Advocacy & Safety - Pro-cyclist crackdown nets 233 tickets

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1019518,CST-NWS-ride23a.article

"June 23, 2008
A three-month-old ordinance targeting motorists who endanger bicycle riders has so far netted 233 citations, including 95 for improper left turns and 11 for driving on bicycle paths, Chicago Police said.

"It's a good start. It shows that they're taking it seriously," said Rob Sadowsky, executive director of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation.

"I'm a little surprised, actually."

The ordinance, pushed by bike enthusiast Mayor Daley, raised fines for motorists who endanger bicyclists and clarified situations where bikes have the right of way.

The citations were issued between March 12 and May 31. Five bicyclists had been killed in collisions with vehicles in Chicago this year.

Sadowsky said drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians all have to exercise more care. He said he thinks the best news pedestrians and cyclists have had lately was not the ordinance, but the police sting targeting drivers who didn't stop for a cop posing as a pedestrian in the crosswalk.

"That will have a great application for bicyclists as well, because now we get people saying, 'Wow, they're actually looking at the rules of the road,'" Sadowsky said."...

That's great to hear! Another neat thing I saw on 'Cops' was the police planted a bicycle downtown. Someone came up and stole it, then they nabbed him. He claimed a 'friend' asked him to get it for him, but they cuffed him and took him away. When he gets out of jail, he'll be sure to let his buds know what happened. I think it's great stuff!

It is a start...around here every time the police start enforcing things like cellphone laws, speeding and illegal turns and passing everybody *****es that they need to be doing something else, like chasing drug dealers or??

Hopefully when the police start cracking down on cyclists it won't bring howls from them either....EVERYBODY needs to be obeying the law, and not just the ones that they pick and choose. Like stop signs...:innocent:

Aaron:)

Wait what? Dailey did something good? Huh?

:D

I still haven't forgiven him for buldozing Meigs Field.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1019518,CST-NWS-ride23a.article

"That will have a great application for bicyclists as well, because now we get people saying, 'Wow, they're actually looking at the rules of the road,'" Sadowsky said."...

Can't say for illinois, but here in michigan, the ONLY time they actively enforce the public safety laws (seatbelts, bicycle lane clearance, construction zone speed limits etc) is when the laws are 'new' or when they want to raise revenue.
Michigan's been running in the red, and they have been implementing a ton of the targeted eforcement crackdowns, currently it's seatbelts, a while ago it was the construction zone speed, they just might get around to the bicycle laws in my lifetime.

Ken.

Wait what? Dailey did something good? Huh?

:D

I still haven't forgiven him for buldozing Meigs Field.

You must be a pilot or an executive for a downtown firm.

People in southern oregon (grants pass), drive into the bike lanes to pass people on the right (cars waiting to turn left) every single time I am on a ride.

If I am driving my truck, and someone is turning left in front of me, I move over closer to the bike lane, but not in it, to block anyone behind me from passing me on the right.

Two weeks ago I had a guy in a pickup come up behind me in the bike lane as he was passing traffic waiting to left turn. He then proceeded to lean on his horn to try to get me to move out of his way. I looked back at him, smiled and waved, and got buzzed for my trouble as soon as he had minimal space to pass. I wish the cops here would have a similar crackdown.

When I read the title, I thought there was a crack down on pro-cyclists.

I think more of this across the board would be great, including the ticketing of cyclists. The laws for the most part are not the problem, but getting everyone to obey them is.

good show!

Hmmmm...I sometimes drive intentionally in the bike lane, when there are no bikes around, to help clear it of glass and debris.

In California, motorists are legally obligated to drive in the bike lane when preparing to turn right. Properly designed bike lanes transition from a solid to a dashed demarcation line at this point.

In this state, (Utah) unless you are involved in an accident, you run very little chance of being ticketed for any moving violation other than speeding. So-called "enforcement" is primarily a revenue generator, and speeders are the low-hanging fruit.

That's great to hear! Another neat thing I saw on 'Cops' was the police planted a bicycle downtown. Someone came up and stole it, then they nabbed him. He claimed a 'friend' asked him to get it for him, but they cuffed him and took him away. When he gets out of jail, he'll be sure to let his buds know what happened. I think it's great stuff!

Was it a "good" bike or some x-mart POS? Just curious...

Hmmmm...I sometimes drive intentionally in the bike lane, when there are no bikes around, to help clear it of glass and debris.
You don't have street sweepers where you live????

You don't have street sweepers where you live????

Yeah...but, they only come through once every couple of months and the bike lane debris builds up faster than that (especially in the winter months).

You don't have street sweepers where you live????

Nope...not that I am aware of. I saw one...once... about 20 years ago. I think they did away with those and half the bus service on the last round of budget cuts.:twitchy:

Aaron:)

When I read the title, I thought there was a crack down on pro-cyclists.

+1

Does anyone have a link to the Chicago ordinance?

Considering that three people have been killed in the last month or two, this is all very good. However, I don't think citing people for opening doors without looking first or driving in the bike lane to pass a car which is turning left in front of you will have an impact. Chicago is a very big city, unless you are in a popular neighborhood, you won't be seeing the police citing any motorists. Also, the summer months bring in a lot of tourists and people from the suburbs who, quite frankly, should not be driving or parking in the city.

Does anyone have a link to the Chicago ordinance?

When I have a chance, I will try to find it.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/red-062308-text,0,2955846.story?page=2
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-bike-lawsuitjun17,0,3996956.story

"
9-40-060 Driving, standing or parking on bicycle paths or lanes prohibited.

The driver of a vehicle shall not drive, unless entering or exiting a legal parking space, or stand, or park the vehicle upon any on-street path or lane designated by official signs or markings for the use of bicycles, or otherwise drive or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such path or lane. Any person who violates this section shall be fined $100.00 for each offense. Any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be subject to an immediate tow and removal to a city vehicle pound or authorized garage.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 9-1-99, p. 10503, § 1)"


http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Illinois/chicago_il/municipalcodeofchicago?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:chicago_il


(625 ILCS 5/11‑1407) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑1407)
Sec. 11‑1407. Opening and closing vehicle doors. No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
(Source: P.A. 79‑1069.)


http://gapersblock.com/detour/bicyclists_do_the_safety_dance/