Name Your Most Frequent Cycling Hazard(s)

Just an informal poll. I'm interested in hearing what other Chainlinkers encounter in their travels that present the most typical, day-to-day hazards.

Lousy street/road surfaces? XPWay interchanges? RR tracks? Bridges? Speeders? Peds?

For me, it's distracted motorists, (either on/engrossed in a cell phone) and drivers that gun it through an intersection after the light turns red. They seem to be everywhere in the city where I do the majority of my riding.

Thanks for your responses. Be seen and be safe.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maurice on November 12, 2015 at 2:30pm
Definitely contact the alderman. Hopkins was a bike commuter and should be receptive.
Permalink Reply by asa4 on November 20, 2015 at 7:39am

Agreed! (I liked it better when the bridge was closed down. At least you could get around the debris).

 

Permalink Reply by Mollie on November 12, 2015 at 2:31pm

In no particular order:

Drivers in such a rush they completely ignore the safety of others.  Also, the drivers who think cyclists shouldn't be on the road.

Near door-ings.

Potholes/road surface conditions.  Sigh.

Permalink Reply by Melanie M on November 20, 2015 at 5:05am

A friendly reminder when we are thinking about hazards is actually other cyclists, though I love you all. Please please please give a friendly "On your left/right" when passing others or ring a bell or say hello - just let me know you're there!

Sometimes there's plenty of room and it matters less, but recently I've had a number of cyclists go flying RIGHT next to me which is a recipe for disaster if I don't know you are there. If I move just slightly, we're in a collision situation.

This has also happened a number of times among those that like to ride into the intersection despite red lights. To each his own and I'm not going to judge you, but ring a bell or let me know you're there as again a slight movement on my part while legally stopped at an intersection could be very bad for you.

I think the last thing any of us wants is to injure one of our own :)

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on November 20, 2015 at 5:59am
Hold your line. Ride predictively. You'll be ok.
Permalink Reply by Melanie M on November 20, 2015 at 6:00am

I try to, but Chicago streets are not predictable!

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on November 20, 2015 at 11:12am

Probably, yes, but that does not mean that you should have to have the crap scared out of you by another cyclist of all people.

Let's let each other know when we are passing. We are not in a peloton out there.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on November 20, 2015 at 11:13am

grr - sorry if this is unclear. I was responding to Tom in case that isn't clear.

WHEN IS THIS NING NIGHTMARE GOING TO END? migrating off of ning was the only reason I donated to the Chainlink needs a tune-up fund... what happened with that?

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on November 20, 2015 at 1:10pm
Hey, Tony. I get it. I know that we're not in a peloton here, and it's best to let someone know your passing, but I just wanted Melanie to not be freaked out during a pass by a rider, (I accept the fact that there are skillful riders out there) and advised her to hold her line & ride predictively & that's how it usually works out to be ok for me.
Permalink Reply by David P. on November 20, 2015 at 9:11pm
It is the responsibility of the person passing slower traffic to do so safely.
Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on November 20, 2015 at 6:09am

I agree completely. And sometimes it's not so easy to hold your line when you see a pothole and need to go around it. Giving other cyclists room for error is the same thing we ask of motorists. It's a reasonable request.

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on November 20, 2015 at 6:24am

I long ago gave up on "on your left", and instead try my damnedest to ride in such a way that it's not necessary. I give people a wide berth, and slow down to pass safely. In my experience, "on your left" doesn't work. Either people can't hear you because of street noise or headphones (I am unwilling to shout at the top of my lungs to be heard), and if people do hear you (because you've shouted at the top of your lungs, just in case they are wearing headphones), you're just as likely to startle them into making a bad decision. Also, in congested settings, you'd go hoarse from shouting if you always called out as you passed. Most bells are worthless, volume-wise.

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