Geometry and Traffic: Not the Best Mix

By Jocelyn Geboy in News on Apr 11, 2007 9:28PM

The City Council's Traffic Committee approved an ordinance that motorcycle and scooter riders will now have to park their vehicles perpendicular to the curb. The reasoning? To "ease Chicago's notorious parking crunch."

Hmmm. It's funny, but Chicagoist never really was all that concerned about the city's motorcycles and scooters when circling the block late at night in Andersonville or Wrigleyville or when we were downtown to see a movie. It was all the valet parking, the tow zones, the permit parking, the driveways, the construction, and the perpetually unused handicapped spotsthat left us circling. We never really thought, "Damn those hordes of motorcycles!" Besides, aren't scooters and motorcycles smaller than a Mini anyway?

The ordinance was Daley-sponsored, and it's not popular with bike owners for the same reason we are leery of it: the massive potential for people to knock over their bikes. We get nervous when we have to park around a bike parked the parallel to the curb. Parallel parking around a bike that's parked perpendicular to the curb sends shivers down our spine. It's not that we're bad drivers, but clearly, a bike parked that way is much easier to tip over. And we've seen Gimme Shelter. We're not looking for any trouble.

The Sun-Times article says, "Deputy Revenue Director Matt Darst said the ordinance's 90-degree rule applies only 'if it's not going to stick out in traffic.'" Ah. So now the ticket fairies are going to walk around with a protractor and a measuring stick? Chicagoist is convinced that this is just another attempt to gain revenue for the city. Which wouldn't be so bad, if they'd throw some of it to the CTA.

Image via wyrmcorp.com .