Bicyclist rant # 5

[cards2468]

Sometimes I let my temper get the best of me. Last summer this a*hole came up behind me on S Broadway and just laid on the horn completely unprovoked- aside from the fact that I was interfering with his God given right to the whole damn road. Well, I lost it and chased his ass down at the next light and was getting ready to pull him out of his vehicle- very, very bad idea, I know- when the chicken [expletive] coward took off, afraid of the guy on the bicycle in his funny tight clothes.

I'm not going to do that anymore what with the proliferation of guns in this country and also that I don't want to go to jail for assault.

I would have kicked your [expletive] cycling ass into next year.

Yeah, I don't think so. I would have ripped your fat [expletive] ears off and fed them to you. You'd have eaten them.

Provide gravy and I think he'd enjoy that.

[G. Keenan]

Niiiiice

Chicago’s very first walled-off bike lane is headed to the Fulton River District, after a swift push from Mayor Rahm Emanuel kicked the project into gear in a matter of days.

The new bike lanes, called a cycle track, are being installed on Kinzie Street between Milwaukee Avenue and Wells Street, connecting two of the busiest bike routes in the city.

The idea is to create a designated bike path that’s protected both from car traffic and from the dangers of parked cars and their doors, by designating a route that’s separated from both.

[cards2468]

Niiiiice

Chicago’s very first walled-off bike lane is headed to the Fulton River District, after a swift push from Mayor Rahm Emanuel kicked the project into gear in a matter of days.

The new bike lanes, called a cycle track, are being installed on Kinzie Street between Milwaukee Avenue and Wells Street, connecting two of the busiest bike routes in the city.

The idea is to create a designated bike path that’s protected both from car traffic and from the dangers of parked cars and their doors, by designating a route that’s separated from both.

pretty cool, Montreal has a similar set up where they use a boulevard to block the car lanes from the bike lane


...meanwhile St. Louis eliminated a good portion of their bike lane on Broadway...

[lukethedrifter]

I think there is a serious argument as to whether designated bike lanes actually provide a safer riding environment. Obviously, the walled off lanes are another beast altogether.

[JackofDiamonds]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ&][/youtube]

[Hungary Jack]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ&][/youtube]

That dude is certifiable, or a really well-trained stuntman, or both.

[MrSaigon]

You guys will be fascinated to know that the new downtown Portland punk bicycle culture is riding toddlers' bikes.

[lukethedrifter]

You guys will be fascinated to know that the new downtown Portland punk bicycle culture is riding toddlers' bikes.

I have a friend there who commented that stuff like ^ makes Portland awesome. I said No, Portland is great despite that crap.

[G. Keenan]

Semi-related, should make some people here good and angry:

Across Europe, Irking Drivers Is Urban Policy

ZURICH — While American cities are synchronizing green lights to improve traffic flow and offering apps to help drivers find parking, many European cities are doing the opposite: creating environments openly hostile to cars. The methods vary, but the mission is clear — to make car use expensive and just plain miserable enough to tilt drivers toward more environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

[cards2468]

Semi-related, should make some people here good and angry:

Across Europe, Irking Drivers Is Urban Policy

ZURICH — While American cities are synchronizing green lights to improve traffic flow and offering apps to help drivers find parking, many European cities are doing the opposite: creating environments openly hostile to cars. The methods vary, but the mission is clear — to make car use expensive and just plain miserable enough to tilt drivers toward more environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

Why angry?

I'm a big proponent of environmentally friendly methods of transportation. My employer is now doing a deal where they'll reimburse us for using Metro to get to work which I think is awesome, and I think today I'm going to go buy a shipping case for my bike so that when I'm traveling to Philly, Maryland and Denver next month I'll be able to avoid getting a rental car, but at the same time, vehicles are necessary in our society and optimizing traffic patterns is a good way to cut down gas consumption.