Rage between cars, bikes is a vicious wheel

While the article has the virtue of favoring calm and safety, it makes the mistake, like earlier Tribune coverage of the topic, of describing relations between drivers and cyclists as a "war." I ride year round, and the overwhelming impression I receive is of civility and thoughtfulness between drivers and riders. Disagreeable exchanges actually happen very rarely. The diatribe against "the wheel" is supposed to be funny, but aren't people even more hot-headed and discourteous when they're sitting in front of their computer screens, commenting in forums or replying to email?

First thing. This week's death in Logan Square could have been a pedestrian or anyone. The motorist was criminally negligent. The motorist RAN A RED LIGHT and T-boned a cyclist in front of a cross walk. Nobody here would be standing up for the guy if it was a pedestrian. The motorist should go to jail. End of story.

OK, now that I have that out there, what else is wrong?

We are culturally defective as a nation on our roads. We speed in cars, run lights in cars and bikes, and ride against traffic on bikes. We are collectively arrogant. We're one of the worst nations in the world at driving, no matter whether it is two wheels or four or eighteen, motor or pedal. And then ... then we have the gall to make it impossible for police to seriously enforce the rules.

How bad are we? I went to Paris two months ago, and I was IMPRESSED with how they drove. When what I witness here every day is so bad that the FRENCH seem good by comparison, we have a terrible, terrible problem.(I then hopped the channel to England, and they were so much better still it was as though I had been abducted by aliens and taken to a different galaxy)

That last point is what needs to change the most. Basically we're like children on the roads, and misbehaving children often can't be reasoned with in the heat of the moment -- they get time out or they get a spanking. Figuratively speaking, we need the same thing on the road. Speed cameras, red light cameras, and heavy, heavy traffic enforcement by the police. 50mph on Lake Shore Drive? INSTANT TICKET. Cycling against a one way street? INSTANT TICKET. Cycling at night without lights? IMPOUND HIS BIKE. 90mph on the NW Tollway? RIP UP HIS LICENSE.

I don't know what else we'll respond to.

You can pass as many laws as you want, the fact is that until bikes are two tons and go 80 mph, they will never be equal to cars on the road. When I ride my bike, I treat cars in the same manner that I would treat a train when I'm driving...I give them the right of way. All bikers need to take their lives into their own hands and stay smart.

Joe American wrote:

<quoted text>
You are the one being careless and selfish for placing yourself out there with automobiles on just a bicycle. Why don't you just ride a horse in traffic, it makes just as much sense. "Its way past time for car use to end?" LOL Get real!

You get real fat-head. It's the cars that are the menace in Chicago, not the bikers. Yes both drivers and bikers break the law, but when a several ton vehicle is being used, caution at all times should be used. Drive near me Joe and you almost hit me, you will be a keyed car and broken mirror and if you step out of your car I will make you into a sloppy Joe.

Amsterdam has it down, where a large portion of the population use bikes as a sole means of transportation, not just recreation. Each side of major streets is laid out as sidewalk > curb > bike lane (in one direction) > curb > parking lane > road. There are dedicated traffic lights for bikers as well. It would cost money to reconfigure roads and curbs in Chicago, blah blah blah, but the layout and safety measures seem to make sense.

I agree alot with this article. Even if everyone followed all traffic laws, there would still be alot of anger between motorists and cyclists. As a motorist what frustrates/ scares me the most is how unpredictable some bicyclists can be. You know if you hit this person they are going to get seriously hurt, and really have to stay on your toes when they are near. They rarely signal before turning left, some swurve slightly into traffic, and I rarely see any obey traffic signs. Don't get me wrong, I get angry when motorists do the same thing (and they often do), but it's a little less scary because they won't get as injured if they cause an accident.

Bikers do not belong on the road with cars! They should use bike paths for their safety. How are drivers not suppose to get upset when they slow down traffic as drivers go around them. Use designated bike paths!

DBX wrote:

First thing. This week's death in Logan Square could have been a pedestrian or anyone. The motorist was criminally negligent. The motorist RAN A RED LIGHT and T-boned a cyclist in front of a cross walk. Nobody here would be standing up for the guy if it was a pedestrian. The motorist should go to jail. End of story.
OK, now that I have that out there, what else is wrong?
We are culturally defective as a nation on our roads. We speed in cars, run lights in cars and bikes, and ride against traffic on bikes. We are collectively arrogant. We're one of the worst nations in the world at driving, no matter whether it is two wheels or four or eighteen, motor or pedal. And then ... then we have the gall to make it impossible for police to seriously enforce the rules.
How bad are we? I went to Paris two months ago, and I was IMPRESSED with how they drove. When what I witness here every day is so bad that the FRENCH seem good by comparison, we have a terrible, terrible problem.(I then hopped the channel to England, and they were so much better still it was as though I had been abducted by aliens and taken to a different galaxy)
That last point is what needs to change the most. Basically we're like children on the roads, and misbehaving children often can't be reasoned with in the heat of the moment -- they get time out or they get a spanking. Figuratively speaking, we need the same thing on the road. Speed cameras, red light cameras, and heavy, heavy traffic enforcement by the police. 50mph on Lake Shore Drive? INSTANT TICKET. Cycling against a one way street? INSTANT TICKET. Cycling at night without lights? IMPOUND HIS BIKE. 90mph on the NW Tollway? RIP UP HIS LICENSE.
I don't know what else we'll respond to.

There's a reason the French are so careful when they're driving. If they hit a pedestrian or bicyclist when the pedestrian/bicyclist has ROW, there are very stiff penalties, including fines and possible suspension of your license. Maybe that's the model we need to adopt here in the US.

Bikes and motor vehicles do not mix.
I know it is expensive but bike lanes and bike trails are the only real answer.
Iresponsibility can happen in any category - you cannot legislate morality. There are clues- the one who throws garbage out the window of their car - driving aggresively- running stoplights, stop signs- these are signs that as a biker- you are in danger- unfortunatly, this is happenning more and more.

Besides the ubiquitous road rage we are all aware of, another important factor has not been addressed in either the article or the comments that follow. Motorized vehicles pay taxes to use the roadways. Motorized vehicle operators are required to be tested and licensed to operate on the roadways. If cyclists believe they should be granted equal rights of use for our roads, or as one cyclist suggested, new/separate lanes, who pays?

Just an hour ago walking to the Logan Square Blue Line, I had to yield to a car (young female driver) that went through the stop sign at Troy and Schubert while rushing to drop off a young man at the Blue Line. Approaching the crosswalk, I could see that she was driving way too fast to stop so I waited before crossing. I had the right away, but had I not waited. . .she surely would have hit me.

Hey Trib, how about some commentary on other cities such as NY, Boston, DC, etc are dealing with the same issue.

Anyone stupid enough to ride a bicycle on the busy streets of Chicago deserves whatever happens to them.

Gotta disagree with you on the "non-competitive walking". I am totally competitive as a walker through the loop! I dodge, weave, cross against the light, duck in the gaps in traffic. I'm a menace when I walk. I try to be the fastest one out there. When it's tourist season, it drives me nuts! All these "amateurs" out on the sidewalks I have to dodge. I can't walk slow. I am not a "everyone walks the same speed" kind of guy.

Not much tongue-in-cheek here. I'm a competitive walker who is a menace to bikes, cars, and other pedestrians. I admit it.

Good thing I'm changing jobs to the suburbs where I can just threaten other cars and bicyclists....

Ben wrote:

Anyone stupid enough to ride a bicycle on the busy streets of Chicago deserves whatever happens to them.

Anyone who makes stupid comments like this deserves to be hit by a biker. What a dumb posting

My husband has told me he never indulges in road rage. But every now and then he'll just blurt out something shocking. Once I heard him yell, "And your little plastic Jesus isn't going to save you!"
I don't drive because I have epilepsy. So I pay particular attention to them what does...I've often thought of making a radio documentary about how depraved anyone and everyone becomes behind the wheel of a car.
You can't be against war and then think it's okay to behave like this. Cars should not be a training ground for living with anger.
And that goes for preachers too!

The article was great. I've met the author (Kevin Williams) and he is one of my cycling heroes. The problems and the solutions are not in legislation, they are matters of the heart. Anger, rage, disrespect, disobeying traffic laws, etc are OUR problem and we have to take personal responsibility and not blame something or someone else. Do the right thing!

I'm a driver, a cyclist, and lately, recovering from neck surgery, a pedestrian who has to walk slowly without turning my head. There is a lot of good behavior out there, but a lot of aggression that just seems peculiar and unnecessary - from all types of vehicles. Now that I'm on foot, I have to struggle to make eye contact with drivers blowing through stop signs and yellow lights, and listen closely for skateboards and bicycles overtaking me on the sidewalk.

Why the hurry to the next stop sign, stop light, massive pot hole? You are in a city, people. And what satisfaction is there in torturing other people on the road? Why the complete disregard for crosswalks in most parts of the city (I have yanked Californian friends out of certain danger, and they meandered out into these striped areas intended to give pedestrians the right of way)?

The city is not a big video game. You do not get a prize for running your errands faster than everyone else, or scaring pedestrians. Rather, you give yourself the opportunity to have the guilt of permanently injuring or killing someone on your conscience for the rest of your life. Think about it.

PS to Larry, I pay taxes whether I'm on foot, in my car, or on my bike. Not clear what your point is.

The problem with the bike v. car scenario is that one little mistake - opening your car door after parallel parking without using your rear view mirror, moving into the bike lane to get around another car, running a red light, answering a cell phone etc.- can lead to death.
A lot of drivers are fat. Fat and angry is no way to go through life. It is your fault that you are out of shape. Don't take it out on the thin person riding a bike.

Let's see, who pays the gas taxes (federal, state, county and city) that maintain these roads? Sure lets get all the cars off the roads so they can't possibly come into physical contact with bicyclists, but if you thought that the potholes were bad now...
Additional courtesy, concentration, and patience on all sides will largely alleviate the problems.