Beware of algae on the Lakefront Trail

I wiped out while biking near the planetarium this morning and dislocated broke my shoulder. The pavement on the lower level by the looks wet but is also very slippery algae. Please avoid at all costs!

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Permalink Reply by Brian S on September 4, 2017 at 9:54am

Yikes! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

(And thank you for the heads up)

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Permalink Reply by trash panda on September 4, 2017 at 11:42am

Thank you. Turns out my shoulder relocated by itself, but my humerus is also fractured lengthwise.

After I ate it, a couple sitting on the steps said that I was the second person they'd seen fall today.

Then, my partner, who was a half hour or so behind me also wiped out in that same exact spot, and while he was down saw two other cyclists fall. He got a band aid from lifeguards nearby who were not shocked by the accidents at all, so it seems as though this is a rather common occurrence.

The city and/or park district need to do something about this!

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 5, 2017 at 3:43am

Yikes! I hope you heal up soon.

I tweeted this thread to Chicago Park District. If you want to retweet, look for @aka60643.

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Permalink Reply by trash panda on September 5, 2017 at 4:53am

Thank you! I called the park district this morning to let them know that it's dangerous in that spot.

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Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on September 5, 2017 at 4:29am

Heal fast!

A couple of weeks ago I warned a family about riding there - very slippery indeed. We actually helped them move their bicycles up to the higher level.

Where you were riding is not technically part of the bike path.

I think it is more about judgement than Chicago Park District responsibility.

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Permalink Reply by trash panda on September 5, 2017 at 4:53am

I would imagine that it's just as slippery for people walking/jogging. Even some signs alerting trail users that the path is potentially hazardous would be nice, especially given the number of people who have fallen in this particular spot.

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Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on September 5, 2017 at 5:05am

Agreed. I fell not far from there in July of 1994 riding along as well. Shredded my hip really bad and tore my shorts.

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Permalink Reply by trash panda on September 5, 2017 at 5:32am

Oh wow, I'm sorry to hear that. So it's been an issue for a long time, then.

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Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on September 5, 2017 at 5:36am

Yeah, and last week a guy took me down by Ohio St Beach on the bike path. He slipped coming at me. I went over the handlebars and fell on top of his bike.

It was caused by lots of water on the path from the waves.