Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Craig S. on May 28, 2010 at 3:49am

I rode the full circuit of the LFP on Monday afternoon. Not since the early '90's have I been so concerned about what is going on the immediate environs of the southern bike path like I was on Monday. I rolled through McCormick and the 31th street area with a couple of other slower cyclists and we were verbally assaulted and forced into a single line just south of of the 31st street beach house by a couple groups of "youths"; I wondered what would have happened if I'd been on my own. That area was still very crowded after turning around at the southern end and riding north but I noticed the groups of "hostile" youths were gone. I really hope this isn't a harbinger of what the summer is going to be like.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 28, 2010 at 4:14am

The North Ave./Fullerton mess was discussed in detail here. Scroll down to multiple blog postings on 5/26, one with many comments. In a news conference yesterday, Daley attributed the scale of the mess to flash mob gatherings facilitated by text messages.

I'm hearing about a lot more problem children hanging out in Lincoln Park on a regular basis. And last night's news - Guardian Angels stepping up to help deal with the lakefront situation. It could be a rough summer. Keep your eyes and ears open out there.

Permalink Reply by S on May 28, 2010 at 4:16am

Craig S. said:

I rode the full circuit of the LFP on Monday afternoon. Not since the early '90's have I been so concerned about what is going on the immediate environs of the southern bike path like I was on Monday. I rolled through McCormick and the 31th street area with a couple of other slower cyclists and we were verbally assaulted and forced into a single line just south of of the 31st street beach house by a couple groups of "youths"; I wondered what would have happened if I'd been on my own. That area was still very crowded after turning around at the southern end and riding north but I noticed the groups of "hostile" youths were gone. I really hope this isn't a harbinger of what the summer is going to be like.

Hi Craig, I'm in Hyde Park so I end up riding the LFP north fairly often for training rides as well as to go to things. I'd say your experience is every atypical and I haven't really experienced anything like that. I think it was just a one off experience.

Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on May 28, 2010 at 4:20am

I've seen teenagers milling around 31st playing chicken with oncoming bikes and throwing gang signs, and the general vibe is bad. At least the cops have noticed; there's a much heavier presence on the lakefront than I've seen in the past.

I don't think there's a direct correlation between a bad economy and teens acting like jackasses, but it's horrific out there for black men without a college degree and whole neighborhoods that weren't doing so well anyway are just collapsing under the pressure, which isn't being helped by social service cuts. Riding the path or through bad neighborhoods alone after dark is probably not going to be the best idea this summer.

Permalink Reply by Craig S. on May 28, 2010 at 4:30am

Well, I hope so, S. I ride the LFP at the very least twice a week on training rides and as far I'm concerned, south of Solidarity Drive has always been the prettiest part of the path as well as the least crowded. I also use the LFP to go south when I have to work at U.S. Cellular. Commuting home at night the southern part of the LFP is always deserted while that stretch between Oak and Fullerton has lately been giving me the shivers. I mentioned to a riding co-worker that as much as I hate to take the route simply because the LFP is for me a joy to ride, I'm going to explore Halsted going north out of Bridgeport around 11 p.m.

You could also call me overly paranoid too when it comes to my surroundings but I've never been mugged here or various other places in the world.

S said:

Craig S. said:

I rode the full circuit of the LFP on Monday afternoon. Not since the early '90's have I been so concerned about what is going on the immediate environs of the southern bike path like I was on Monday. I rolled through McCormick and the 31th street area with a couple of other slower cyclists and we were verbally assaulted and forced into a single line just south of of the 31st street beach house by a couple groups of "youths"; I wondered what would have happened if I'd been on my own. That area was still very crowded after turning around at the southern end and riding north but I noticed the groups of "hostile" youths were gone. I really hope this isn't a harbinger of what the summer is going to be like.

Hi Craig, I'm in Hyde Park so I end up riding the LFP north fairly often for training rides as well as to go to things. I'd say your experience is every atypical and I haven't really experienced anything like that. I think it was just a one off experience.

Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on May 28, 2010 at 7:38am

S said:

Craig S. said:

...I really hope this isn't a harbinger of what the summer is going to be like.

Hi Craig, I'm in Hyde Park so I end up riding the LFP north fairly often for training rides as well as to go to things. I'd say your experience is every atypical and I haven't really experienced anything like that. I think it was just a one off experience.

I think it prudent to be careful in that area.

I also live in Hyde Park, and commute to and from work every day. Whie the situation Craig describes is far from normal, it does happen. Most of the time I never have an issue, perhaps because of when I ride (7-ish in the morning, 6-ish or later in the evening).

However, I have run into a couple of situations around 31st street Beach (usually on the stretch of the LFP between 31st Street Beach and McCormick Place) where 3-4 yutes walking on the path lurched at me. Both situations happened on days when I left work early, (between 2 - 4 in the afternoon). Since I'm usually on high alert in that area anyway (during the warmer months at least) due to wandering beach folk, I saw them right away and was able to get around them without incident. But I now definitely look at that area with a different eye.

Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on May 28, 2010 at 8:08am

I live at 31st and Ashland, so whenever I ride the LFT I enter and exit at 31st. Mobbing the trail and confronting cyclists does seem to be an after-school activity time-wise. The problems I have encountered have been between 3 and 4 pm. Never had a problem earlier, and I try to make a point to ride earlier in the morning when I do ride the LFT. I have also been charged on the trail near Fullerton by what was almost certainly a Francis Parker student out with a large group of privileged white kids and their teachers. Earlier this week teachers for some French school corked the trail and hastened a group of Francophone 7 and 8 year-olds in front of bike traffic ("Vite, vite!"), so yes, one does have to prepared for anything.

Permalink Reply by Michael A on May 28, 2010 at 9:38am

I ride the LFP 2-3 mornings a week, and when I can sneak in a weekday afternoon ride, I just got home from one. I do not think it is one specific area, when a group of kids get together, they will be kids.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34863435

Permalink Reply by Davo on May 28, 2010 at 11:10am

Whose down for comming up with a self defence style that involves using U-locks?

Permalink Reply by Joe on October 26, 2015 at 8:07pm

lets go tired of these punks harassing us. my u lock is so damn heavy i'm confident i can take down two. there were some punks on morse ave pressing in with one of the gang games. well bring it on son we are ready.

Permalink Reply by JeffB on October 27, 2015 at 6:33am

why post to a 5+ year old discussion? start a new one. I'm closing this one

Permalink Reply by mike w. on May 28, 2010 at 12:12pm

Won't do much good when you're mobbed by 5-15 people...

Years ago a freind and i tried to get from South Shore to the Planetarium along the path. We got chased back south by a gaggle of about 20 kids -some of them riding on another's handlebars; never a good sign- from about 31st all the way back to the Point... never rode that path again.

Sadly, incidents along the south LFP are old news.

Davo said:

Whose down for comming up with a self defence style that involves using U-locks?

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