RIDE YOUR BIKE TO KATHY POSNER'S JAIL CELL
Bike Riders Galore
In 1972 when I was an econometrician at Merrill, Lynch, for fun, we ran an economic forecasting model showing how the world would be buried under horse manure by the late 1900’s as the population grew and people used horses for transportation. Of course, the car was invented so that scenario did not happen. Planes, trains, buses and automobiles are great modes of transportation; unless you are a Luddite and opposed to industrialization. Bicycles should be driven on tree-lined quiet, suburban streets and sidewalks. I grew up in the suburbs of New York and loved riding my bicycle. The streets of a metropolitan area are not designed for, and should not be designed for, bicycles. The majority of bicyclists who traverse the congested streets of Chicago pay no attention to the traffic laws. They blithely drive through red lights, stop signs and zip in and out of marked lanes. Only someone who has experienced the fear of almost hitting a bike rider who has darted in front of their car knows the almost heart-stopping feeling of impending doom. Suburban legislators have no idea of how horrible it is in Chicago dealing with bike riders. That is evidenced by their passing SB 2951, a bicyclist safety law, and chauffeur-driven Governor Quinn signing the bill in an elaborate July 5th ceremony. Have any of these legislator’s ever been caught in a “Critical Mass” take over of the streets by bicyclists? Chicago Critical Mass bike rides start from Daley Plaza, Dearborn & Washington at 5:30 pm on the last Friday of each month, regardless of season or weather. According to their web site, “Critical Mass is a worldwide movement to promote the use of bicycles as a viable means of transportation. It has arisen in response to what many call the "car-culture": overdependence on the private automobile. It is, more than anything else, reclamation of space, a demonstration to show that the city belongs to people and not machines.” WRONG! “Machines” are good! Go to McHenry County if one wants to bike on the streets, not Cook County! The synopsis of SB2951 reads, “Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person commits crowding or threatening a bicyclist when a person driving a motor vehicle recklessly drives the motor vehicle unnecessarily close to, toward, or near a bicyclist. Provides that every person convicted of crowding or threatening a bicyclist shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the violation does not result in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another. Provides that if a crowding or threatening a bicyclist violation results in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another, the person shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Provides that a person commits Projecting or throwing missiles at bicyclists, a Class A misdemeanor, when a person projects or throws any missile (defined as any object or substance) at or against a bicyclist. Effective immediately.” Bicyclists riding on Chicago streets pull in front of cars with no regard to the speed they are traveling I would claim that the bike rider darted in front of me, but in the Mayor Daley world of loving bicyclists nobody would believe I was innocent So if a bicyclist darts ahead of me and I hit the rider, I could be subject to a term of incarceration in a state penitentiary for between one and three years and fined up to $25,000. The Class A misdemeanor could get me up to 1 year in jail; and/or a fine of up to $2,500. I hope all of you who visited me during my recent hospital stay, will also visit me in jail after I hit a misguided, crazed biker. Attica! Attica!Read More From Kathy Posner Here.....
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