Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on August 28, 2013 at 6:16am

LFP and NBT are two totally different animals. It's not a fair comparison and not fair to transfer rules around.

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

    True about the LFT, but there was a previous post about the NBT and folks riding too fast on it.

"Create a customer-focused and responsive park system that prioritizes the needs of children and families" =/= children should always come first. The parks prioritize the needs of children and families by creating wonderful facilities for them like playgrounds and swing sets. They also create shared facilities like soccer fields and bicycle paths. The policy does not mean these facilities are owned by children or that you have a right to exclude someone because he's not there with a wife, three kids, and a golden retriever. The facilities are public and meant to be shared. You seem to be implying the policy is to ban people based on age or familial status which is simply wrong.

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

    However, the Chicago Park District does maintain that children should always come first.
    The mission of the Chicago Park District is to:
    ... Create a customer-focused and responsive park system that prioritizes the needs of children and families

I don't think they're annoying at all. But I do think each has equal priority (<-- oxymoronic, I know) and there is no reason why we can't all fit -- slow trafic on the right, faster traffic on the left, and a clear "OYL" when signaling a passing to keep everyone safe.

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

    Furthermore those annoying four person cycle like wagons clogging everything up have more "priority" than one training.

I think he corrected you because everything you say is half true and half your opinion.

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

    Then again, if you were just feeling personally affronted and wished to correct me, then yes you are correct the comment was more into regards about the NBT previously mentioned in this post and not explicitly the LFP.

I don't wear Lycra ever (I'm fat, it doesn't look good) and I can't assume whether S does or doesn't. I don't know the guy. But I don't like that you are impling that he might be a raging alocholic who rides his bicycle illegally and so I would like to encourage you to consider being more polite and respectful of his feedback. Or if you want to be rude, at least try to be factual when you try to make a point.

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

    From your picture, I take it you wear Lycra and understand that you might be personally offended by the general perceptions that people assume that means about you and your pastimes. In that case, assuming you're not a rage alcoholic type of Lycra guy - I apologize for any slight.

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Permalink Reply by grayn8 on August 28, 2013 at 6:42am

Egads Tom. Please relax on the troll mode. I think I am either misrepresenting my thoughts or they are not coming across clearly. I have no clue who you or S are, and frankly I find it difficult at time to give or pick up on nuances in posts.

1)The rage alcoholic comment was an autocorrect from rage-aholic. I in no ways meant any comment about EtOH.

2)I already prior to your post admitted to mis-including the LFP with the NBT in my reply to S. So, what's your point?

3)implications? The op was talking about how sometimes it can feel rude to hear maybe be the one yelling on your left. Something people in the post were saying/asking is it etiquette or rules. I feel this side tracking diatribes has now completely left that topic. I'd like to apologize for my role in getting so far off topic. I do feel weirded out by the level of intensity in your response.

4)why mention your weight or Lycra? Seriously? I don't equate the two and don't understand what you are trying to do by bringing it up.

5)maybe I'm miss inferring what your writing, I've definitely done that and I've definitely mistyped. But you seem kinda high strung. Ride more, rage less.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Nedza on August 28, 2013 at 7:11am

I will usually say "on your left" rather loud, but in a nice way, almost in a singing way -- seriously, it makes a difference, and if they can't hear you (earphones) I just slwo down enough and get far enough away that they aren't startled when I pass them.  And I always say thank you when I pass.

It's just common sense when........oh crap, common sense....uhm, never mind......

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Permalink Reply by S on August 28, 2013 at 7:14am

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

True about the LFT, but there was a previous post about the NBT and folks riding too fast on it.

...

Then again, if you were just feeling personally affronted and wished to correct me, then yes you are correct the comment was more into regards about the NBT previously mentioned in this post and not explicitly the LFP. From your picture, I take it you wear Lycra and understand that you might be personally offended by the general perceptions that people assume that means about you and your pastimes. In that case, assuming you're not a rage alcoholic type of Lycra guy - I apologize for any slight.

You however included the LFT with the forest district parks and conflated the two. But that ignores the bigger point.  Why do you feel the need to split cyclists up into different groups and stereotype them?  The person in lycra that zooms by you on a carbon fiber bike might be dressed up in a suit and riding dutch an hour later. The fact of the matter is that yeah some of the this group might be rage-aholics but a lot of them ride regular commuter bikes and regular people.  Just like some people on commuter bikes, fixies, etc.  are rage-aholics as well.  

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Permalink Reply by grayn8 on August 29, 2013 at 4:18am

Hi! I'm doing this again on a small phone and will try to be succinct.

The starter of the post mentioned wannabe Olympians. My sense of humor is probably bad or not translating well to the typed medium. The point of this post was some one commenting on riders going to fast in pedestrian crowded areas and yelling while passing OYL. I don't feel any need to split up riders or drivers or my fellow humans more than the next guy. Frankly, I've seen a lot of this sort of weird polite words angry rage violent face stuff going on lately and the perpetrators have been members of a diverse group of vehicles including segways, motorized wheel chairs, etc.

I think there is a recent post discussing that topic that was started by gadget talking about the perceived bias about road bike riders. If you want to check out sarcastic humorous posts about roadies check out the bike snob NYC, a man who often uses the word Fred. I think there are a lot of folks lumped together in too these so called tribes or clans. The individual rarely fits nicely into any group, but everyone has at times the armchair sociologist. I'd recommend doing a critical mass and seeing a lot of the different groups coming together for a single event.

Previous posts comments:
You however included the LFT with the forest district parks and conflated the two. But that ignores the bigger point.  Why do you feel the need to split cyclists up into different groups and stereotype them?  The person in lycra that zooms by you on a carbon fiber bike might be dressed up in a suit and riding dutch an hour later. The fact of the matter is that yeah some of the this group might be rage-aholics but a lot of them ride regular commuter bikes and regular people.  Just like some people on commuter bikes, fixies, etc.  are rage-aholics as well.  

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Hurley on August 29, 2013 at 4:30am

I think this begs another discussion about the cyclists on the Lake Shore Trail.

When it's 1pm on a Saturday in July... maybe choose a different path for going top speed?

I love to ride fast as much as the next person, but I'm also realistic.  I understand the trail is full of pedestrians, children, and casual cyclists pedaling at a slower speed, especially in the summer.

I can't stand cyclists who attempt some kind of KOM at these times.  It's dangerous and completely selfish.  Come back later in the evening or start early in the morning.  Let's have respect for everyone on the trail.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Hurley on August 29, 2013 at 4:34am

I agree.  If you're passing cyclist after cyclist on the trail, you're probably going too fast.

Reboot Oxnard said:

Sometimes the best solution is to be loud. Sometimes the best solution is to slow down.

Bikers don't own the path, we have to share. If everyone is blocking your way, you're moving too fast for conditions. You can emulate drivers on the streets and get angry and drive irresponsibly...or you can behave better than that and slow down and relax.

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Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on August 29, 2013 at 5:23am

I disagree. Sometimes people are just going so slow that I (not the fastest rider by any means) would pass cyclist after cyclist, which I think is awesome and makes me feel like I have a bigger dick am a faster cyclist.

I do agree, however, with Reboot's statement that "If everyone is blocking your way, you're moving too fast for conditions".

Kevin Hurley said:

I agree.  If you're passing cyclist after cyclist on the trail, you're probably going too fast.

Reboot Oxnard said:

Sometimes the best solution is to be loud. Sometimes the best solution is to slow down.

Bikers don't own the path, we have to share. If everyone is blocking your way, you're moving too fast for conditions. You can emulate drivers on the streets and get angry and drive irresponsibly...or you can behave better than that and slow down and relax.

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Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on August 29, 2013 at 7:46am

In regards to speed, I had a chance to talk to some of Chicago's Finest on the LFT while sitting on quads at North ave beach.  I mentioned I ride (wasn't at the time) and asked when he felt best times were to ride if I am planning on coming out to exercise and not cruise.  He suggested early mornings and late evenings, but also let me know from Fullerton to Navy pier it is a very busy area where they see a lot of ped/cyclist accidents.

I then asked about what they determine is speeding.  He admitted they don't have radar so there isn't a "set speed" but they look at each circumstance individually.  He said that if a cyclist is passing at high rates of speed, endangering others, not communicating their intent when passing, and weaving all over they will stop them.  In years past I have seen lycra clad cyclists stopped several times and receiving citations by Oak Street Beach.

As for our fine forest preserves, the FPD cop I talked to at the end of last year (after issuing a ticket to and impounding a minibike that was on the trail) said they would like to see no more than 15 mph.  He admitted that at that speed people are limited, but they rarely enforce the speed unless they witness someone speeding when there are a lot of people around.  He mentioned early mornings are best because you'll get people out there who are used to cyclists and they rarely had incidents.

I prefer the FPD trails in the morning and the LFT at night, usually less crowded and a those that are out are usually out for a fitness aspect and know how to react to cyclists.

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Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on August 29, 2013 at 7:53am

That's EXACTLY what I usually say, except I whisper it gently into their ear while so close they feel the gentle caress of my breath.  Sometimes tongue is involved.....

echo said:

"Why hello fine sir or madam! What a nice day, isn't it?! I would like to inform you that I am slowly passing on your left hand side. My aren't you fashionable today! I appreciate that you are sharing the path with me, and I hope that you truly have a wonderful day! Carry on!"

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 29, 2013 at 8:03am

Funny, I prefer the LFT in the morning, and I am not out there all that early--around 7:30.  I am only commuting, and I am pretty slow.  I try to watch behind me and stay to the right unless I need to pass someone.  Lots of people pass me, some of them are really fast, and some people say "on your left".  For the most part, the different constituencies on the LFT at that time of day seem to coexist pretty peacefully.  On the other hand, I don't know what time of night you are talking about, but it is still pretty crowded with lots of people who are not really paying attention even at about 8:00 to 8:30.  And, with it starting to get dark earlier, it gets a little hairy with all of the people who do not have lights on their bikes or their persons.
 
Chitown_Mike said:

                          *****

I prefer the FPD trails in the morning and the LFT at night, usually less crowded and a those that are out are usually out for a fitness aspect and know how to react to cyclists.

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Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on August 29, 2013 at 8:33am

OYL doesn't mean that you're going to pass and the person in front of you should move the hell out of the way.

It is to announce that, as said, as written: On your left, so stay your line and let me pass on your left. And if you didn't hear it, I'll say it again, LOUDER. If your brain, for whatever reason, makes you move to left, then I'll say it again, LOUDER.

Now, if some people are riding two or three, or more abreast in front of me (which they shouldn't do more than two), and taking the whole path, both directions, I would slow down, and say OYL, so that I can pass. And if any one of them happens to be thuggish and have that "I have the right to do whatever I want to do" attitude and not even move an inch, then, guess what? I will pass when it's safe for me (yes, that's right, ME), and I will scream OYL LOUDLY as I pass and give them the look and, yes, I'll be ready for confrontation, if they can catch me. LOL

 

 

ON YOUR LEFT !!!!!

 

 

Oh, I forgot, With all due respect,

ON YOUR LEFT !!!!!

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