Beaches in Chicago

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

So by your logic, if you're an obnoxious driver, I have the "right" to cause bodily harm to you?!

I said it would be a privilege. What I meant was.....ahh, never mind.

[hank0604]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

I'm out of here at 3 and will be getting on my bike riding the lakeshore path. Please do not door me on the way to the lake. I will do my best to observe all traffic laws, although stop signs are yield signs to me.

Haha I'll be taking the bus.

[cubssoxfan]

OK Tom,
If you venture to suburbia and see me on my blue Trek road bike, please be patient. I try really hard to ride responsibly and predictably around cars. If there is a car approaching an intersection where I have a stop sign, I stop-just like I'm in my car. If there is NO traffic, I treat it as a yield sign. I stop at all red lights and very rarely go until it's green. If I do, it has to completely clear with absolutely no visible traffic. I have to be cautious because it takes a while to re-engage my cleats and if I have trouble with this, I'm toast. If I do ride along the right of cars stopped at red light, it is to get to front and make myself visible. If not, I take up enough of the lane so I am noticed and not hit.
So I understand your comment aimed at reckless cycling behaviour. I abhor the "You watch out for me as I cycle as I feel like without regards to traffic laws" riders out there. But when you make a statement like you did, you strike a sensitive nerve. I'm exposed on a 15lb. bike. Your protected in a 3,000+lb. car- no contest. If you or me make a big mistake-I'm dead, your alive.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

OK Tom,
If you venture to suburbia and see me on my blue Trek road bike, please be patient......

So I understand your comment aimed at reckless cycling behaviour. I abhor the "You watch out for me as I cycle as I feel like without regards to traffic laws" riders out there. But when you make a statement like you did, you strike a sensitive nerve. I'm exposed on a 15lb. bike. Your protected in a 3,000+lb. car- no contest. If you or me make a big mistake-I'm dead, your alive.

I ride my bicycle most days myself. I pedal my fat old Irish ass over to 18th St, cross the tracks and then take the Lake path south. On the way back north I'll stop at a park bench and enjoy a nice cigar. Pretty soon I'll be back up to 15-20 miles a day. On the way over to the Lake from my place I obey all traffic laws including stopping at stop signs.

So this isn't a bike vs. car thing, not for me anyway.

Kind Regards

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

I ride my bicycle most days myself. I pedal my fat old Irish ass over to 18th St, cross the tracks and then take the Lake path south. On the way back north I'll stop at a park bench and enjoy a nice cigar. Pretty soon I'll be back up to 15-20 miles a day. On the way over to the Lake from my place I obey all traffic laws including stopping at stop signs.

So this isn't a bike vs. car thing, not for me anyway.

Kind Regards

Hopefully, I'll do a weekday afternoon ride on the lakeshore path this year. If I see you, I'll wave hello.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I rarely see a cyclist NOT run a red light in Chicago. They have no right to complain about drivers' behavior until they start following the laws themselves. I'd say at least 95% of the cyclists in Chicago behave dangerously. I'm all for people getting out of their cars, but it's out of hand here.

I agree on all counts.