Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by dan brown on December 6, 2012 at 5:46am

thanks for the heads-up John.

 

I think I will send in a pre-emptive reply now to beat the rush tomorrow (lol).

 

Dan

Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on December 6, 2012 at 5:51am

If you want to try to provide some input for the article, Kass' email is jskass@tribune.com.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on December 6, 2012 at 6:26am

Seems to me the last time he was splouting his blather wrote about cycling in Chicago someone offered to go riding with him.  I don't suppose he took anyone up on actually riding a bicycle in Chicago?

Permalink Reply by Bill Savage on December 6, 2012 at 6:35am

Kass sees anything more involved than the wind blowing as clout in action.  He argues that constructing bike lanes is just politically motivated, and makes money for contractors, and placates a Rahm constituency while the city is going broke.  SOS.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on December 6, 2012 at 6:44am

Ok, I took the bait. I sent John Kass the following:

 

Hi John

I have been told that you are doing some work for an upcoming column on this lane and that you will be interviewing Gabe Klein of CDOT tomorrow. I thought I would write to you with my $.02. I am an attorney who has commuted on the average about once a week to the loop from the near north burbs. If I had a different job I would  commute every day. However, my need to travel and to carry work home makes that impossible.

I think the new two way lane is a very reasonable solution to in impossible problem.  The problem is the limited space for all traffic in the loop.  I drive, walk, train and cycle,  in the loop and have done so for many years.  Allocating this limited space is an act of art, science and religion.  If most commuters and cyclists use this lane we can hope that traffic on other north south arteries such as State, Clark, LaSalle and eventually Wells (when it reopens) will have less bike traffic.  Cars can try to use those streets.  Vehicles that must use Dearborn will essentially have a two lane street.  There may be some backups when cars turn or pedestrians (as they so often do) continue to cross until the light turns red.  However, things will move along.  This minor interruption on one  street is balanced by reallocating bikes to Dearborn and freeing up traffic on other streets.  The protected lane  should keep much of the cats and dogs acrimony between bikes and cars to a minimum. I have been told that there will be traffic lights for bikes in this lane.  I know that cyclists who flout traffic laws have been a problem for you.  I agree. We ALL have to work within the law if we are all going to get where we need to go in one piece.  Whether we have seen a [insert your dirty rotten user of the other mode of transportation here] break a law is not the question.  There are plenty of transgressions from all users.  The question is what we are going to do not what some jerk has done.

The more  people we get to use alternative modes of transportation such as cycling, the less cars we have on the street.  That will help make driving in the loop less of a disaster for those who have no choice.

Why do I ride?  Hey, its a sedentary job and we all have to find ways to get some exercise.  I find that I am energized and productive on the days when I ride.  I'm just saying....you should give it a try.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 6, 2012 at 8:16am

Well said, Dave!

Permalink Reply by Juan Primo on December 6, 2012 at 8:19am

Here's my stab at it:

Dear Mr. Kass:

I heard somewhere on the internet that you are going to write a column that I will disagree with.

Permalink Reply by dan brown on December 6, 2012 at 8:30am

I love the irony of the last line of this article :
http://chicagoist.com/2012/12/04/emanuel_protected_bike_lanes_on_de...

"Emanuel also said that, like the Kinzie Street and other protected bike lanes, motorists will adjust. And if not, they can always take CTA."

Permalink Reply by 1zt7hr8qm0y90 on December 6, 2012 at 8:34am

I agree with David. "We all have to work within the law." There hasn't been an organized ride I have ever participated in where I wasn't left behind at red lights by cyclists blocking the flow of traffic running red lights and stop signs. Lets not be a problem for ourselves and give motorists something to complain about. A stop only needs to ba a fraction of a second so putting a foot down, unclipping or performing a track stand is not often necessary. As far as a loss of momentum is concerned shift that bike as if you were driving a sports car. I must obey the laws including hand signals if there are vehicles around because my concience won't let me do otherwise. Try it. You'll be amazed at the respect you get, at leeast here in the burbs. Bear in mind that I am 61 and ride a 6 speed Huffy cruiser so if I can do it so can you. I know I'll be dissed for this.

Permalink Reply by Tim S on December 6, 2012 at 8:38am

I thought that was a tongue and cheek article not a serious proposal.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on December 6, 2012 at 9:45am

For a guy that doesn't even live in Chicago, he is quite opinionated about the way the City of Chicago makes urban planning decisions.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on December 6, 2012 at 9:57am

I really dislike John Kass's writing, perspective and the way he frames his theses. My solution is that I never read him. I have no reason to doubt John G's heads up that Kass is writing a column for publication tomorrow regarding the Dearborn PBL. Has advocacy for infrastructure really devolved to the point where people are lining up, or in some cases, already sending emails decrying the column which may or may not get written and may or may not get printed?

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