Hi Craig,
What I am asking is for you to use your blog today to raise awareness for all us cyclists - before one of us gets hurt or killed.
Please see the pot hole on bike path at Morse and Lakefront as that is what my buddy hit on his roller blades earlier this summer. Just look at the picture of his mangled face. Welcome to Rogers Park, now lets go to the emergency room.
It is a 6 - 8 foot long crater with yellow paint around it for as long as I can remember.
How long before this happens in Rogers Park?
Every day a truck loads of dry wall and concrete fly down our street along with 20 +semi's and another 15 or so buses. Often originating from West Bound Ridge or traveling East Bound turning North on to Ridge.
In meetings long, long ago, I was asked to sit on the Morse Ave. Streetscape committee (you were there) one recommendation that I made was a bike lane be painted on Morse from Ravenswood to the Lake. The attachment is from 2003 pre Morse Streetscape meetings. Please notice that no mention of a bike lane is included in the project. Was my idea rejected?
From the 2006 map you can see one is planned for Morse Ave. and this was added after those meetings (maybe it was me?). I did gather a petition at the 2004 MANA pot luck with 200 pro bike lane signatures.
At the last Caps Meeting and other civic meetings attended in the past years I have suggested some bike lanes be painted in our ward (how much could that cost).
Now I am asking for your readers help in educating the citizens of Rogers Park to the rules of the road. This is the only place things get quick attention.
Something like Kevin did with CAPS on Friday, except no roll call or speeches. Perhaps coordinated with one of the walks.
All literature is free to any one via this site. Something Caps might help coordinate but I turn to Morse Hell Hole to get the ball rolling.
Cathy H. response was that she cycled and knows the dangers and attitudes of the Rogers Park drivers. Then suggested we not spend any time or money on this issue and that the bike child chariot that I use should be illegal. WTF all hail CH and no ice cream for the Kids. The laws are in place and I am in compliance.
The cost of paint, labor and signage is less than any one of the flower pots that people argued over at the streetscape.
Did not you say something about those? Much less than the light poles or single banners fitted to those light poles.
Have a great week end,
A concerned bicyclist
3 comments:
If the city constructs bike lanes, it should maintain them properly. Otherwise, the city is being negligent and compromising our safety.
I don't think Rogers Park drivers are much different than drivers throughout the city regarding their attitude towards cyclists. Generally, drivers aren't paying attention to them, and that is dangerous.
However, I do have a beef (which I think is valid) with cyclists. Before a cyclist starts complaining to me about drivers, I want to know: do you, cyclist follow the rules of the road yourself?
Stop signs (even the ones with white borders) are not optional! They are required stops for all, and yes, even when there are no other vehicles at the other sides of the intersection.
Cyclists who go down the wrong way on one-way streets really get under my skin, too. They are putting themselves and the car drivers at risk, and it is irresponsible of them to do so.
I am sure that you follow all the rules of the road and I am sorry that you and your friend were injured by poorly maintained bike paths. The city should be doing more to encourage cycling. I am only pointing out that while you have a valid argument with drivers, they also have a valid argument with you, with the caveat that not all drivers and not all cyclists fall into the "bad road sharers".
A little paint, some signage and some educational flyers passed out.
9999 of 10000 have never seen any published information on how to share the road. But you can here on the MHH.
PS I ride to stay alive and some times that means blowing through a stop sign or two especially over by the HH.
It was night on a poorly lit but really beautifull path on a perfect summer night.
By reflex and familiarity I missed the pot hole my friend did not.
Yes the heard got thinner last night when a member of the Black P Stone Nation was shot in the back! Go team go!
It was at night and the lights are out on that part of the bike path because the homeless disable them so they can take a shit in the dark and sleep. Yellow Paint cannot be seen at night and deep potholes look like continuous pavement. So before you make assumptions get the facts.
Certainly we know the risk of not driving but who said he was not wearing a helmet?
So LoyolaPolySi and others are you for or against bike lanes and some well-placed pavement on our lakefront or would you rather spend our Tax and SSA money on planters that saw some brief vegetation for 60 days.
Dada da dah dada da dah YSFC!!
Rhymes with Lunt
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