I rode Dearborn today...anyone else?

I just missed the press conference and just hung out at lunch to see how it would all work. It seemed easy enough, so I took Dearborn as my starting route home to Roscoe Village. Normally I hit Franklin to Orleans then north to Lincoln.

I have to say, it was pretty easy and relatively safe. The ambassadors were helpful with the the auto traffic. The walkers were easy enough to avoid. I had to chuckle at two riders riding side by side in the lane.

What I didn't see was any oncoming traffic; southbound riders. I am guessing that will come in time or at other times during the day.

Way to go Mayor RE! This is really making a statement.

Who else rode the new path?

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 14, 2013 at 10:28am

It is a parking lane and the cab stand lane.

Juan Primo said:

What is that lane to the right of the SUV in that second picture... where the towncar is standing.  Is that a dropoff lane or a drving lane?

Permalink Reply by WillG on March 15, 2013 at 2:01am

Mr. Sysco was properly parked and unloading in the parking lane next to the bike lane this morning. YAY!

I sort of feel bad that the driver had to get a ticket in order to properly park, but it was nice to see him not in the lane this week.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on March 15, 2013 at 2:02am
You feel bad that he got a ticket for doing something illegal? I'm sure the company paid the ticket anyway.

Will G - 10mi said:

Mr. Sysco was properly parked and unloading in the parking lane next to the bike lane this morning. YAY!

I sort of feel bad that the driver had to get a ticket in order to properly park, but it was nice to see him not in the lane this week.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on March 15, 2013 at 3:37am

Yesterday I saw they nailed down four more plates.  It seems like a slow operation.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on March 15, 2013 at 3:43am

The plates look about a third complete as of this morning.

Permalink Reply by blair on March 15, 2013 at 4:01am

Facebook says they're using a barge to lock in the plates from underneath, too.

I don't recall having to lock in plates from the bottom when they installed on Clark and Kinzie.  Maybe these plates are slightly different?



Tricolor said:

Yesterday I saw they nailed down four more plates.  It seems like a slow operation.

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on March 15, 2013 at 4:54am

Perhaps the plates on Clark and Kinzie are temporary until the Wells Street bridge is back in operation.

Permalink Reply by blair on March 15, 2013 at 4:58am

I thought the same thing about Clark, but not sure why Kinzie would be temporary?  Or maybe they did use a boat/barge for that PBL and I just never noticed?

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on March 15, 2013 at 5:07am

Due to the Wells Street bridge project, I suspect the use of barges for the Dearborn plate installation has something to do with their ready availability. 

blair_ said:

I thought the same thing about Clark, but not sure why Kinzie would be temporary?  Or maybe they did use a boat/barge for that PBL and I just never noticed?

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 15, 2013 at 7:07am

It is a little more than nailing.  They are using bolts spaced pretty closely.  The use of bolts implies, I think, something on the bottom holding them in place.  I guess, hence, the barge.  I don't know how they would do it without a barge or a really crazy ironworker suspended under the bridge.  Actually, thinking of the ironworkers I have known, "crazy ironworker" might be redundant. ;-)
 
Tricolor said:

Yesterday I saw they nailed down four more plates.  It seems like a slow operation.

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on March 15, 2013 at 8:23am

Lately I've been using (excuse my spelling and bad Polish language) CURVA! for those drivers regularly parked in the bike lane on the south side of Wacker.

 

Nice to soon be riding a full stretch of plates, making a rumbling sound of victory as we pass over them to the other side.

Juan Primo said:

I often hear dupajasz, which is like "Johnny ass".

Anne Alt said:

There's nothing quite like learning insults by immersion.  ;)

Juan 2-8 mi. said:

Most of the people I work with are Polish, so it kinda rubs off after many years.

Anne Alt said:

Dupa? Haven't heard that one in a while - my Polish gramma's favorite equivalent for dumbass.  ;)

Permalink Reply by S on March 15, 2013 at 10:09am

Maybe, maybe not.  The barge probably costs a few tens of  thousand per day, possibly a lot more if it has specialized equipment.  I can't see them keeping it for a few days more unless it really was the best, most cost effective way to do it.
 
Kevin C 4.1 mi said:

Due to the Wells Street bridge project, I suspect the use of barges for the Dearborn plate installation has something to do with their ready availability. 

blair_ said:

I thought the same thing about Clark, but not sure why Kinzie would be temporary?  Or maybe they did use a boat/barge for that PBL and I just never noticed?

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