Ask Chicagoist: What's Up With the Honking?
By Prescott Carlson in Miscellaneous on Nov 27, 2009 5:00PM
Ask Chicagoist,
I'd like to suggest someone investigate the origin of the "alley honk" in Chicago. As a person that lives close to an alley and is driven (ha ha) crazy by all the effing honking, I'd like to know WHY people do this -- y'know instead of stopping and looking. Maybe you guys can get to the bottom of it.
Amy
Hi Amy,
Of course you're referring to the habit of many Chicago drivers of sounding their horn -- which can range from a light tap to long, repeated blares -- when exiting an alley. Live here a week and anyone will know that the practice is pretty prevalent. But why? As the link you provided to the Illinois Rules of the Road points out, honking when exiting an alley is not legally required. In chapter 4, under "Special Stops," it states:
In urban areas, drivers must come to a complete stop before entering the sidewalk area when moving out of an alley, building, private road or driveway. If there is no sidewalk, stop at a point nearest the street or roadway where there is a view of approaching traffic. After stopping, yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and all vehicles.
So why the honking, then? Part of it is because unlike the suburban land of new construction and generous setbacks, many alleys in Chicago are "blind" -- meaning, a driver can't get a clear view of oncoming pedestrian traffic until well into the right-of-way, which is a bit late if a child or bike rider is just about to dart in front of you. So many cautious drivers will sound their horn as an extra preventative measure before proceeding out of the alleyway.
Then, of course, you have the asshole drivers that think their magical horn sends a radio wave into all approaching foot traffic brains telling folks to stop so they can come barreling through at 30 m.p.h. with hardly a tap of the brake pedal. This is the type of driving behavior that causes tragic accidents. As most pedestrians don't hug the walls of buildings as they walk down the sidewalk, if a car leaving an alley comes to a complete stop before reaching the end and then slowly inches forward when the coast looks clear, both driver and pedestrian should have adequate time to react to avoid each other.
The problem with trying to eliminate honking, however, is that like the city's infamous "dibs", you're fighting against a longtime tradition. Many drivers are taught to honk when exiting an alley, and more experience it so often they think it's required or the proper etiquette thing to do. And unfortunately, most drivers aren't thinking much about the residents around them when they lay on the horn. So, like dibs, the "alley honk" is here to stay and -- like it or not -- is part of the character of Chicago. Our only advice is when looking for an apartment, take note of the alley situation. Look for buildings on streets that don't have blind alleys or find one more towards the middle of the block. That, or buy some good earplugs.
Raging against the car culture? Need some advice? Email tips(at)chicagoist(dot)com, subject line "Ask Chicagoist"