Almost got ran over tonight. Some dude in a maroon Chevy was pulling out of the huge lot past Armitage before Maplewood, saw me, and kept pulling out. I mouth off "don't you dare", and slow down (and didn't have enough space to come to a stop), and right as I'm in front of him, he hits the gas like he's going to run me over and his car lurches forward. I was able to get out of the way at the last second, obviously I screamed at him.

Stuff like this is common, what I want to know is why. Especially with how much it was raining, so many drivers on this road have zero empathy or consideration for anyone but themselves.

(Obvious answer is because city cops will let you get away with murder as long as you did it with your car, and they don't care enough to enforce anything traffic related)

TLDR: go to this page, read it, then fill out the response form with a simple “I support this project” https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/livable-streets-chicago/home/_LS_projects/weber-spur-trail.html

Last night Ald Sam Nugent and CDOT hosted a meeting on the Weber Spur plan at NEIU. Ald Nugent and her staff did not show up.

CDOT brought the project manager, the landscape architect, the engineer, and some others.

They gave a talk on the current status and the design. Funding is looking good but Land acquisition and getting the feds to do their part will be the main hurdles.

Expected timeline is 4-6 years to completion.

The Q&A quickly got derailed by a group of NIMBYs who wanted the Bryn Mawr bike lanes removed. CDOT was like, yeah wrong meeting dudes. They carried on for a while and one guy got asked into the hallway where he went apeshit. That was the highlight of the evening.

Some generally supportive Forest Preserve people voiced concerns over light pollution and excessive salting in the winter. They also offered to help identify native grasses and invasives.

Some generally supportive Mayfair neighbors expressed concern about crime and asked for increased resources in certain areas.

Most people were concerned about the at-grade crossing at Pulaski (edit). It is the primary flaw of the plan.

A train guy asked about future light rail. CDOT said it’s not likely.

A few people asked about activating space for teens and youth activities. One person brought up the DIY BMX park near Bryn Mawr and asked that it be preserved or enhanced for the sake of the youth.

There was only one person who appeared to be against the project- he claimed it was too expensive and seemed to indicate the money could be better spent on highway expansion. He asked for line-item-costs and CDOT declined. (For what it’s worth, this project is hella pricey - but worth it IMHO)

Worth noting the bozos who came to protest the bike lanes were not against the Weber Spur. Some even voiced support.

The project manager said the best way to support the project is to write “I support this project” on the official form, here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/livable-streets-chicago/home/_LS_projects/weber-spur-trail.html

I’m writing this all from memory so if I missed anything, sorry. Don’t quote me as fact and DYOR.

How many of you record your rides? I’ve been biking since May and have seen more than a few idiots on the road. I recently got a camera to record my rides and was curious if others do this.

For me right now it is N Glenwood Ave, north of Argyle. It was a mess over the summer but now almost the entire route up to Morse is newly paved and it’s awesome. I can relax and enjoy the architecture, the lights coming up in houses in the early evening, several gorgeous churches along the way.

And it looks like Andersonville/ Edgewater have a friendly neighborhood Halloween yard competition going on this month, so there is a lot of creativity on display. I also always feel very safe on that stretch. I ride that route a few times a week and it reminds me how much I love this city and how happy I am to be back.

What routes are the rest of you really enjoying this time of year? What makes them more than a convenient way of getting from point A to point B? And be sure to let us know what neighborhood 🍁🎃

Please say I'm wrong, but is this an Ai pic from CAMBR promoting an activity we do in nature??

selling my build as I don't ride anymore.
a great bike for everyday use in all my time having it never had any issues with any of the parts. selling for $300, price is firm.
below are all the parts included in this build;
-6ku frame finished in metallic grey size 52
-novatech hubs with bladed spokes(14t cog in the rear wheel)
-omnium crankset
-throne 48t chainring
-shimano road clipless pedals
-zipp negative stem
-aventon drop bars

I don’t usually do this, but this guy was being a total jerk. He was swerving in and out of the bike lane without looking and weaving around cars.

So I went up to him at the light and told him to cool it using my security guard voice. He blew the red and ran away.

Probably won’t do it again, but felt good. Like sneaking a cigarette.

Please attend the public hearing tonight at NEIU to show your support for the Weber Spur Trail if you can!
This trail would create a fantastic connection to several existing bike trails and bikeways on the Northwest Side.
There’s also a group of people who are very vocal in their opposition to the newly installed Bryn Mawr protected bike lanes. I suspect some may use this hearing as an opportunity to bring up those lanes, even though they’re a separate issue. It would be great to have people there who support the bike lanes and can speak up if they come up during the meeting.
Hope to see you there!

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/livable-streets-chicago/home/_LS_projects/weber-spur-trail.html#docaccess-51eb93828c8fd134224a1dbef87d12cc

First-ever group ride in the city and was overwhelmed with joy.

Hi:

Can anyone share any longer routes from Chicago downtown(ish) to Milwaukee/kenosha or even into Indiana?

I searched this sub, tried to build stuff in ridegps and search strava but nothing is coming up for me.

Thank you

I'm almost 80 and have decided that it's time to slow down. As a result, I'm looking for a place to possibly sell my vintage custom bike. I say possibly because I'm not sure it is worth anything, but I know it was special back in the day. I have a custom frame made by Vail Cycle Works, probably back in the '80s, but it may be even older. It's Columbus Nivachrom tubing with Wheelsmith built rims. It's currently is set up more or less as a gravel bike with cantilever brakes and mostly Shimano 105 gear train.

EDIT: Craig Niedermaier, Chair of the Niles Bike and Ped committee, responded to an email I sent him and other Niles officials. I've pasted it into a comment below.

Absolutely horrible: https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/crash-at-north-branch-trail-and-harts-road-claims-chicago-man/

"Police said the crash took place as he was riding a black bicycle out of the North Branch Trail, crossing Harts Road in the crosswalk at Riverside Drive, when he was struck by the Audi going eastbound at 6:47 p.m. Police said McCallum was rushed to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge by Niles firefighter-paramedics with life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at 7:40 p.m."

RIP Matthew McCallum, 52, of Chicago.

I'm sure many of us have crossed that intersection many times before. I always thought there should be a push-button light, at the very least, there. This makes me so angry: "Niles Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee Chairman Craig Niedermeier said Harts is a state road and that installing flashing beacons on state roads is difficult." Why? Why is putting a light on a pole difficult?

Streetview of crossing.

Be safe out there folks.

Buddies bike was stolen in Logan Square. It’s a fixie with a pretty recognizable frame. Just asking people to keep an eye out. We’ve all but accepted defeat but thought I’d throw it on here as a Hail Mary.

Probably gonna irritate someone with all the shutter drag, but I liked the motion blur. I've brought my fancy cameras on rides in the past, but these snaps with a little point and shoot were a lot more fun and felt more like what it was like to be there.

This was such a fun ride, and a fabulous turnout.

Kathy Osterman beach

I found these keys (two keys on a strap with a single keychain) at 12:45 in the bike lane/street. Put them in front of the building pictured on sidewalk. 2651 N Harding.

Conway Farms, by all the fancy houses.

I saw a flyer at last nights marathon ride but I didn’t take a photo. Does anyone here have the details for it? Thanks!

Edit: Maybe it was Douglass Park? 🤔 I don’t know man it was like 4am when I learned about it.