Biking policy inequality on the South side of Chicago

Last week I was riding on 51st street (on the South side) near Martin Luther King Drive and a SUV with 3 individuals started threatening me because I was using the full lane due to road conditions, they pulled ahead of me, got out of the vehicle and threatened to beat me. I flagged down a police SUV and told them what was happening, the vehicle with the people who threatened me were stuck in traffic, as the vehicle approached I pointed it out to the police (1st District, 51st and the Dan Ryan), the police looked at them and asked if I wanted an escort home! WTF???

I don't understand why they DID NOT pull these people over and question them!

Yesterday I was on a ride with the Chatham Devcorp touring the Chatham area, there were about 30-40 individuals in the ride. We had multiple people in cars the threatening to run us over!

After the ride was over I was heading home on 87th Street and a vehicle pulled up to me and a passenger told me that he would beat my ass if I were not a senior citizen ( just for riding my bike and following the rules of the road)!

Today (July 17,2016) at the Bike Box on 51st and Calumet, 2 customers stopped by for estimates on some repair work, these guys were over 12 years of age, they were riding on the sidewalk (which is illegal in Chicago), they each were issued citations ($25.00 fine). 

They were were riding on the sidewalk because the police will NOT enforce the laws that allow them to ride in the street safely!

I was speaking to another individual who stated that he will not not ride in the streets on the South Side of Chicago because he has been told by motorists that "we don't do that over here (the South Side). He has been threatened also!

The 5th Ward Alderman has stated publicly that "Black people do not ride bikes"(WTF!!!!??????)

How do we (on the South Side) deal with these issues? 

This reminds me of the "broken window" policing policy.

Any suggestions? Or is this an issue only that South Siders have to deal with?

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Permalink Reply by Peter Taylor on July 22, 2016 at 7:06am

To echo this, Alderman Beale even has an annual bike ride event. Usually in a Forest Preserve...away from his ward....need I say more?

Permalink Reply by Writingprincess on July 22, 2016 at 6:42am

I want to echo Jim Shaw. My experience riding on the south side- mainly Hyde Park - has been mostly positive. Yet I rarely ride West of Lake Park so I'm sure experience varies. But I distinctly remember when I first started riding in Chicago after I moved here Shawn and I and a couple of fellas did the Neighborhood Tour ride, which takes you up 55th to the west side all the way to downtown and we got nothing but positive comments. People cheering and coming outside to see the novelty of black folks riding bikes I guess. I think we should take a cue from the group Men Run Deez Streets. Over the years they've held several "neighborhood runs," in Englewood and other areas to "show" black folks doing stuff. It was well received and now they have an annual 5K over there. The more we ride on the south side the more people will get used to us riding there. But we also want to be safe about it as well. There's safety in numbers and organization. 

Permalink Reply by Waymond Smith on July 22, 2016 at 7:18am

I've ridden with Major Taylor, Slow Roll Chicago and The South Side Critical Mass in a group; and yes we've received positive feedback from SOME motorists, but the majority (for most) of the rides that are done are as individuals and that is my concern regarding the attitude of motorists. Some predators will harass the cyclists knowing that the Chicago Police WILL NOT support our RIGHT to ride on the streets.

Permalink Reply by Shawn A Conley on July 29, 2016 at 7:17am

Anne, those are solid ideas.  I love them.  I have shared them with the board of Major Taylor Chicago.

Permalink Reply by Shawn A Conley on July 29, 2016 at 7:18am

Waymond, I have shared the idea with the officers of the club.

Permalink Reply by Shawn A Conley on July 29, 2016 at 7:21am

Skip, most of the weekend rides are longer in duration.  But I do understand that you'd like to ride a shorter option.  Sometimes the club does offer shorter options to the longer rides.  So, please keep checking.  And, thank you for checking out the club's rides.  We'd love to have you join us.  http://www.eventbrite.com/o/major-taylor-cycling-club-chicago-43059...

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on July 31, 2016 at 8:31am
http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/889/article/p2p-87992790/

Sharing a Tribune article by Leonor Vivanco 7-29-16

"South Side lakefront: Work starting on separate bike, pedestrian paths."
Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on August 2, 2016 at 5:59am

I have little confidence in LFT users abiding by this segregation.

Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on August 2, 2016 at 6:08am

My wife encountered Leslie "Hack" Hairston a few months ago at Supreme Jewelers. Recognizing her, my sweetheart asked if she was the alderman. As Hairston beamed, "Yes, I am", my wife launches into "You've got to be CRAZY not to accept the funding for a dedicated bike lane along Stony Island!" Hairston falls back on "the people have spoken" and "it's democracy in action."   

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on August 2, 2016 at 6:12am

Your sweetheart rocks! What a great wife. And yes, Hairston total cra-cra for not accepting the funding. Vive le vélo!

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 2, 2016 at 6:21am

Your wife is AWESOME!

Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on August 2, 2016 at 7:09am

Regarding riding on the south side -- I feel ya, Waymond. However, as a cyclist who rides all four corners of the City of Chicago (30 perimeter rides year-to-date), I have to say that I haven't found the south side to be more intimidating than, say the northwest side. This isn't to say that there aren't sections that I can anticipate more "negative encounters", but it ain't just a south side thang. 

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