t regardless of the family, but it would be nice to extend an invite to them. And ghost bikes are usually placed in cooperation with the family, so that's another thing to check in about.
Zoetrope said:
Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Sarah. A vigil, that's what I meant. Makes sense, though -- I'll wait for more info.
However, I don't have any experience organizing vigils, so the part about knowing the victims name and family etc. struck me as odd. Do families of the deceased sometimes wish not to have a gathering like the one for Neil?
Sarah D. said:
I'd for sure participate in a memorial ride or vigil at the site. I'm busy electioneering these days when I am not at work but would surely find time to attend something that commemorates the life of a cyclist and reminds auto drivers that we belong in the streets. Yes. Organize it, Zoetrope!
I think the lag in time is a bit due to the lag in information - we don't yet have the identity of the rider, which in the case of Neill Townsend, we did right away and could coordinate with coworkers and family.
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island. 18th and western north can be rather hectic. I'd seriously think Roosevelt is just as calm or stressful as 18th. I would favor the more direct route of LFP to Roose to Ogden (at the point of the left turn on Ogden there is a side access road with a dept of transportation office, iron mountain, and mattress store. This can be taken to the stoplight for the left turn onto washtenaw between the hospital and the clinics. This goes one street west of the entrance road, but has a stoplight for east west traffic so bikes can move south. It's direct and avoids going further south to get north to avoid the western ave sitch. Taylor is an option, but to be honest by the time you reach canal to get over to Taylor the "worst" of Roosevelt is over. Then again, I bike Roosevelt, 18th, 26th, and 31st daily so all of the pot holes are my friends. And Ogden will allow your group to stop by Hector's ghost bike and say hello/respects.
Rich S said:Definitely avoid Roosevelt! You could try taking the LFP down to 18th street which will get you most of the way to Lagunitas. Pilsen's a great neighborhood to ride through. You could also take a short detour through Chinatown and/or stop at Ping Tom Park which is under the 18th St bridge. 21st is an option as well going east/west but I'm not sure of that street's condition.
You're going to have to cross under the Dan Ryan at some point. You can do that on either 16th, 18th, or Canalport. 16th is probably the least hectic of those options.
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ts because I have been leading one of the local Rides of Silence. Perhaps its me. Perhaps its the drivers. Perhaps they are out to get me...
...Following the discussion about a ghost bike today and then reading a story of yet another cyclist seriously injured finally got me. How many of us have rationalized to ourselves, "I know what I am doing on my bike. I don't know about THOSE riders but I'm safe." It seems that more and more we read about exeprienced cyclists, riders just like you and me, who are being hurt or worse on the roads.
I have a gift certificate to REI. I plan to get a vest, a bell, a new mirror. I recently upgraded my light. I'm getting bikeanoid.
I don't want to lose my edge. We all need that confidence to ride urban roads. We have to know what we are doing and be able to do what we know without hesitation We can't flinch. We can't be scared. We can't be bikeanoid.
I know I have been one of the annoying safety nerds on this board. Those posts came from somebody who thought he knew better. Maybe it doesn't make a difference. Maybe its just a lottery that we can't control. Maybe all that safety crap will not do me any good. Maybe that truck is just waiting for me. Maybe I should forego the vest etc and get myself something more fun. Maybe I'm getting...bikeanoid.
Ride safely friends...or @$#& it just cut right through, it might not matter. :-)…
Added by David Barish at 4:58pm on December 10, 2012
It lags behind other states when it comes to bike safety laws. Cycling is poorly prioritized in the state. Kentucky ranks 49th in Bicycle-friendly states by the League of American Bicyclists in 2015. Another cyclist died Sunday afternoon perhaps due to these issues and the way the cycling community is treated in Kentucky. "The death of a Lexington, Kentucky cardiologist, Dr. David Cassidy, 62, in a bicycle crash Sunday afternoon rocked the city's tight-knit cycling community and renewed interest in a recently defeated bike safety law." "At about 4:15 p.m. Sunday Allison Bishop, 24, of Paris Kentucky, was traveling southbound in her 2013 BMW X3 when she used the left lane to pass a vehicle in the right lane, according to Kentucky State Police. As she merged back into the right lane, she 'failed to see' Cassidy on his bike, police said. Dr. Cassidy was struck by the front right side of the BMW. He died at the scene." "Allison Bishop has not been charged, according to Kentucky State Police. " "Mike Kennedy, dubbed the unofficial leader of David's cycling group - the Zombies, said he doesn't know what the group will do. David would want us all to continue riding. He said he will ride because 'you can't live your life in fear'.The doctor had been training for a special 100-mile ride. He died doing what he loved." A ghost bike is planned in David's honor.…
my bike, though less often since having a scary collision last year and resulting injuries.
I'm most interested that the camera would actually capture an incident. Something that could capture a license plate at low light or night, as well as a wider field of view. I was thinking of a forward view, but do people recommend front or back or both?
Ease of use is next in importance. Looping sounds like a feature I want, but I don't know how much of a pain is it to reformat an SD card if you don't have looping. Could I just push a button on the camera when I am getting ready and be recording in a few minutes, or do I have to dump the card on my computer?
Mounting is another question. Is in best on the bike or on the helmet?
Battery life shouldn't be too much of an issue. I only need a minimum of 1-2 hours.
I also don't want to spend a lot of money. My limit is a little over $200, but I wouldn't mind if it were less :)
Are there any other features or consideration I should know about.
So far I have been leaning toward GoPro because they seem like they are good quality, good ease of use, many mounting options, and at least some models have looping, but they are pricey.
I've also been thinking about the Ghost X which seems to have thoughtful features that fit my needs, but the negative reviews have given me pause.
Would love to hear recommendations from folks here especially if they like their camera.…
ow what the sign should say.
Typically a short inscription reflecting the victim's personality, or as chosen by a loved one. Examples:
Alicia Frantz: She heard everyday sounds as music
Mandy Annis: She finished God's Race in 24 years
Tyler Fabeck: Never ForgetJackie Michon: You Belong Among the Wildflowers (she loved Tom Petty and that song in particular.)
Jepson Livingston: He loved to cook Trevor said:
Neill's friends and coworkers are definitely OK with a ghost bike. Is there someone they should contact? I can pass any info along to someone at Minimal, where Neill worked.
h' said:
Thanks, Trevor.
If there is an opportune moment to do so, can you please find out if friends/family would be OK with a ghost bike at the site? Trevor said:
Yeah, I sent the info to a couple of his friends and coworkers, I think they'll circulate as much as they can.h' said:
Can you let his friends/family/coworkers know about the vigil tonight at 9?Trevor said:
I'm not sure if Neil was a chainlink member, but he was a really nice guy. He was on his way to work on W. Fulton Market this morning. He didn't show up on time and didn't respond to text messages, unusual for him. Police showed up at his office to let people know what had happened. This is incredibly sad, and I know at least one of his coworkers who rode into work today was too shaken to ride home. My thoughts are with Neil's family and friends.Kevin C said:
Updated Tribune story identifies the victim as Neil Townsend.
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f Abbott Hall (corners of Lake Shore Drive and Superior).
Cyclists and non-cyclists from all faith backgrounds are welcome to join in this blessing and to bring their bikes, too. A prayer will be said for the safety of all cyclists, in remembrance for those cyclists no longer with us and to give thanks for the joy cyclists experience on their self-propelled travels and journeys.
The Ride Of Silence at 7pm on Wednesday, May 16. On one night in cities around the world, cyclists will gather to ride in silence to raise awareness of cyclists' right to ride on the road and to honor the fallen cyclists no longer with us; the Ride of Silence serves as a rally that advocates for the living friends and family of victims, as well as a celebration of those who incorporate the bicycle into their lifestyle. We ride slowly and silently in hope to end the tragedy on our roads.
In Chicago, cyclists will gather at Daley Plaza beginning at 6pm to ride past the site of several ghost bikes, memorials to cyclists at the sites of fatal crashes. In Evanston, cyclists will gather at 7pm at the Chandler Neuberger Center between Lincoln and Central just west of Ridge. More information on all local RoS events at www.rideofsilence.org/chicago.
For information contact - elizabeth@rideofsilence.org…
that Active Trans has activities which are roughly proportionate to where their members live and where the funding comes from.
The problem with your question is that it's simply too vague and all encompassing - WHICH suburbs are being ignored/getting the short end of the stick would be the question that people could answer one way or another.
Remember that people don't even agree on where the suburbs end and become "exurbs," and then there's the complication of when you simply get into rural areas that got little cul de sac'd housing development during the boom - are they suburbs at all? Antioch, IL got a Metra stop a few years back, and it was being pitched (and heavily developed, now they are ghost developments) as a new commuter suburb. Well, in that case that's just crazy talk. So some baseline definitions need to come into play.
by the way- I hope you understand Chicago has had 2 area codes for something like 15 years. 312 is now pretty much just downtown and leftover cell phones.
Thank you everyone for your comments. But all these comments about the nature of suburban infrastructure miss my point. Is Active Trans too focused on the City of Chicago? Not if there are good bike lanes or trails or whatever in the suburbs. But is Active Trans the organization doing enough outside the 312 area code?
And why is there no response from Active Trans? You have a 7 person marketing and communications team listed on your website. Can't you respond to this post? And seriously, 7 PR flacks? How about assigning more staff to the suburbs?
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will try to get a sign made or at least started tonight.
As an aside I'll try to get hold of Jackie Michon's boss to find out if there's a plan for a GB for her in the works (forgot the number at home today)-- it's not much harder to crank out two bikes than it is one once you get the people and supplies together.
I'll put some "how-to" notes together tonight. In terms of making a bike the basics are to use a bike that has no useful life left in it, secure the parts such that they can't be stripped off or are effectively worthless (spot-welding has been done on many of the past bikes). The bike should be reasonably like something the victim might have ridden (e.g. probably no step-through frame or BMX bike for an adult male). Tires on the rim looks much better than no tires. In terms of paint, the name brand ($5-6) can cover a bike with one can, wheras the budget stuff ($1-3) will take 2-3 cans. Stay away from reflective or otherwise "fancy" paint-- it almost always has undesired consequences (e.g. glow in the dark paint goes on kind of yellowish and doesn't glow enough to be noticeable, reflective paint is expensive and ends up not looking "white" when the light hits it.)
Despite the ordinance, many Ace stores do have spray paint in stock but you have to ask for it.
Otherwise there's Cicero/Evanston.
Bikefreeek said:
This can be done at WTB on Thursday evening if someone else can organize.
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