ghost bike

[bitterfig]

Over the weekend I finally got out and did some serious bike riding.  On Saturday morning I rode to an ANAD meeting which was a couple of miles away and then on Sunday I rode to work.

It’s taken me an inordinately long time to get back on my bike this year.  Part of it has to do with the crazy weather we’ve had this spring (I actually just

Comments

[rayerai]

We've had a lot of bicyclist fatalities too. It's very sad. I hope no one loots that memorial for spare bike parts. Stay safe!

[bitterfic]

Thanks, I hope to stay as safe as possiable. I heard a piece on the Ghost Bikes on NPR and they take into account the possibility of scavengers using the memorial for spare parts-- everything is welded to the frame when it's put up.

[poultrygeist99]

Psst! Off topic, but I'm coming to Chicago for a few days in July. Wanna meet up somewhere for a visit? Also, do you know John's current address? Of all our friends he is one of the very few I miss. I could pester his parents, I suppose.

[bitterfig]

I'd love to try and meet up. When are you going to be in town? I'll be away (in New York seeing the parents) from 07/14 to 07/19 but hopefully your visit to Chicago won't we during that time frame.

I don't know John's address-- I never really kept in touch with him after school.

[ozma914]

A ghost bike -- what a spooky and sobering concept; and how horrible that it happens often enough for someone to come up with the idea.

[bitterfig]

I think Chicago traffic is a little insane. Since I got here I've read about a lot of bike accidents and even quite a few pedestrian fatalities- there was a big story a couple years ago where a local musician was killed walking across Western Avenue. I consider Western Avenue my nemesis. I have only ever ridden on it once and am amazed I survived. Just crossing it, anywhere is always a big challenge.

[ozma914]

Sadly, drivers are getting crazier and crazier everywhere -- but Chicago has *so many* drivers that their total number of really moronic ones is surely high. Plus, I'd imagine the stress of such heavy traffic is enough to make the drivers insane, all by itself.

[holyfant]

That's quite chilling, but poignant. I remember the first safe cycle facilities being constructed around here, and I'm only eighteen, so riding a bike has only been safe for a little while. (That is to say, it was safe before there was a lot of traffic, then it was unsafe for a while, and now it's safer again.)

It's horrible how vulnerable you can be on a bike. Both my brothers have been hit by cars while they were riding - both non-fatally, but it's still very scary. I try to be very careful.

[bitterfig]

I had a pretty serious accident last July when I got side-swiped by a city bus. Really scary, sometimes it amazes me that I can still ride at all. I actually have little panic attacks every time a bus or a UPS truck or any other kind of longer than usual vehicle goes by me. Chicago (the city I live in) is supposedly pushing to make the streets more hospital to cyclist but it still seems pretty dangerous. I've heard that in other countries, it's much safer for bicyclists. A few years ago when the Gay Games were in Chicago two Englishmen were staying with a friend of mine. They went out on bicycles and they were horrified by how aggressive our car traffic was and how quickly the sto lights changed.

[bitterfig]

The area I'm from in Upstate NY is the same way, no bike lanes at all. It's not good, it makes drivers resentful of bikers who are in their opinion "in the road" and more aggressive towards them. As cities so Chicago is pretty bicycle friendly, there are a lot of bike lanes all over the city. I think it has a lot to do with the efforts of the cycling community which is very vocal and visible. There are events like "Bike the Drive" where a major street, Lake Shore Drive is closed to car traffic for a morning and Critical Mass is also really active.