Quote:
Originally Posted by Via Chicago
We can debate the merits of where protected lanes make best sense, but suggesting that curb hopping should become a standard and encouraged practice is foolish.
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Let's not forget the fact that curb hopping every time you see pedestrians makes it about one gagillion times more likely that some delivery truck is going to plaster your ass to the pavement. The only thing dangerous about riding on the street is bicylists who weave in and out of traffic. Bicylists who jump curbs into traffic with little or no warning deserve to be run over for their stupidity. Either your are riding on the road or not, don't be an idiot and pop in and out of traffic and surprise drivers.
There is nothing more dangerous than erratic behavior when it comes to road ways. This applies to bikes, cars, pedestrians, whatever. If you are going to do something then do it, don't fucking waver as if you may or may not do it. I say this as someone who spends roughly equal amounts of time biking, walking, and driving around the city.
Quote:
Originally Posted by montasauraus
I've often seen police on bikes riding up on sidewalks.
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I've seen police driving on sidewalks, they obviously are excluded from following these rules to a T because they are on patrol. Also, every cop I've seen biking on a sidewalk has basically been coasting as slowly as possible. Obviously being on the bike gives them a height advantage so they can more efficiently patrol by getting their eyes above the crowd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by denizen467
-If law forbids riding on sidewalks, doesn't that completely shut out a sizeable portion of the elderly, frail (including people temporarily sick or injured or just lugging something unwieldy), and children out of bicycling entirely, other than in parks? There are always going to be some people who can't or won't risk riding alongside buses, trucks, and occasional crazies, so is the law saying "dive into traffic or else please figure out how to get to a park"? Does the law allow no leeway for riding on sidewalks slowly, by kids learning, or on wholly residential streets?
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As it should. If you are too incompetent at biking to ride on the street then you DEFINITELY should not be riding on the sidewalk. How does it make any sense to think that allowing shaky children or elderly bikers to ride on the sidewalk will make things safer? If anything those people are 10x more likely to crash into a pedestrian. If you can't control your bike well enough to use the street, then you shouldn't be biking on sidewalks either. That's why we have dozens of miles of nice, wide, recreational trails.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ardecila
How do you get to Lower Wacker on a bike? Do you access it from the riverwalk, or go down a ramp like a car? I've never even considered doing that, but now I really want to. You could have races, Congress to Michigan (then a mad dash to escape the cops).
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I've always just dropped down the three level ramps on E South Water by Aqua. The best way to explore the lower level streets is on bike because you can move quickly enough that you don't feel creeped out.