Road rage to Path rage to Sidewalk Rage, Tragedy of the Chicago roads
The city of Chicago is touted as one of the bicycle friendliest place in the US, with over miles and miles of bike-accessible path, bike racks, and a flat terrain that goes easy on your muscles. But Chicago is also very crowded and crowded with denizens that don't observe the rules of road because they think they own it.
Much debate about sharing the roads with cars and bikes have taken place in local newspapers and it's not surprising to hear both sides of the story, especially about how "it's not me, it's you" blame games. Bottom line is: no one wants to take the responsibility and believes the other party should be the one to adhere to the rules (drivers blame bikers, bikers blame drivers... blah blah blah).
I have observed that, however, it doesn't matter if you are driving or biking in Chicago, very few folks follow the rules, and it appears that everyone tends to bike as they drive or walk as they drive (oblivious to signs and signals, or even bypassing pedestrians). Because the US is very much a car-driven culture, it becomes second nature to act as if you are driving while you are doing other activities. The best example is the Bike the Drive event. You would see kids biking in the inner lane designated for fast traffic, or bikes swerving from lane to lane. Or no helmets!! And as expected, there were accidents. I counted three this year.
As an avid biker on the lake shore path, I avoid it like the plague during the summer, especially afternoon rush-hour and weekends. It's near impossible not to crash into another when you have a crowded path, or children running wild, unaware of the danger on oncoming traffic. Yes, some bikers are zooming way too fast. Yet, speed is not much an issue as being cautious and careful, and knowing when to slow down. After all, bikers that go relatively fast (compare to walking) are keeping their heart rates up and getting a good work-out.
All it takes is for everyone to respect each other and himself to have to safe road out there for everyone. Ideally. In reality, the inability to share the road reveals our selfishness and the lack of effort to coexist peacefully.
The city of Chicago is touted as one of the bicycle friendliest place in the US, with over miles and miles of bike-accessible path, bike racks, and a flat terrain that goes easy on your muscles. But Chicago is also very crowded and crowded with denizens that don't observe the rules of road because they think they own it.
Much debate about sharing the roads with cars and bikes have taken place in local newspapers and it's not surprising to hear both sides of the story, especially about how "it's not me, it's you" blame games. Bottom line is: no one wants to take the responsibility and believes the other party should be the one to adhere to the rules (drivers blame bikers, bikers blame drivers... blah blah blah).
I have observed that, however, it doesn't matter if you are driving or biking in Chicago, very few folks follow the rules, and it appears that everyone tends to bike as they drive or walk as they drive (oblivious to signs and signals, or even bypassing pedestrians). Because the US is very much a car-driven culture, it becomes second nature to act as if you are driving while you are doing other activities. The best example is the Bike the Drive event. You would see kids biking in the inner lane designated for fast traffic, or bikes swerving from lane to lane. Or no helmets!! And as expected, there were accidents. I counted three this year.
As an avid biker on the lake shore path, I avoid it like the plague during the summer, especially afternoon rush-hour and weekends. It's near impossible not to crash into another when you have a crowded path, or children running wild, unaware of the danger on oncoming traffic. Yes, some bikers are zooming way too fast. Yet, speed is not much an issue as being cautious and careful, and knowing when to slow down. After all, bikers that go relatively fast (compare to walking) are keeping their heart rates up and getting a good work-out.
All it takes is for everyone to respect each other and himself to have to safe road out there for everyone. Ideally. In reality, the inability to share the road reveals our selfishness and the lack of effort to coexist peacefully.
