Chicagoist: Biking in the Bus Lane?

BlueFairlane

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:11:13 -0600

I think the problem would more likely be the buses that try to pass cyclists, but only half-complete the pass before cutting back over. I can't tell you how many times I've had a bus swing wide to my left, then cut me off and stop. The whole bus lane idea's stupid, anyway. Cars already use bike lanes and the few bus lanes we have as pass-on-the-right zones. You see it all the time on the overpasses on Milwaukee. Unless city cops want to devote a lot of time to patrolling these strips, they'll just be car lanes with diamonds painted on them.

Navin

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:24:47 -0600

On a side note, Liz Phair's lookin' gnarly in that American Apparel ad........geez.

Spook

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:57:26 -0600

Navin YOU scared the sh*t out of me, son! I though you were John MacCain in Navy Whites until I saw your name and recognized Steve Martin. Any way, that's just what I'm saying at best in passing. Meanwhile the auto show gets weeklong coverage!

Navin

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:47:08 -0600

I think they were briefly mentioned in passing Spook. Anyway, there's no bus lanes anywhere where I ride *regularly*.

Spook

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:22:33 -0600

Oh is this where "we" beat up on cyclist again???? Honestly, Chicagoist at best is apathetic to the cyclist movement and at worst down right hostile. If bikes get any coverage its just scraps from the automobile table,more snarky than supportive like the one above. Forget about covering the great community actions like the dedication of Ghost Bikes to the numerous riders killed by cars and the accompanying Ride of Silence. Also heaven forbid that Chicagoist cover the two cyclists killed while biking to work during Bike to Work Week! Well this Saturday, if any one wants to hang out with some real women and men of the Cyclist Movement, feel free to join The Central Committee of the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society’s Tour de Fat at Palmer Square this Saturday, June 21, 10am-4pm. Sponsored by the New Belgium Brewing Company,the makers of Fat Tire Ale! Cause every body loves a carnival right? Well what's better than a Cycle-centric carnival and fun fair with beer and bands? . Proceeds will benefit the community programs of West Town Bikes (see http://westtownbikes.org/)!

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:13:00 -0600

The Jackson Street bus lane in the Loop is already a good example of how this can work. The bus lane is infrequently used by actual buses on Jackson, so I just hop into that lane when it starts at Clinton and avoid a large part of the traffic back-up that occurs during the morning rush. The key to sharing the lane is getting out of it when a bus is actually approaching, which I admit I have seen some cyclists fail to do.

grandma

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:38:17 -0600

@Tower, I disagree. In limited stretches where the buses and bikes share a lane (e.g. bridges over highways on milwaukee ave. & halstead ave.), the system works well. In crowded traffic, bikes are much faster than still-standing cars. With frequent bus stops, bikes are faster than buses. Therefore, buses are slowed by bikes to a small degree. Collisions would most likely be in the situation of bikes trying to pass stopped buses.

Tower18

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:29:05 -0600

Talk about negating the whole point of the bus lanes.