ChiWhoBike #59
I represent people that have been in bike crashes, and that’s probably hundreds of people at this point. But I’ll tell you what happened to me just two days ago. I rode up to Devon Avenue for a meeting, I was riding back, and I was on Kedzie in the bike lane, and out of nowhere, somebody just turned right, right in front of me. They must have turned three feet in front of me, without stopping, no signal, and I didn’t see him coming. And I ride pretty alert, but it was just so out of nowhere. It really brings home this idea that no matter how careful you are, sometimes bad things happen. The cases that I have when I know the person hit was a really good cyclist, someone that’s out there all the time, when they get hit, that scares me a bit. But on a positive note, because I don’t want to leave people with just that, we have to remember that there are thousands and thousands of safe trips by bike in Chicago every single day without incident. And as a matter of fact, I’ve been riding for so long, I’ve got thousands and thousands of miles under my belt, and I’m still here talking to you.
We’ve come a long way in this city since Mayor Daley started putting painted lines on the road. Now we’ve got some more protected bike lanes, but honestly, every single street in the city of Chicago should have a protected bike lane. I mean, whatever there is for drivers, there should be for people on bikes, because the key is not only having physical protection for people that are on bikes so they don’t get injured or killed, but changing the culture. Change the way people see bikes and start seeing them as a necessary tool that you need to get around everywhere. When people start to feel that, and see so many other people on bikes getting around, having a good time, an easy time, that’s when biking gets better and safer.
And I just think it would be terrific if we can get more people on bikes, get people out of their cars, even if it’s just for, you know, the short trips. Keep it simple. You don’t have to be super adventurous. Do little things but do them on your bike and just see how much fun it is and how much easier it can be than driving.
