I have written many times of my hatred of the majority of bicyclists in the City of Chicago. Two wheeled riders do not belong in an urban environment. The most recent was on October 5th, when I reminded people that there are rules of the road for bicyclists. The rules are meaningless because when bicyclists break them, nothing is ever done to apprehend the errant rider. One of the problems is that because there is no way to identify a particular bicyclist, they merrily roll away with no fear of retribution.
To remind people, the Chicago Department of Transportation lists the rules of the road for bicyclists on its website.
Section-52-010 Rights and duties -
(a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of this state declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles or by the traffic ordinances of this city applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to those provisions of laws and ordinances which by their nature can have no application.
(b) The regulations in the traffic code applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any roadway or public sidewalk or upon any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to those exceptions stated herein.
(c) Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left turn or turn in the opposite direction is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign unless he dismounts from the bicycle to make the turn, in which event he shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians.
(b) The regulations in the traffic code applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any roadway or public sidewalk or upon any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to those exceptions stated herein.
(c) Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left turn or turn in the opposite direction is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign unless he dismounts from the bicycle to make the turn, in which event he shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians.
It is very clear that bicycle riders have to obey the same LAWS that motor vehicle drivers do. Yet because they know that police have more important things to do than chase after a bicyclist making an illegal turn, their CONSCIENCE lets them ride as wildly as they want.
Now we pedestrians and car drivers might have an opportunity to be able to identify these crazy two-wheeled cyclists, because Chicago Alderman Richard Mell (33rd), chairman of the City Council’s Rules Committee, has called for licenses for bicyclists. At a city council hearing Mell said, “I wonder if it’s possible. I guess you can’t do it. But, have ’em licensed. Have a bike license. Put a little tag on it. Pay a couple bucks. But if not that, at least say, ‘Here’s what we’re doing for you. How ’bout doing something for us? How ’bout adhering to the traffic signs?’” Finally, an Alderman who is as frustrated as I am by the illegal lane-changing bicyclists!
A friend who lives in the West Loop where the City has constructed a dedicated bicycle lane on Kinzie Street told me that the traffic congestion is horrible. Besides the back-ups the cars endure she said, “It is dangerous crossing Kinzie as a pedestrian as you now need to watch for not only cars, but bicycles who are not stopping at stop signs where you think you are safe to cross.”
Chicago loves requiring licenses and registration for everything from dogs to businesses to even canopies outside of restaurants. Why would it be so hard to implement licenses for bicyclists so they could be identified as they fly through stop signs and red lights?
Alderman Mell also said, “Nothing aggravates people more than the guy who’s sitting there patiently [at a red light and watching a bike rider who] shoots across. Some of ’em put themselves in danger, too. As we flaunt the fact that we’re trying to make the city more hospitable to bike riders, they do owe a responsibility to pedestrians, who have to dodge away from them.”
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has said that he wants the city to install 100 miles of bike lanes and have 3,000 bicycles for rent at 300 stations by next summer. This is all part of his evil plot to make biking the new transit system in the city.
I have a crazy thought. How about fixing the existing transit systems before trying to start a new one?
There is undoubtedly an insufficient number of police to monitor bike riders but I have been told by riders who do long rides through the burbs and countryside that Suburban and County police certainly pull over either individuals or packs of riders.
ReplyDeleteIf bikers want to zip through stop signs and red lights and endanger themselves (largely), they deserve whatever accident they might have.
ReplyDeleteLikewise, if bikers choose to ride against the flow of traffic -- in plain disregard for both common sense AND the painted arrows in the bike lanes. I can't begin to count how many times I've made a right turn and nearly had a biker miss me by inches because they were riding against the flow of traffic. If the day came when one did land on my hood, I wouldn't have the slightest bit of sympathy.
"Instead of or in addition to licenses, how about if bikers are denied the right to sue a driver when they've caused the accident by disobeying traffic laws?"
I feel the same frustration at Dublin bikers! They don’t pay any attention to rules and stop signs either!
ReplyDeleteCan't fault those people who risk their lives everyday riding bicycles to work ... most of them are smart enough to know that buying gasoline in the Chicagoland area is another form of 'raping' Chicagoans!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to relate to this as I rarely see bikers except on bike paths. But if they're on the street they seem to follow the rules here
ReplyDeleteJust read your latest bloggings today. I’m glad you qualified your judgment with “the majority of bicyclists” – because I’m one of them! Not very often, mind you, but often enough to feel like I can play devil’s advocate. I accept the threat of licensing for what it is – frustration with lack of enforcement of existing rules – but surely a good libertarian sympathizer wouldn’t advocate yet one more government regulation on private citizens?! :-
ReplyDeleteAnd again I would be remiss if I did not stand up for bikers because I am one of them. I bike the streets/trails of Chicago for transporation and for leisure. I do realize there are many bikers who do not obey the rules of the road. I am not one of them. I wear a reflective neon orange vest, a helmet, obey the traffic signals and am cautious of pedestrians. Even with all this protective gear and alert defensive-bike riding, I have still been "doored" AND have had pedestrians aimlessly wander out in the street jaywalking right in front of me. So, maybe every group (car drivers, bikers and pedestrians) are all at fault and all have a responsibility to safety...for ourselves and others. There are bad apples in each bunch.
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