice to see drivers doing it, too.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on June 20, 2014 at 4:35am

I truly believe that you cannot judge a book by its cover.  I make an effort to avoid pre judging people based on external factors. Our world has dealt with racial and other prejudice too often. That being said I have a real hard time putting that into practice when it comes to drivers of BMW automobiles. This came long before the horrible bike/car crash last year. I don't know what it is but in my statistically insignificant world it seems that bad behavior and a sense of entitlement seems to coexist with BMW ownership. Suffice it to say that I am saddened but not terribly surprised by your story.


Julia 3.5/7.5 mi said:

To the Lincoln Park mom, driving her BMW suv down Clybourn - thanks for not only encouraging your elementary aged boys to throw sh*t at me, but swerving closer so they could hit me?!?! Congratulations on creating the next generation of road-raging assholes. You're a TERRIBLE parent.

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