Tales of the City, Part 4

Bicycling: it’s a bit more harrowing in the city.

Now my daughter seems to take it in stride, charging off on her blue hybrid, seemingly afraid of nothing. (Although I must add, that two years ago she was hit by a cab driver and thrown off her bicycle. Clearly she recovered on all levels.)

So when we ride together on the streets, I am the one 15 to 20 feet behind, gripping my handlebars and being very alert, and a tad bit slow.

But it’s different from what I was used to in my almost-city suburb.  I usually felt relaxed , and knew which streets to take and which to avoid.

Granted, there are some very clearly marked and well traveled bike lanes in Chicago.

Sometime last week I was driving downtown in rush hour and saw clumps of bike riders tooling down the bike lanes. Six or seven at a time, and not together. On their way to work.

Just a few days ago a protected bike lane was officially opened.  And Mayor Emanuel is promising 24 more of these.

I haven’t biked it yet, but I am sure I’d feel safer.

But in the neighborhood I am living in, I am reminded almost daily of the danger of bike riding.  Just three blocks from me, at one intersection, across from each other, are chained two white bikes, with memorial plackards.

A sobering reminder that not all motorists are cautious and careful about driving by and around bikers.