Proposed ordinance against endangering bicyclists moves to Chic...

I ride a bike to work and you know what? I obey the traffic laws, like I'm supposed to. And I'm alive.

How about tougher law enforcement on cyclists who endanger themselves by behaving like idiots (e.g. Matthew Manger-Lynch). Maybe if people like Manger-Lynch started getting fined for running through red lights we'd have fewer fatalities to worry about.

Why does the subject of "rude biking" come up during discussions about protecting the safety of bikers? Biking home this evening I had a 4,000lb SUV make a left turn in front of me - they ran a red light, starting from a stopped position! That is what I call life-endangering stupidity. I frequently bike Clark Street where I encounter all manner of cars parked in the bike lanes, cabs letting passengers off in the middle of the street, jaywalkers stepping out from between parked cars, and u-turning drivers too lazy to go around the block. Yet somehow for bikers to be offered some modicum of protection under the law we are supposed to first become saints on the road. As I understand it, the City of Chicago collected $30mil in fines last year just from drivers running red lights just at intersections with those red light cameras - yet bikers are somehow seen as the chief scofflaws out there. I suggest that drivers examine their own behavior on the road before they cast stones at a few bikers.

How will this new law be enforced?

Who will enforce this new law?

Where will the fine $$$$ go? I've got a good guess.

Share the road. This means bikers have to stop at stop signs, go the same way down a one way street, not bike on the sidewalk.

Sure, duh city and duh county can pass law after law, ordinance after ordinance, but - can they change the way people behave? Not hardly. Unless and until the city sets aside protected {by barriers} designated bike lanes - biker's will continue to die. This isn't rocket science, it's city traffic and idiots - either in cars, SUVs, trucks and/or on bikes. You can't legislate common sense. How many owman will stop doing their hair, nails and makeup, while on a cellular call as they make a turn with one hand {if not their knees} holding their coffee-cup? Come on - get a grip. Install barrier protected bike lanes for bikers and rollerbladers, or shudup already.

"The proposed ordinance includes fines on motorists who turn left or right in front of someone on a bicycle;"

If bikes follow the same rules of the road as a car - this really shouldn't be an issue. Sounds like this ordinance is allowing bikes to do things against the normal rules of the road which brings chaos to the road.

I can understand not turning left in front of an oncoming bike - just like you would yield to a oncoming car. This seems to be the only scenario since turning left in front of a bike heading in the same direction as you in a car would mean that either the bike is riding the wrong direction in a lane of traffic or the bike is attempting to pass the car on the left when the car has its left turn signal on (assuming the signal is on of course). A car doing either of those 2 things would be in the wrong and at fault so the same should be true with a bike.

Turing right in front of a bike - I assume this implies a bike heading the same direction as me coming up from behind me in my car. Maybe the bike shouldn't pass on the right if the car has a right turn signal on. Its illegal for cars to pass on the right, and bikes are supposed to follow the rules of the road.. This has to be the only scenario since turning right in front of an oncoming bike means that the bike is traveling the wrong direction in that lane of traffic which is against the rules of the road.

Jon wrote:

Why does the subject of "rude biking" come up during discussions about protecting the safety of bikers? Biking home this evening I had a 4,000lb SUV make a left turn in front of me - they ran a red light, starting from a stopped position! That is what I call life-endangering stupidity. I frequently bike Clark Street where I encounter all manner of cars parked in the bike lanes, cabs letting passengers off in the middle of the street, jaywalkers stepping out from between parked cars, and u-turning drivers too lazy to go around the block. Yet somehow for bikers to be offered some modicum of protection under the law we are supposed to first become saints on the road. As I understand it, the City of Chicago collected $30mil in fines last year just from drivers running red lights just at intersections with those red light cameras - yet bikers are somehow seen as the chief scofflaws out there. I suggest that drivers examine their own behavior on the road before they cast stones at a few bikers.

even if everything you say is true, the idea that a motorist can be ticketed for "endangering" a cyclist is absurd.

"The proposed ordinance includes fines on motorists who turn left or right in front of someone on a bicycle; pass with less than 3 feet of space between car and bike; and open a vehicle door into the path of a cyclist."

there is no way to document these measurements. what's supposed to happen? a cop in a car a block away is supposed to say definitively that a car passed with two feet nine inches of space?

or that a door was opened "into the path" of a cyclist?

and no one was hurt but i'm gonna get slapped with a FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR ticket?

i'm gonna go smoke in a bar and eat some foie gras.

IMHO wrote:

<quoted text>
even if everything you say is true, the idea that a motorist can be ticketed for "endangering" a cyclist is absurd.
"The proposed ordinance includes fines on motorists who turn left or right in front of someone on a bicycle; pass with less than 3 feet of space between car and bike; and open a vehicle door into the path of a cyclist."
there is no way to document these measurements. what's supposed to happen? a cop in a car a block away is supposed to say definitively that a car passed with two feet nine inches of space?
or that a door was opened "into the path" of a cyclist?
and no one was hurt but i'm gonna get slapped with a FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR ticket?
i'm gonna go smoke in a bar and eat some foie gras.

Your point is well taken. The concept of "endangering" is subjective and will lead to one persons word against another. This law will be subject to constitutional challenges.

However, it is not inconceivable that some of the more radical members of the cycling community may use this new law to try set up some drivers, by riding in small groups, taunting drivers and then video taping the alleged incident . This law will if passed will only result in more needless litigation. After reading some of the anti -car posts by cyclists in connection with recent cyclist death, it is clear that some cyclists have declared war on drivers. They do not want responsible sharing of the public roads but to drive all combustion powered vehicles off the road.

Oh brother. We all know bike riders cause these accidents.

PLUS:

They have no license, registration, insurance and pay no fuel taxes!

Yet they claim equal access to OUR roads.

If it is too dangerous, don't ride. Good advice eh?

just another excuse for me to STAY out of chicago....

More real bike routes in the city. Not just painted white lines that "out of towners" are clueless to (curbs on both sides of path). Rules of the road for cyclists (like obeying signals etc..) Racing at certain events or routes only. More thought to planning the safest routes by city engineers. These things among others could help make Chicago a more bicycle (and auto) friendly city.

bicyclists are the most arrogant, annoying people i come across. if your that stupid to ride a bike down a busy street filled with cars your luck is bound to run out sometime. keep passing laws to inconvenience the masses while protecting the few. only in chicago.

The politburo of The Republic of Chicago has spoken! The new cameras will enforce these rules.

Passing wrote:

Turing right in front of a bike - I assume this implies a bike heading the same direction as me coming up from behind me in my car. Maybe the bike shouldn't pass on the right if the car has a right turn signal on. Its illegal for cars to pass on the right, and bikes are supposed to follow the rules of the road.. This has to be the only scenario since turning right in front of an oncoming bike means that the bike is traveling the wrong direction in that lane of traffic which is against the rules of the road.

Wrong. Bikes are expected to travel in the right lane, which means that they are regularly cut off when the light turns green by cars turning right. Under the new ordinance, cars turning right (except on red of course) will have to wait until the bike clears the turning lane. Honestly, I'm just so sick of the animosity toward cyclists in this city.

John Birch wrote:

Oh brother. We all know bike riders cause these accidents.
PLUS:
They have no license, registration, insurance and pay no fuel taxes!
Yet they claim equal access to OUR roads.
If it is too dangerous, don't ride. Good advice eh?

You must be a genius, in addition to being a "lonely beacon of truth." Keep flapping your gums and you'll continue to be lonely, no matter how truthful.

Jon wrote:

Why does the subject of "rude biking" come up during discussions about protecting the safety of bikers? Biking home this evening I had a 4,000lb SUV make a left turn in front of me - they ran a red light, starting from a stopped position! That is what I call life-endangering stupidity. I frequently bike Clark Street where I encounter all manner of cars parked in the bike lanes, cabs letting passengers off in the middle of the street, jaywalkers stepping out from between parked cars, and u-turning drivers too lazy to go around the block. Yet somehow for bikers to be offered some modicum of protection under the law we are supposed to first become saints on the road. As I understand it, the City of Chicago collected $30mil in fines last year just from drivers running red lights just at intersections with those red light cameras - yet bikers are somehow seen as the chief scofflaws out there. I suggest that drivers examine their own behavior on the road before they cast stones at a few bikers.

This ordinance, if it passes, will probably be completely unenforceable. However, I'm going to have a lightweight camera handy on my bike trips just in case.

I don't know how much solace it will provide to know that the driver who sent me to the emergency room will get a ticket.

About two years ago a cyclist, who had been in competitive races, had his leg sliced off by a car on Western near Devon. He was obeying all the rules of the road from the press reports.

What I smell here is the coming rationale for massive regulation of bicycles -- mandatory helmet laws, registration, annual fees, safety inspections for bikes etc., with all the concomitant new government bureaucracy to enforce compliance and all adding up to one thing -- revenue generation for the city.

A few years ago, Daley sent the cops to ticket bicyclists on the Lakeshore bike path near the Gold Coast for not having lights at dusk. All the tickets were thrown out in court, because there was not state law requiring non-standard equipment on bicycles. A failed revenue generation effort by the Mayor.

How about a $1,000 fine for each bicyclist that endangers a pedestrian, and $5,000 fine for each bicyclist that is caught in an illegal race. Bicyclists do not pay any road taxes, how about requiring them to get not only a license plate for their bike but a separate driver's license as well!

kent wrote:

More real bike routes in the city. Not just painted white lines that "out of towners" are clueless to (curbs on both sides of path). Rules of the road for cyclists (like obeying signals etc..) Racing at certain events or routes only. More thought to planning the safest routes by city engineers. These things among others could help make Chicago a more bicycle (and auto) friendly city.

If you want your own separate road - pay for it yourself along with the other bicyclists.

There are already "Rules of the Road" for bicyclists, try reading it sometime.

Between Daley and Stroger, I'm glad I don't live in Chicago or Crook County.