Got my first bike ticket, I feel so validated

10+ years of commuting, and I finally got one! Stop sign at Haussen, which is just south of Belmont on Milwaukee. I did my usual Idaho Stop timing: check the crossing guard, watch the timing of the traffic, follow the car through going my way on my turn. Head up, checking both directions. He maintained that I didn't even slow, but I hate it when people at/close to an intersection are watching a moving vehicle and trying to say they can tell when it slows.

I've had this discussion before...at a mostly straight on angle, a slow of 3-5 mph means a good 5+ second difference on when you cross intersection, and that is imperceptible to a viewer at that angle, but whatever.

Also, officer and I had a nice discussion afterwards, so there was no animosity. But I thought I'd share the story.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 6, 2015 at 8:36am

There are times when I see a moderate amount of bike traffic there. Archer from State to Halsted is hit or miss. Halsted through Bridgeport gets a bit more. Halsted from Englewood on south, or Vincennes - not so much. More often than not, we wave to each other or make some sort of friendly acknowledgement there. 

Permalink Reply by Maurice on October 7, 2015 at 5:27am

Drexel's my favorite street in the city.  Highly recommended to anybody who hasn't tried it.

Permalink Reply by Filka Bean on October 8, 2015 at 3:48am

hey, she said away from the lake!  Just kidding- it is funny how differently people respond in different parts of the city.

Permalink Reply by Madopal (16.5 mi) on October 8, 2015 at 3:56am

Oh, I know. I meant even close to the lake, you see fewer cyclists once you get just south of the Loop, much less Bridgeport, and there's way more cycling infrastructure there.

Permalink Reply by Madopal (16.5 mi) on October 8, 2015 at 3:57am

BTW, Drexel rocks. The older buildings along both Drexel and King are really magnificent, and the wide boulevards make for a great ride. Although, I always feel like I'm dragging, then I realize it's just because it's so open you feel like you're going slow.

Permalink Reply by asa4 on October 6, 2015 at 8:21am

What was the damage, as in, how much was the ticket for?

Permalink Reply by Madopal (16.5 mi) on October 6, 2015 at 8:30am

Well, according to the city:

http://chicagocode.org/9-24-010/

"Any person violating this section shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $300.00 for the first offense, not less than $500.00 nor more than $700 for the second offense and $1,000.00 for a third or any subsequent offense, and may also be required to perform reasonable community service."

That seems excessive.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 6, 2015 at 8:36am

Seems excessive to me, too.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on October 6, 2015 at 8:44am

Drivers have the option to take traffic school to avoid the first offense going on their record. You should go to court and insist on a cycling version of that. I doubt it exists so it might be fun to watch them figure out how to respond to that. 

Permalink Reply by Madopal (16.5 mi) on October 6, 2015 at 9:02am

The court date is the week of Thanksgiving, so I'll probably go just to roll the dice that the officer doesn't show. If he does, I'll see if there's the equivalent of supervision, as yeah, I don't want to be paying $1000 if I get a 3rd someday.

Permalink Reply by Filka Bean on October 8, 2015 at 3:49am

ha!  just arrive at traffic school with the bike and let everyone practice seeing you there next to them...

Permalink Reply by asa4 on October 16, 2015 at 6:33am

When I got a red light violation (my first offense), I did not have the option of traffic school.

Not sure all this ticketing, whether on bike or car-related) is about educating the public at all.

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