Weird sign in the Dearborn PBL

Anyone else notice some weird signs in the Dearborn PBL just south of Washington this morning? They say "Stop for Pedestrians" or something like that. They are sitting on the ground in the bike lane. I didn't stop to investigate closely, but I don't think there's even a curb cut there? It struck me as a bit strange. It was right by the Blue Line entrance/exit (on the west side of Dearborn obviously).

Anyone know if this is a CDOT initiative?

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on May 15, 2013 at 6:13am

Valet parking serves the purpose of encouraging people to drive into the city from the suburbs or other parts of the city. It's a convenience for the few at the expense of everyone else. (Just like everything that encourages driving over public transport use).

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on May 15, 2013 at 6:18am

It's also pretty expensive, and provides work for a lot of people that need it.  I'm not too worried about it because anyone using valet parking is also wealthy enough to be driving into town and parking in a garage and walking.  As long as they don't mess with bike lanes, of course.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on May 15, 2013 at 6:25am

What about…free valet?? *gasp!*

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on May 15, 2013 at 6:32am

Free valet downtown?  I don't think I've ever seen it.  Most of them look like some kind of syndicated operation that provide service to restaurants, I would assume for a fee in addition to the rates charged to the people parking.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on May 15, 2013 at 6:37am
Not in the Loop nor River North for sure, but I've seen plenty of sandwich boards advertising free valet service in Lincoln Park and Lake View.

Tricolor said:

Free valet downtown?  I don't think I've ever seen it.  Most of them look like some kind of syndicated operation that provide service to restaurants, I would assume for a fee in addition to the rates charged to the people parking.

Permalink Reply by David P. on May 15, 2013 at 6:38am

What about....bike valet?? :)

Permalink Reply by WillG on May 15, 2013 at 6:55am

I reached out to CDOT, they responded by telling me that they will look into it.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on May 15, 2013 at 8:18am

Providing work for people is never a valid reason to justify harmful enterprises. Messing with bike lanes is exactly why we are discussing the valet issue(s) in this thread.


Tricolor said:

It's also pretty expensive, and provides work for a lot of people that need it.  I'm not too worried about it because anyone using valet parking is also wealthy enough to be driving into town and parking in a garage and walking.  As long as they don't mess with bike lanes, of course.

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on May 15, 2013 at 8:19am

Hey Chainlinkers, we got the messages and are looking into this. We'll let you know what we find out.

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by WillG on May 15, 2013 at 8:34am

Justin.....Justin, would you please stand up? That was fast.

http://justinhaugens.tumblr.com/post/50510526843/hey-chicagodot-wha...

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on May 15, 2013 at 8:45am

I went out for a walk today around 1:00.  I dress in business attire, like the older female I am.  As I passed Trattoria 10 there was a gentleman in a business suit stepping into the Dearborn PBL to move one sign from the parking area back into the bike lane and to right the second sign that had been knocked over.

Me:  Excuse me, but did the city give authority for those signs?

Gentleman in suit:  shakes head no.

Me:  Why are you putting them in the bike lane?  It is a moving lane of traffic.

G/S:  At night we have valet parking here and the bikes go flying by without stopping.

Me:  But it is a bicycle lane.  There is no pedestrian crossing here.

G/S:  Well the city did not do anything to protect the people getting out of cars.

Me:  Isn't that something you should take up with the city?

G/S:  So you have a problem with me putting these signs here?

Me:  Yes.  They block the bike lane.

G/S:  Picks up signs and moves toward entrance to restaurant.

Me:  Thank you!

Of course, I fully expect he waited until I was out of sight and put them back, but I hope having a polite conversation with someone who looked like a possible customer had some impact.

We will just have to stay tuned to see what happens in the next episode.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on May 15, 2013 at 8:49am

Well done Lisa! Next time you decide to do something like that, would you please let me know? I'd like to video it.

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

I went out for a walk today around 1:00.  I dress in business attire, like the older female I am.  As I passed Trattoria 10 there was a gentleman in a business suit stepping into the Dearborn PBL to move one sign from the parking area back into the bike lane and to right the second sign that had been knocked over.

Me:  Excuse me, but did the city give authority for those signs?

Gentleman in suit:  shakes head no.

Me:  Why are you putting them in the bike lane?  It is a moving lane of traffic.

G/S:  At night we have valet parking here and the bikes go flying by without stopping.

Me:  But it is a bicycle lane.  There is no pedestrian crossing here.

G/S:  Well the city did not do anything to protect the people getting out of cars.

Me:  Isn't that something you should take up with the city?

G/S:  So you have a problem with me putting these signs here?

Me:  Yes.  They block the bike lane.

G/S:  Picks up signs and moves toward entrance to restaurant.

Me:  Thank you!

Of course, I fully expect he waited until I was out of sight and put them back, but I hope having a polite conversation with someone who looked like a possible customer had some impact.

We will just have to stay tuned to see what happens in the next episode.

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