Pedestrian - 0 : Bicyclist - 1

I was crossing at a crosswalk, being my pedestrian self at the time, and a bicyclist came whizzing past me from my right, blowing the red light. I still had 6 seconds on the crosswalk countdown, and I was almost hit by a bicyclist. He was inches away from me, and I had to step back. 

Seriously? Does this really have to be something I have to look out for? I'm already aware that I can be hit by a car easily, especially when I'm on my bike, but crossing at a legal crosswalk, following my signal? Come on...

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Permalink Reply by David P. on May 26, 2012 at 9:02am

Unfortunately, yes. Lack of consideration for more-vulnerable road users is not limited to motor-vehicle drivers.

Permalink Reply by Chicagodan on May 26, 2012 at 9:58am

Carlee, I just had that same thing happen to me last week.  I was about to cross Kinzie Street at Kingsbury when a fast moving cyclist on the bikeway blew right through the stop sign, missing me by inches.

I'm a bike rider, too, but I'm growing more and more disgusted with the way so many cyclists seem to possess this childlike "get outta my way" mentality.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Markus on May 26, 2012 at 10:00am

We must be responsible for our own safety. The basic "Look Both Ways" lesson we learned as children is the strongest protection we have to survive the slings and arrows of outragous fortune present on todays sidewalks, streets and even bike lanes.

It would be nice to have that perfect world where people would follow rules and be considerate to all others on the roads but stupidity has been ingrained in the mass psychy to the point that justification of really dumb actions makes daily life dangerous to anyone that does not defend themselves with attentiveness, caution and (tho I don't like to propose it) defensive actions.

No class of street user is immune from being a danger to everyone around them but must be veiwed as potential deadly threats.

Jeff

The Chicagoan

Permalink Reply by Carlee Weimer 6.0 mi on May 26, 2012 at 10:40am

I'm going to be walking around like a squirrel, constantly looking around me, if that's the case. I'm paranoid enough as it is, but yeah, this incident was a little insane. I had no way to know he would blow the light because before I started crossing he was nowhere in sight. *sigh* So it goes.

Also, anyone else notice that more often than not, the people that are blowing red lights and stop signs don't wear helmets?  

Permalink Reply by Eric R on May 26, 2012 at 2:21pm

I would say a common theme is a messenger bag of some kind. :)

Disclaimer: I'm not defending scorchers, just observing the physics of it all. When leaving work I turn left onto Randolph from Wacker. Pedestrians crossing Randolph tend to begin walking when we, motorists and cyclists, have a left turn light so I get the unpleasant experience of legally dodging pedestrians (granted the lights are all screwy at that intersection). One thing I noticed is that when they stop walking we almost collide, if they keep moving so do I.

I will 311 the timing issue with those lights right now. (Edit: I don't see an option for this on the 311 site.)

Carlee Weimer said:

Also, anyone else notice that more often than not, the people that are blowing red lights and stop signs don't wear helmets?  

Permalink Reply by John Wirtz on May 26, 2012 at 2:28pm

When my 3-year old son behaves poorly, we give him a time out. Maybe that would work on scofflaw cyclists too?  If people are in such a hurry that they can't be bothered to yield to pedestrians, a 5 to 10 minute time out might be a fitting punishment. 

Permalink Reply by Jeff Markus on May 26, 2012 at 2:58pm

 

Actually the 'time out' has been used by law enforcement for many years, decades and in todays world results in lawsuits and frivolous litigation. As a child on the streets of Chicago the tales of policemen just putzing with other kids and drivers (especially drunken or inattentive) were common and in most cases the result was not what your post suggests. In fact the negative attitude arisen from those actions added to the negative perceptions that poison social interactions with police to this day, including to some extent your own (and mine)...
Jeff
The Chicagoan
Permalink Reply by John Wirtz on May 27, 2012 at 2:32pm

Well it doesn't sound funny when you put thought into it.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 27, 2012 at 2:50pm

I have noticed that the worst offenders are those who wear T-shirts.  Horrible people -those T-shirt wearers...

Carlee Weimer said:



Also, anyone else notice that more often than not, the people that are blowing red lights and stop signs don't wear helmets?  

Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on May 28, 2012 at 2:51am

Yeah! It's those rascals wearing T-shirts. (smile)

James BlackHeron said:

I have noticed that the worst offenders are those who wear T-shirts.  Horrible people -those T-shirt wearers...

Carlee Weimer said:



Also, anyone else notice that more often than not, the people that are blowing red lights and stop signs don't wear helmets?  

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