For Whom The Bonebell Tolls

I’ve had my fair share of police officer dealings than I care to dwell on - Luke’s site had recently cited an incident with a fellow racer who with a entourage of his friends stopped a drunk cyclist on N. Lincoln Ave., only to have the officers be ‘annoyed’ by cyclists obstructing vehicles when they clearly did so to avoid a drunken moron from potentially injuring or killing another cyclist (the drunken moron had apparently made agressive moves towards the cyclists that stopped him).

Now this happens.

I ride down LaSalle northbound at least 3 times a week. I like it. Its wide, and generally cars are mindful despite it being a faster street. I like that its a fast street. I can make fast exits and the parked cars still leave plenty of room in the 1st traffic lane. According to the ‘get tough’ ordinance in Chicago on motorists that injure cyclists - dooring a cyclist will constitute a fine no less than $100.00 and upwards $500.00. Apparently, this law doesn’t apply to streets that do not have a bike lane. WHAT THE *%&^? So this poor soul who gets doored, and then plopped under a car and gets killed - means the driver doesn’t get that fine because the lane isn’t marked as a bike lane. ‘To be fair’, there was a citation, but under a different ordinance. What is to say that the ordinance gives any reprieve to the family of the killed commuter.

So are we cycling friendly or are we bi-polar about our intentions to protect cyclists in Chicago? I have said adamantly before and I’m stating it again, its only as safe as we are defensive.

A friend in the office had detailed the grim news to me as he was at the scene - the Bonebell Tolls for Clinton Micelli - we did not know thee, but we hope that something positive can be salvaged from the tragedy.