The Chainlink

Think of this as a Missed Connection.

You blew the red light east bound on Lawrence at Damen at 5:26 pm this evening.

 

There was enough time for the biker in front of me to make it half way into the intersection, northbound on Damen, before you came whizzing past my front wheel.

 

I yelled "You're an idiot!" at your big haired chick, self, and you looked back at me. I meant it!

 

I woulda testified for any of the cars, that managed to not kill you, if they had.

 

Keep riding like a tard!

love,

gabe

 

Witness bad behavior during your commute? Feel free to post. Maybe that lovely human can read it and think they are famous. Maybe you can also inspire the whole generation of kids to shower but we can start with small things.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Not too hip on July 19, 2015 at 9:03pm

It's time to hold the lane, in the center, at a light. S/he would have to run you over before you positioned yourself. I would take my chances.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on July 20, 2015 at 12:07am
To the slow as hell looking for a parking spot Range Rover driver, I couldn't pass you on the left because you sped up, nor the right as you kept weaving in and out of the bike lane so I followed you in full view of your rear view mirror at 5 mph then you decide to stop right now!
Then of course when we made eye contact had no idea there was anyone else in the world.
Permalink Reply by Cheryl on July 21, 2015 at 10:46am

To all of the Milwaukee Avenue commuters: I get the urge to run the red light SB at Elston, I really do. And I have no issue with you all doing it, except for those of you who refuse to yield to the Elston traffic that actually has the right of way. Please be considerate and allow the Elston traffic to proceed, even if that means you have to actually come to a stop. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Not too hip on July 21, 2015 at 11:25pm

I feel that way often on my rides. Last Saturday afternoon I was headed westbound on Belmont when some young guy passes me when I'm stopped at a light. After it turned green I slowly caught up with him  (he had a really heavy bike) but he kept jumping lights. Eventually he had to stop but was getting edgy to go through this light. I was able to say that we are required to stop at reds (I have certainly been known to run them - when no traffic around). He said he knew at which point I stated that we needed to earn respect. For the next couple of miles he stopped.

Neither of us ever came to a full stop at a 4 way stop.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 23, 2015 at 9:12am

Too many are in their own little bubbles, disconnected from reality.

Permalink Reply by Tim S on July 23, 2015 at 10:09am

To the slow rider SB on Damen that decided to reinforce the negative stereotypes.

Dude, WTF after rolling a stop sign causing a car to hit his brakes when they had the ROW you almost hit me as I walked across the crosswalk again with ROW. Whole freaking street for your bro ass to ride on and you almost clip me, were you still drunk from last nights game of flip cup?  

Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on July 24, 2015 at 9:33am

To the six UNIFORMED Chicago Police officers riding West in the bike lane on Jackson Blvd by the Chicago Police Education and Training Academy yesterday at about 5:35 PM:

First, thanks for not tazing, beating or arresting me for saying "Wrong way, Guys!" as I passed you going in the right direction.

Second, what part of the Municipal Code of Chicago ("MCC") 9-120-060  "Traffic regulations to apply" do you not understand?

(Here's the text: "No person (police officers - even trainees - fall into this category) shall operate any bicycle upon the public ways or other places in this city in violation of any of the applicable provisions of Title 9 of this Code.")
This action is wrong in so many ways I can't think of them all. Mostly, though, it comes to this: car drivers have little enough respect for bicyclists as it is. Every time a motorist observes a cyclist violating a traffic law, there is the possibility that the motorist may be less likely to exercise due caution around other cyclists (like ME!). Now multiply that by some (unknown but probably large) factor when the violators are the law enforcers themselves!
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for the effective remediation measures you surely have already implemented. And thanks again for not tazing me!.
Steve
Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on July 30, 2015 at 11:06pm
I've got a strobe light, seizure inducing,video game warning light but yet you cabbies can't see me? That's OK when I shine my flashlight app in your window and hang on your trunk maybe you'll hear and see me now.
Permalink Reply by David P. on July 31, 2015 at 9:39am

Waiting at a red at the foot of Elston to go SB on Milwaukee, light turns green, I pause and proceed through, and almost get mowed down by a callous asshole in a Fusion who blows the red so hard he has to swerve and brake to avoid hitting me. Then he's all "whatever" while trying to turn right on red through some pedestrians at Chicago. It took an hour for me to calm down. I hope that he or someone he loves has a close call one day that scares the shit ourt of *him* and that through the near-death of either himself or someone he loves, he realizes that other people are real human beings too. Meanwhile, I've already got the habit of often checking intersections for red-light-runners before proceeding through - looks like I'd better step it up.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 31, 2015 at 9:45am

A very good habit to have.  After seeing too many jackrabbit drivers who stomp on the gas the second the light turns green (and hearing about some bad crashes due to this), I've also gotten into the habit of watching for those guys before entering the intersection.

I've already got the habit of often checking intersections for red-light-runners before proceeding through...

Permalink Reply by Chris Hainey on July 31, 2015 at 10:21am

A hearty "Well done, Sir!" to the rider I saw eastbound on Kinzie at Orleans this AM using hand signals to let riders behind him know he was slowing and stopping.

Permalink Reply by Kat on July 31, 2015 at 10:19am

To the "gentleman" in the Jeep who passed me on Randolph yesterday morning:

Thank you for noting that I was biking "with my baby in the street".  I'm going to ignore the tone of your remark and give you the benefit of the doubt that you must have been simply informing me that I have a baby trailer attached to my bike.  As it turns out, I was aware that my 5yo was in the trailer since I attached it when I left my house - 9 miles earlier. If we had had the chance to stop and chat properly, here are the points I would have mentioned:

  • Yes, I was biking down Randolph, a relatively crowded street, because I was about to turn into my child's school.  There is no other way for me to reach her school except to bike on downtown streets for the last few blocks. 
  • If you were implying that I should be on the sidewalk, I would point out that it is illegal for any cyclist (even one under the age of 12) to bike on the sidewalk in our downtown commercial district.  I think people who ride on the sidewalks are assholes, so there's no way I'm doing that.
  • Not that it's any of your business but I've taken great care to select a route for our commute that minimizes as much as possible my child's interactions with cars.  It adds 2 miles each way to my ride, but it's worth it.  For you to yell at me on the final 20 yards of the ride really capped off an otherwise lovely time.
  • I have to endure the tourists on the riverwalk during my evening ride. Trust me, drivers are dangerous but I'm much more anxious during that part of our commute.
  • I'm sure, if you're concerned enough to yell at a mom on a bike, that you are in favor of the protected bike lanes coming to the Loop.  Thanks for your support; I too am very excited for them to be completed so I won't have to worry (as much) about motorists like you - and if I'm lucky I'll be able to avoid the evening river walk.
  • If you were concerned for my child's safety, rest assured that I'm even more concerned.  You see, she's my kid and I love her more than anything. But while I appreciate and attempt to mitigate any risk during our daily commute, I'm also concerned about long-term health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes for both my child and me (which by the way are statistically more likely than being killed on a bike).  By exercising every day, I reduce my risk of having health problems later in life plus I'm showing my child that 1) exercise is important, 2) you can exercise while being a working mom, and 3) we can reduce our carbon footprint by biking instead of driving.  And she gets to see the lake on her commute instead of the inside of an el train.
  • If you would get out of your car and bike once in a while, maybe you would relax a bit and wouldn't be such a dick.

Thanks and have a nice day!

Biker mom

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