Location: Northwest corner of Clark Street and Congress Parkway.
This photo shows the damage that automobiles inflict on our cities, environment, and, closest to my heart, bikes and bike parking.
An errant motorist jumped the curb and crashed first into the tree, then the bike rack, and finally the bike parked here. The LaSalle Blue Line station entrance is just steps away (in the background). Imagine the fate of a bicyclist who might have been locking their red Schwinn road bike to the bike rack only to find a 2-ton metal box hurtling in their direction. This photo makes clear how driving is a threat to so many aspects of our streets.
The collision had a direct monetary cost. The city will most likely pick up the tab for everything except replacing the bike. Here’s what I surmise from the photographed scene:
Tree removal and replacement: >$1,000
Bike rack removal and replacement: $450 ($300 for a new one, $150 to remove)
Vintage Schwinn: $200
Bike removal: $50
Cleanup: $150
Total: At least $1,850
Please drive carefully. Send me your photos of the automobile imposition – reader updates are here. But wait, I’ve encountered this again and again:
Location: Northwest corner of Elton Avenue and Cicero Avenue.
Location: Northwest corner of Lawrence Avenue and Kostner Avenue in front of Chicago Public Library, Mayfair branch.
New bike routes will provide safer connections on the Manhattan side of the Williamsburg Bridge, in an attempt to divert cyclists from Delancey Street. Image: NYCDOT NYCDOT unveiled a slate of pedestrian and bicycle improvements to the transportation committee of Manhattan Community Board 3 last night. Presenters asked for votes on two street [...] […]
At the beginning of the year, Streetsblog embarked on a project we hope will shed light on city pedestrian and cyclist fatalities that appear to have been written off as blameless "accidents." To date, we have filed freedom of information requests with NYPD pertaining to 10 pedestrian deaths, and will be [...] […]
A collection of assignments I turned in to professors at UIC.
CTA bus operators should not strike
The assignment: Attached is a press clip from the Chicago Sun-Times on November 5, 2009, with the headline, "Bus driver strike over layoffs an 'option'." Also attached is an arbitrators ruling establishing the provisions of the current contract. Do you think the CTA unions should strike over the issue of ...
