Killer pothole

I've been cycling and commuting by bike for several years and consider myself an experienced cyclist.  I have no qualms about biking in the city, even on Michigan Ave.  Yesterday, however, I was taken out by a large pothole right in front of a bus stop at 168 S Michigan Ave.  I was lucky, extremely lucky, that the SUV behind me was watching me and stopped since I landed in the middle of the curb lane (the bike is expected to make a rapid recovery).  

My concern is preventing this from happening to other cyclists and marking other potentially dangerous potholes.  Have any other cyclists been taken down by a killer pothole?

 

Below is the text of an email I sent to the Transportation Dept.

* * *

I was cycling south bound on Michigan Avenue yesterday, Nov. 13, 2011, when I hit a large pothole in the curb lane at 168 S Michigan.  Even though I'm an experienced cyclist and commute daily I did not see this pothole until I hit it.  I estimate the size of the pothole to be about two feet long, a foot wide and 3-4" deep.  I lost control of my bike and fell hard into the curb lane of Michigan Ave.  Fortunately the SUV behind me stopped otherwise it would have surely run over me.  As it is I have a sprained wrist and sore muscles and a shoulder.  If it happens to another cyclist the results may be more tragic. I hate to think what might have happened had the SUV been passing me at that point.  

I believe the city should immediately repair this pothole or at the very least mark it with fluorescent paint so that it is more visible to cyclists.  
Thank you.

 

* * * 

And here's a picture of the pothole.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on November 14, 2011 at 4:22am

My alderman, Ameya Pawar, before he was alderman, created an iphone app that reports potholes to the city.  

 

I don't have an iphone so I've never used it, but it sounds brilliant.

 

Are you surprised too that he bikes to his ward office?

Permalink Reply by Homebuilt on November 14, 2011 at 6:38am

Best thing is to get as many people as possible to report it to 311.  It may still take awhile, but at least it gets on their list.  If you have the exact address that it's in front of, please post that.

Permalink Reply by dan brown on November 14, 2011 at 7:29am

thanks for the tip. I ride that street sometimes in the evening and will report it also to 311.

 

glad your fall wasn't worse..heal quick from the bruises

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on November 14, 2011 at 7:38am

Calling 311 is good, but given the City of Chicago's elaborate system of dividing the land into fiefdoms ruled by 50 different Lords and Ladies, calling the Alderman is better. 168 S. Michigan Ave is in the 42nd Ward and is ruled by Brendan Reilly. Ward office number is 312-642-4242. Email is 

Brendan.Reilly@cityofchicago.org. Ward office is at 325 W. Huron, Suite 510. A call from the Alderman's office to Streets and Sanitation works better than 50 cyclists calling 311.
Permalink Reply by Marc-Paul Lee on November 14, 2011 at 9:22am

I received this response pretty quickly from CDOT.  I've asked a friend to check it for me this evening.  At the very least they could spray paint it orange.  

 

 

Good Morning

 Sorry about your fall. Created a servicer equest for the pot hole. (11-04112417) Thank you.

 CDOT Communications

 

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on November 14, 2011 at 9:49am

Cool. Keep us posted.

Marc-Paul Lee said:

I received this response pretty quickly from CDOT.  I've asked a friend to check it for me this evening.  At the very least they could spray paint it orange.  

 

 

Good Morning

 Sorry about your fall. Created a servicer equest for the pot hole. (11-04112417) Thank you.

 CDOT Communications

 

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on November 14, 2011 at 11:36am

I got completely wiped out on a pothole at Devon and Sheridan the first week of August.  It's the section of the street you go across only if you're heading North on Broadway; if you come from Sheridan (ie, you're nuts), you travel on the other side of the divider.  If you're heading South, you pass on the other side of the divider. I knew it was there, but it was torrential-ly raining and was thinking more about the traffic.  I stopped at Devon, let the line of overly-aggressive cars pass, then proceeded.  I got up to speed (20ish), hit the pothole, went directly down on my left knee, and skidded a-ways.  Took all the skin off my knee, almost down to the bone.  Couldn't do stitches, since there was no skin.  They had to dig the gravel out in the ER.  Went to the ortho due to swelling, and 3 months later it still gets sore and puffy.  I called 311 3 times/week for a month and a half.  The pothole is still there. 

Permalink Reply by Marc-Paul Lee on November 14, 2011 at 1:02pm

Yikes!  That sounds horrible!  I can't help but think that these killer potholes need to be flagged in some way, either by CDOT or the biking community.  I've seen a few outlined in orange spray, which is better than nothing although they should really be repaired.  

Permalink Reply by Ash L. on November 14, 2011 at 1:27pm

I've had good luck with 311 (well, good being 1 month or so turn around) for single potholes but there are some stretches of road like the Armitage bike lane on the south side of the road from Damen to Hermitage and Oakley from Chicago to Augusta that are totally and completely in disrepair so reporting potholes there does next to nothing. The city comes out, sprinkles a bit of filler but does not fix the larger issue. 

I was taken out on Oakley just north of Division heading home from the WTB-Empty Bottle fundraiser last February. This issue there was a series of potholes one right after another right in the path that cars passenger side tires take daily. My front tire got lodged in one and flipped me right over my bars. Thank Jeebus it was 1am or I would not have been able to safely lay unconscious in the road for however long I did. I reported that issue the next day but the condition is still the same today as it was 9 months ago.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on November 14, 2011 at 3:29pm

Do you remember that pothole on Oakley south of Grand that you had been trying to get fixed for like a year? I called the alderman's office and it was filled within the week. Individual results may vary.

h' said:

MPL, thanks for looking out for others.

 

Some shaky info in this thread.

 

[snip]

  And all the folks at the alderman's office are likely to do is put in a duplicate 311 request, likely with at least one degree less accuracy than your direct contact to 311.

[snip]

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