The Chainlink

I'd been waiting to get my Divvy membership until stations popped up near me. I work in the suburbs, not downtown, so I mainly want a membership in order to more easily get to and from the train on those days when I don't feel like riding 22 miles roundtrip to work.

I finally bought my membership on Monday when I saw new stations opening up closer and closer to me. I was thrilled earlier today to read on Divvy's Twitter feed that a station is going up very close to me, on Addison and Pine Grove.

And then I read this: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-divvy-bike-sharing-lawsuit-2....

I'm furious. What can I (we) do to counter these NIMBY types? I think it's entirely unfair that a couple of cranky people can ruin bikeshare for my neighborhood.

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You are wise to defer to Lisa's knowledge and judgment in these matters.

Jason W said:

Wow, I didn't know that. Seems weird. Thanks.

Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi said:

First they have to plead an actual cause of action. . . .

As to praying, the clause is properly called a "prayer for relief", so that particular phrase, at least, is correct.

From the lawsuit, I believe David F. Kolin ("Kolin") thought the Divvy station was going to be installed in the landscaped parkway with the bikes on the sidewalk facing his front door.  That's how I envisioned it too when I first read the article.  I can see how this would be vexing to most non-bikey people - lost investment in greenspace, users congregating a few steps from your door while they check out bikes, and cyclists riding down the sidewalk to get to the station.

Now that the station has been installed, it's clear it will not destroy Kolin's parkway.  It will not result in "strangers" milling on the sidewalk by his front door.  And it will not encourage people to bike on the sidewalk.

Kolin might still have a gripe about losing his sometime personal parking spot in front of his building, but I'd hope he withdraws the complaint now that he has all the facts.



Steven Vance said:

Lawsuit. Read it, it's very funny.

More details on Streetsblog Chicago.

Neither CDOT nor Alderman Cappleman would comment for my article and Cappleman's office referred me to the Law Department. 

I'm going to make this my dock surfing stop on my way home tonight.

Be on the lookout for minors.

Scotto 6.8 said:

I'm going to make this my dock surfing stop on my way home tonight.

HAhahahahaha!

Kevin C said:

Be on the lookout for minors.

here's one more article: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130822/lakeview/lawsuit-filed-over...

I'm really liking dnainfo for local reporting over tribune & suntimes, by the way. 

Im still confused, they do not state what damages were done to their property? Specifics aren't even mentioned in the suit. Being lawyers I would figure that more specifics would be outlined in a Lawsuit. Or can lawsuits be that vague?  I do agree with the short notice and lack of communication about the project though. 

Steven Vance said:

Lawsuit. Read it, it's very funny.

More details on Streetsblog Chicago.

Neither CDOT nor Alderman Cappleman would comment for my article and Cappleman's office referred me to the Law Department. 

There are lawyers, and then there are lawyers.*  Some lawyers do nothing but review contracts.  Some lawyers have never written a complaint in their legal careers.  Some write them all of the time and never figure out how to do it correctly.  There are things they must do to have a proper complaint.  Expect the City to say what you are saying except they will do it in legal jargon.

*The lawyers I know on the Chainlink are pretty good lawyers.

Davo said:

Im still confused, they do not state what damages were done to their property? Specifics aren't even mentioned in the suit. Being lawyers I would figure that more specifics would be outlined in a Lawsuit. Or can lawsuits be that vague?  I do agree with the short notice and lack of communication about the project though. 

Steven Vance said:

Lawsuit. Read it, it's very funny.

More details on Streetsblog Chicago.

Neither CDOT nor Alderman Cappleman would comment for my article and Cappleman's office referred me to the Law Department. 

How is it I've never heard this?  Seems odd as only about 1/3 of the city actually burnt.

 


Jason W said:

Hey wait a minute! Chicago is called the second city because it is the second city built upon this ground. The first one burned down in the great fire. Reporters started calling it the second city during the rebuilding efforts.

Oh, and thanks for posting this.

Steven Vance said:

Lawsuit. Read it, it's very funny.

More details on Streetsblog Chicago.

Neither CDOT nor Alderman Cappleman would comment for my article and Cappleman's office referred me to the Law Department. 

Lowering property values, the ultimate bourgeois fear.

I walked over and took a Divvy out to go to the meeting at the Nature Museum and then brought a Divvy back after the meeting.  When I was checking a bike out at the Pine Grove station, a woman walking her dog came up to me to ask how it worked.  She was interested in using it.

The station was about half full both times I was there.  Bikes were not in the same location when I came back as they were in when I left.  It is being used!

It burned the entire business district, and the homes on the more densely populated north side. The heavy industry on the south and west sides were spared. Much of the rest of the land that didn't burn were farms, and less densely populated areas.

h' 1.0 said:

How is it I've never heard this?  Seems odd as only about 1/3 of the city actually burnt.

 


Jason W said:

Hey wait a minute! Chicago is called the second city because it is the second city built upon this ground. The first one burned down in the great fire. Reporters started calling it the second city during the rebuilding efforts.

Oh, and thanks for posting this.

Steven Vance said:

Lawsuit. Read it, it's very funny.

More details on Streetsblog Chicago.

Neither CDOT nor Alderman Cappleman would comment for my article and Cappleman's office referred me to the Law Department. 

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