Yesterday I woke up at 5 a.m. to a loud boom, then another and another.... 25 in
all. Sure sounded like gunshots to me - from a BIG gun. Lying in bed, half asleep, I couldn't figure out what direction they were coming from. It was a disturbing way to wake up. I figured that someone else in
the neighborhood must have heard it, and that everyone didn't sleep through it like my husband.
I posted it on EveryBlock and Facebook and got several responses from other people who heard it, too. The locations of people who responded covered a wide area: 111th Pl near I-57, 111st
St. near Kedzie, 97th & Longwood, 107th & Drew, somewhere on Wood St., 95th & Western. All reported that they heard MANY shots from a big
gun. Some people said they heard shots around 3:00 to 3:30 a.m. AND
around 5:00 a.m. One person said he was listening to a police scanner at the time and heard that many people called 911 reporting shots fired around 5:00 a.m.
A few people also reported hearing another set of gunshots (about a dozen) between 3:00 and 3:30 a.m., coming from the east. The newspapers have NOTHING on this. What's the story? Does anyone have information on what actually happened?
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
good musical memories
Last Saturday's Ronnie Baker Brooks concert at the Beverly Arts Center was a lot of fun.
It was a first rate show. Seeing it at a good neighborhood venue made it that much better. We enjoyed being part of his birthday celebration, when his father Lonnie brought out the cake.
Ronnie - Wishing you another year of great music. Keep on promoting your family's musical legacy, and come on back to the neighborhood anytime.
It was a first rate show. Seeing it at a good neighborhood venue made it that much better. We enjoyed being part of his birthday celebration, when his father Lonnie brought out the cake.
Ronnie - Wishing you another year of great music. Keep on promoting your family's musical legacy, and come on back to the neighborhood anytime.
Friday, January 27, 2012
a little courtesy goes a long way
Earlier this afternoon, I was heading out for a bike ride and saw a CDOT guy taking our SOS sign and our neighbor's from our front yards. I stopped him and asked him why. He said he'd gotten a lot of complaints about too many yard signs and was removing the ones that were on the parkways. He recited his bureaucratic spiel about "possible distraction to drivers," "possible tripping hazard," etc.
Possible tripping hazard? In the middle of my garden bed? 99% of the time the only person who walks there is ME, and that's when I'm doing garden maintenance, which sure isn't happening at this time of year.
This week a lot of new yard signs HAVE been added - for this weekend's open houses for prospective students at a few local schools, signup for summer baseball and softball leagues, nonprofit fundraisers, a few political campaigns, and our local open space initiative. The vast majority of these were for nonprofit efforts and would be there for a very short time frame. Many were for events this weekend.
I made him give back our signs and placed ours on the other side of the sidewalk, closer to the house where it won't be as visible as it was on the corner. Our neighbor happened to arrive home at that moment, and I handed his signs back to him.
The city expects a lot from us in terms of maintaining the parkways, which are technically city property. We're expected to mow the grass and keep the parkway neat in front of our house. Fine, we've got no problem doing that, because it makes our house and neighborhood more pleasant. City law requires us to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks. Got no problem with that either, because it's a good neighborly thing that greatly improves quality of life by keeping our sidewalks walkable. Then they send this guy around to steal items that we chose to place on our parkways, in the middle of the afternoon when day shift workers are generally at work and night shift workers are running errands or sleeping.
Just because it's bureacratically mandated stealing doesn't change what it is: stealing. How about getting word out through the alderman's office or BAPA and giving us the weekend to move signs instead of just stealing them?
We appreciate what CDOT does to maintain our roads and other infrastructure. How about showing some appreciation by giving us a little consideration in return? Give us reasonable notice (a few days) on things like signs, or non-emergency construction that affects our parkways and sidewalks. A little bit of courtesy goes a long way.
Possible tripping hazard? In the middle of my garden bed? 99% of the time the only person who walks there is ME, and that's when I'm doing garden maintenance, which sure isn't happening at this time of year.
This week a lot of new yard signs HAVE been added - for this weekend's open houses for prospective students at a few local schools, signup for summer baseball and softball leagues, nonprofit fundraisers, a few political campaigns, and our local open space initiative. The vast majority of these were for nonprofit efforts and would be there for a very short time frame. Many were for events this weekend.
I made him give back our signs and placed ours on the other side of the sidewalk, closer to the house where it won't be as visible as it was on the corner. Our neighbor happened to arrive home at that moment, and I handed his signs back to him.
The city expects a lot from us in terms of maintaining the parkways, which are technically city property. We're expected to mow the grass and keep the parkway neat in front of our house. Fine, we've got no problem doing that, because it makes our house and neighborhood more pleasant. City law requires us to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks. Got no problem with that either, because it's a good neighborly thing that greatly improves quality of life by keeping our sidewalks walkable. Then they send this guy around to steal items that we chose to place on our parkways, in the middle of the afternoon when day shift workers are generally at work and night shift workers are running errands or sleeping.
Just because it's bureacratically mandated stealing doesn't change what it is: stealing. How about getting word out through the alderman's office or BAPA and giving us the weekend to move signs instead of just stealing them?
We appreciate what CDOT does to maintain our roads and other infrastructure. How about showing some appreciation by giving us a little consideration in return? Give us reasonable notice (a few days) on things like signs, or non-emergency construction that affects our parkways and sidewalks. A little bit of courtesy goes a long way.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
watch out for credit card fraud/identity theft
I've heard from a police officer friend that fake credit cards have become a BIG problem. Some of the criminals doing this type of identity theft have mobile credit card-making machines, operating in cars or other locations right around the corner from where thieves are stealing people's wallets.
The thieves bring the wallets with real credit cards to the card maker, who makes fake IDs and fake credit cards on the spot. They create an ID with a photo of a member of their theft ring and a fake name, and a fake credit card using a number from a real stolen credit card and the same fake name that's on the fake ID. The person who's on the ID then goes to a nearby store to buy merchandise (often for later sale) with the credit card before the victim reports their cards as stolen, and it may be expensive stuff.
You may want to program the phone numbers for your credit card companies into your cell phone and perhaps keep them on a card tucked in your pocket, too, so that you can call IMMEDIATELY if your cards are lost or stolen. Even better - carry your wallet in a secure spot where thieves can't reach it. If you need to declutter your wallet to thin it down in order to fit it into an inside pocket, that's a small price to pay for avoiding theft and all the hassles that come with it.
If you are a merchant who accepts credit cards, look carefully at the back of each credit card. On the fake cards, the signature strip does not look like the strip you'd find on a legit card. Apparently they haven't gotten that part right on the mobile credit card-making machines yet.
My police officer friend responds to many calls involving pickpockets, identity theft, retail fraud and shoplifting. He arrested someone for a fraudulent transaction last night, and the credit card from which the numbers were lifted had been stolen less than one half hour before that fraudulent transaction. Given the current state of the economy, this is a HUGE problem right now. It costs you, your credit card issuer and the merchants whose goods are stolen.
It's much easier for police to catch the thieves if you report lost cards right away - as soon as you can possibly make a call after you realize they're gone. If the card is reported stolen before any fraudulent transactions, it goes into the system right away, and the cashier gets an alert when trying to process the sale. They can get store security and police, and the thief is usually caught. For most incidents, this is a felony charge, likely to result in jail time for convicted offenders.
I was robbed a few years ago and was able to cancel my cards right away. There were no fraudulent transactions, so I only had to deal with the annoying process of replacing my cards - much easier than the consequences of paying for purchases I didn't make or having a damaged credit rating.
The thieves bring the wallets with real credit cards to the card maker, who makes fake IDs and fake credit cards on the spot. They create an ID with a photo of a member of their theft ring and a fake name, and a fake credit card using a number from a real stolen credit card and the same fake name that's on the fake ID. The person who's on the ID then goes to a nearby store to buy merchandise (often for later sale) with the credit card before the victim reports their cards as stolen, and it may be expensive stuff.
You may want to program the phone numbers for your credit card companies into your cell phone and perhaps keep them on a card tucked in your pocket, too, so that you can call IMMEDIATELY if your cards are lost or stolen. Even better - carry your wallet in a secure spot where thieves can't reach it. If you need to declutter your wallet to thin it down in order to fit it into an inside pocket, that's a small price to pay for avoiding theft and all the hassles that come with it.
If you are a merchant who accepts credit cards, look carefully at the back of each credit card. On the fake cards, the signature strip does not look like the strip you'd find on a legit card. Apparently they haven't gotten that part right on the mobile credit card-making machines yet.
My police officer friend responds to many calls involving pickpockets, identity theft, retail fraud and shoplifting. He arrested someone for a fraudulent transaction last night, and the credit card from which the numbers were lifted had been stolen less than one half hour before that fraudulent transaction. Given the current state of the economy, this is a HUGE problem right now. It costs you, your credit card issuer and the merchants whose goods are stolen.
It's much easier for police to catch the thieves if you report lost cards right away - as soon as you can possibly make a call after you realize they're gone. If the card is reported stolen before any fraudulent transactions, it goes into the system right away, and the cashier gets an alert when trying to process the sale. They can get store security and police, and the thief is usually caught. For most incidents, this is a felony charge, likely to result in jail time for convicted offenders.
I was robbed a few years ago and was able to cancel my cards right away. There were no fraudulent transactions, so I only had to deal with the annoying process of replacing my cards - much easier than the consequences of paying for purchases I didn't make or having a damaged credit rating.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sen. Kirk's response on SOPA and PIPA
I wrote recently to Senator Kirk, urging him to vote against internet censorship and received the following response:
Thank you for contacting me about the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA), S. 968, and its House of Representatives companion, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). I appreciate your input and want to let you know my view on this important issue.
I stand with those who stand for freedom in opposing PIPA in its current form. Freedom of speech is an inalienable right granted to each and every American, and the Internet has become the primary tool with which we utilize this right. The Internet empowers Americans to learn, create, innovate, and express their views. While we should protect American intellectual property, consumer safety and human rights, we should do so in a manner that specifically targets criminal activity. The extreme measures taken in PIPA not only stifle First Amendment rights but also hamper innovation on the Internet.
S. 968, as currently written, allows for abuse of our Constitutional rights, giving the Attorney General sweeping powers to block domain names of websites they deem "dedicated to infringing activities". Under current law, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act requires service providers to block access to only infringing material, but S. 968 would block access to entire websites that may carry a page containing infringing material generated by a third-party user. In my view, this is an unacceptable violation of our First Amendment rights. I also worry this type of censorship will be used as a model for foreign repressive regimes to censor the web within their own countries.
S. 968 also places too great a burden on small Internet startups, as the bill would provide a private right of action to copyright owners. Since the bill would force the takedown of an entire site, not just the specific infringing page, it would hold user-generated websites liable for any content posted. This fear of liability and resulting uncertainty will cripple innovation on the Internet, one of our greatest economic engines.
I am also concerned about the bill's provisions that would undermine the security of the entire Internet. Network engineers and cybersecurity experts warn the technical implementation of the Domain Name System blocking requirement cannot function with the new security protocols, also known as DNSSEC, currently being implemented across the worldwide web.
While I support the underlying goals of the bill to crack down on online intellectual property theft, I believe PIPA in its current form is unacceptable. It will have widespread unintended consequences that will stifle freedom of speech and Internet innovation across the globe. This bill places far too much regulation on the Internet and will impact more than just those foreign "rogue" websites for which it is intended. I cannot support a bill that recklessly tampers with the Internet and our inalienable rights as citizens of a free nation.
Thank you for taking the time to contact me on this issue.
While I don't agree with his positions on many issues, I appreciate this thorough and well considered response. I was sorry to hear today's news about the stroke he suffered over the weekend and I hope that he's able to make a full recovery.
Thank you for contacting me about the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA), S. 968, and its House of Representatives companion, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). I appreciate your input and want to let you know my view on this important issue.
I stand with those who stand for freedom in opposing PIPA in its current form. Freedom of speech is an inalienable right granted to each and every American, and the Internet has become the primary tool with which we utilize this right. The Internet empowers Americans to learn, create, innovate, and express their views. While we should protect American intellectual property, consumer safety and human rights, we should do so in a manner that specifically targets criminal activity. The extreme measures taken in PIPA not only stifle First Amendment rights but also hamper innovation on the Internet.
S. 968, as currently written, allows for abuse of our Constitutional rights, giving the Attorney General sweeping powers to block domain names of websites they deem "dedicated to infringing activities". Under current law, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act requires service providers to block access to only infringing material, but S. 968 would block access to entire websites that may carry a page containing infringing material generated by a third-party user. In my view, this is an unacceptable violation of our First Amendment rights. I also worry this type of censorship will be used as a model for foreign repressive regimes to censor the web within their own countries.
S. 968 also places too great a burden on small Internet startups, as the bill would provide a private right of action to copyright owners. Since the bill would force the takedown of an entire site, not just the specific infringing page, it would hold user-generated websites liable for any content posted. This fear of liability and resulting uncertainty will cripple innovation on the Internet, one of our greatest economic engines.
I am also concerned about the bill's provisions that would undermine the security of the entire Internet. Network engineers and cybersecurity experts warn the technical implementation of the Domain Name System blocking requirement cannot function with the new security protocols, also known as DNSSEC, currently being implemented across the worldwide web.
While I support the underlying goals of the bill to crack down on online intellectual property theft, I believe PIPA in its current form is unacceptable. It will have widespread unintended consequences that will stifle freedom of speech and Internet innovation across the globe. This bill places far too much regulation on the Internet and will impact more than just those foreign "rogue" websites for which it is intended. I cannot support a bill that recklessly tampers with the Internet and our inalienable rights as citizens of a free nation.
Thank you for taking the time to contact me on this issue.
While I don't agree with his positions on many issues, I appreciate this thorough and well considered response. I was sorry to hear today's news about the stroke he suffered over the weekend and I hope that he's able to make a full recovery.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
has hell frozen over?
And I mean that in a good way. I just got back from a walk to the health food store and a few other places on 95th St.
This is my 6th winter in the neighborhood, and today is the first time EVER that I've seen the sidewalk cleared around the parking lot at the SW corner of 95th & Damen. They must be using someone new to plow the lot. There was clear access to the crosswalk in front of the library - without me having to make a phone call. These changes get a BIG thumbs up!
Unfortunately, many crosswalks and bus stops are still blocked by snow. That neglect gets a big THUMBS DOWN. Another thumbs down to Trinity UCC Community Center for their sidewalk - untouched, still full of snow. :( The sidewalks were cleared in front of most properties, but there was enough snow left to melt and refreeze that much of it is icy this afternoon.
If we want a healthier ward and healthier business districts, people need to be able to walk and get to and from the bus safely. It's a lot tougher to do that if snow at the curbs isn't cleared at crosswalk locations and sidewalks are left icy. It also doesn't help when people who cleared their sidewalks beautifully don't finish the job by clearing a path through the wall left by the snow plows.
Clearing our sidewalks is part of promoting community. It's an opportunity to see our neighbors when we're spending a lot less time outdoors. I'm a believer in having a real community, where people walk and ride bikes and talk on the street. How about you?
This is my 6th winter in the neighborhood, and today is the first time EVER that I've seen the sidewalk cleared around the parking lot at the SW corner of 95th & Damen. They must be using someone new to plow the lot. There was clear access to the crosswalk in front of the library - without me having to make a phone call. These changes get a BIG thumbs up!
Unfortunately, many crosswalks and bus stops are still blocked by snow. That neglect gets a big THUMBS DOWN. Another thumbs down to Trinity UCC Community Center for their sidewalk - untouched, still full of snow. :( The sidewalks were cleared in front of most properties, but there was enough snow left to melt and refreeze that much of it is icy this afternoon.
If we want a healthier ward and healthier business districts, people need to be able to walk and get to and from the bus safely. It's a lot tougher to do that if snow at the curbs isn't cleared at crosswalk locations and sidewalks are left icy. It also doesn't help when people who cleared their sidewalks beautifully don't finish the job by clearing a path through the wall left by the snow plows.
Clearing our sidewalks is part of promoting community. It's an opportunity to see our neighbors when we're spending a lot less time outdoors. I'm a believer in having a real community, where people walk and ride bikes and talk on the street. How about you?
Streets for Cycling 2020 Plan - public meeting on 1/25
Do you ride a bike? Would you like to feel safer riding on city streets? The Streets for Cycling 2020 plan is for you!
The city's bike program has gotten a substantial chunk of federal grant money for the purpose of adding bike lanes (protected, buffered or regular), bike boulevards and other improvements to make city streets better for transportation cycling, and reduce traffic congestion. The Dept. of Transportation is seeking input from regular cyclists to determine where these improvements should be added.
One of the program's goals is identifying locations where local cyclists would like to see protected bike lanes on busier streets. Click here to view a video showing the city's first protected lane, so that you can see an example of the concept.
Bike boulevards are another goal. They are residential streets with traffic calming measures, designed to offer safe transportation for cyclists of all ages. Click here to see examples of the concept.
On Wednesday 1/25, there is a south side meeting at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Anyone is welcome to attend this meeting, where they can get more information about the project and offer their ideas on where they'd like to go by bike, and where they'd like to see bike lanes and bike boulevards.
Those who are not able to attend a public meeting are encouraged to interact using the program's Facebook page. The site will be updated with project news as well as provide opportunities for people to share their ideas.
There will also be 2 webinars available: Friday 2/3 from noon to 1:00 p.m. and Monday 2/6 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Please note that the webinars require advance registration.
Please share this information with anyone you know who may be interested.
The city's bike program has gotten a substantial chunk of federal grant money for the purpose of adding bike lanes (protected, buffered or regular), bike boulevards and other improvements to make city streets better for transportation cycling, and reduce traffic congestion. The Dept. of Transportation is seeking input from regular cyclists to determine where these improvements should be added.
One of the program's goals is identifying locations where local cyclists would like to see protected bike lanes on busier streets. Click here to view a video showing the city's first protected lane, so that you can see an example of the concept.
Bike boulevards are another goal. They are residential streets with traffic calming measures, designed to offer safe transportation for cyclists of all ages. Click here to see examples of the concept.
On Wednesday 1/25, there is a south side meeting at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Anyone is welcome to attend this meeting, where they can get more information about the project and offer their ideas on where they'd like to go by bike, and where they'd like to see bike lanes and bike boulevards.
Those who are not able to attend a public meeting are encouraged to interact using the program's Facebook page. The site will be updated with project news as well as provide opportunities for people to share their ideas.
There will also be 2 webinars available: Friday 2/3 from noon to 1:00 p.m. and Monday 2/6 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Please note that the webinars require advance registration.
Please share this information with anyone you know who may be interested.
Friday, January 20, 2012
man wanted for questioning in South Bend murder
A car belonging to a South Bend murder victim was found Wednesday evening, abandoned at a bank near 87th and Wood. A nearby motel was also checked for evidence, but police did not find the suspect.
Here's an ABC news story and a Tribune story, each of which includes a photo of the suspect and more information.
The locations where he abandoned the car and was seen on video surveillance are close enough that he could be in our neighborhood. I'll be keeping my eyes open for this guy, ready to call 911 if I spot him. I hope you'll do the same.
Here's an ABC news story and a Tribune story, each of which includes a photo of the suspect and more information.
The locations where he abandoned the car and was seen on video surveillance are close enough that he could be in our neighborhood. I'll be keeping my eyes open for this guy, ready to call 911 if I spot him. I hope you'll do the same.
how your ride affects what you see and how you see it
A while back, I was on vacation in Oregon. My reading included Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life, written by DePaul political science professor Harry Wray, who makes many astute observations about contemporary America. I highly recommend the book.
After getting home, I started thinking about my impressions of Portland, Oregon. I got around primarily on foot and by public transit, with some time on a bike. Before leaving Portland for points south, I got a rental car for going to destinations that were not easily accessible by public transit. Portland was a pleasure to navigate without a car. On my one stop in town after getting the car, parking was a hassle. I was happy once I got away from the car.
At home in Chicago, I try to drive as little as possible. In a densely populated area, the car can be more of a trap than a source of freedom. We've reached a point where congestion and road rage can have a very damaging effect on our physical and mental wellbeing. Endless hours are wasted in traffic jams, creating a greater sense of urgency about reaching one's destination and enough frustration to motivate risky behavior. The current price of gas, combined with congestion, is igniting rage even in otherwise reasonable drivers. As a culture, the pleasure of our journeys has been mostly replaced by grimly creeping in traffic towards the destination.
This morning, I was visiting a few neighborhood destinations by car due to the cold weather. These are places I usually visit by bike, and the lack of parking I encountered today made me appreciate how much easier these trips are by bike.
Traveling in neighborhoods where I am a minority, I've sometimes been the target of hostility when I am driving. BTW, it's a 20-year-old Honda Civic, not some fancy car. I've been yelled at, spit at, cut off in traffic, and been on the receiving end of nasty racial slurs, all while driving reasonably, without hostility. If I ride my bike in those same areas, at the same times of day, the response is more friendly - a smile, a wave, a little kid riding alongside smiling and just being a kid. If I'm waiting for a bus, the response is usually neutral or friendly. I am not isolated by the car. We are on equal footing.
If one's mode of transportation affects how one is perceived, this can also affect how experiences a place. The bike is a means of transportation that is affordable to all income levels. It promotes interaction with the environmental and is not threatening. In contrast, a car is a bubble around its occupants, more likely to create social isolation, with potential to injure or kill others.
One's mode of transportation tends to affect one's feelings about and reactions to a place. A car junkie's perception is often all about how much time is spent sitting in traffic and how much hassle it is to find parking. There may be beautiful gardens, interesting shops, interesting architecture and other small-scale pleasures along the way. A pedestrian would probably see them and be able to stop and check them out. A cyclist would have a reasonable chance of doing the same. Either might have conversations with others while waiting at lights. A driver would probably miss them entirely, preoccupied with getting through the next light before it turns red, or angry at being cut off by another driver or simply traveling too fast to notice them.
The culture of a place also affects one's perspective. Portland is considered one of the most bike friendly American cities. Its bike infrastructure is a big factor. Chicago is in the next tier of bike friendly cities. Bike infrastructure has vastly improved its bike friendliness compared to 20 years ago. However, infrastructure only goes so far. Portland is a peaceful, mellow place. In my experiences there, road rage was rare. In Chicago, the opposite is true.
We will never be nearly as bike friendly as Portland until Chicago experiences a significant cultural shift away from rage and hostility on our streets. This may happen when enough people get out of their cars if bike and public transit infrastructure continue to improve and expand to meet the demands of increasing ridership. It will require increasing maturity and tolerance on the part of both cyclists and drivers. Too many Chicago cyclists fail to understand that rude and reckless behavior will hurt ALL of us, because it provokes similar behavior from drivers.
Sorry, folks. Sometimes the truth hurts. To get good karma, ya gotta give it - to cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists. Otherwise the bad stuff you dish out will come back to bite you in the a$$ sooner or later. Let's try for peace in our lifetimes on our streets. If enough of us get out of our cars, it can happen.
Now we've got a unique opportunity to get better bike facilities in our neighborhoods. The city's Streets for Cycling 2020 Plan offers regular people a chance to ask for bike lanes and bike boulevards in locations that matter to them. The next public meeting happens on Wed. 1/25 at Woodson Regional Library. I hope you can be there to ask for bike facilities that matter to you.
After getting home, I started thinking about my impressions of Portland, Oregon. I got around primarily on foot and by public transit, with some time on a bike. Before leaving Portland for points south, I got a rental car for going to destinations that were not easily accessible by public transit. Portland was a pleasure to navigate without a car. On my one stop in town after getting the car, parking was a hassle. I was happy once I got away from the car.
At home in Chicago, I try to drive as little as possible. In a densely populated area, the car can be more of a trap than a source of freedom. We've reached a point where congestion and road rage can have a very damaging effect on our physical and mental wellbeing. Endless hours are wasted in traffic jams, creating a greater sense of urgency about reaching one's destination and enough frustration to motivate risky behavior. The current price of gas, combined with congestion, is igniting rage even in otherwise reasonable drivers. As a culture, the pleasure of our journeys has been mostly replaced by grimly creeping in traffic towards the destination.
This morning, I was visiting a few neighborhood destinations by car due to the cold weather. These are places I usually visit by bike, and the lack of parking I encountered today made me appreciate how much easier these trips are by bike.
Traveling in neighborhoods where I am a minority, I've sometimes been the target of hostility when I am driving. BTW, it's a 20-year-old Honda Civic, not some fancy car. I've been yelled at, spit at, cut off in traffic, and been on the receiving end of nasty racial slurs, all while driving reasonably, without hostility. If I ride my bike in those same areas, at the same times of day, the response is more friendly - a smile, a wave, a little kid riding alongside smiling and just being a kid. If I'm waiting for a bus, the response is usually neutral or friendly. I am not isolated by the car. We are on equal footing.
If one's mode of transportation affects how one is perceived, this can also affect how experiences a place. The bike is a means of transportation that is affordable to all income levels. It promotes interaction with the environmental and is not threatening. In contrast, a car is a bubble around its occupants, more likely to create social isolation, with potential to injure or kill others.
One's mode of transportation tends to affect one's feelings about and reactions to a place. A car junkie's perception is often all about how much time is spent sitting in traffic and how much hassle it is to find parking. There may be beautiful gardens, interesting shops, interesting architecture and other small-scale pleasures along the way. A pedestrian would probably see them and be able to stop and check them out. A cyclist would have a reasonable chance of doing the same. Either might have conversations with others while waiting at lights. A driver would probably miss them entirely, preoccupied with getting through the next light before it turns red, or angry at being cut off by another driver or simply traveling too fast to notice them.
The culture of a place also affects one's perspective. Portland is considered one of the most bike friendly American cities. Its bike infrastructure is a big factor. Chicago is in the next tier of bike friendly cities. Bike infrastructure has vastly improved its bike friendliness compared to 20 years ago. However, infrastructure only goes so far. Portland is a peaceful, mellow place. In my experiences there, road rage was rare. In Chicago, the opposite is true.
We will never be nearly as bike friendly as Portland until Chicago experiences a significant cultural shift away from rage and hostility on our streets. This may happen when enough people get out of their cars if bike and public transit infrastructure continue to improve and expand to meet the demands of increasing ridership. It will require increasing maturity and tolerance on the part of both cyclists and drivers. Too many Chicago cyclists fail to understand that rude and reckless behavior will hurt ALL of us, because it provokes similar behavior from drivers.
Sorry, folks. Sometimes the truth hurts. To get good karma, ya gotta give it - to cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists. Otherwise the bad stuff you dish out will come back to bite you in the a$$ sooner or later. Let's try for peace in our lifetimes on our streets. If enough of us get out of our cars, it can happen.
Now we've got a unique opportunity to get better bike facilities in our neighborhoods. The city's Streets for Cycling 2020 Plan offers regular people a chance to ask for bike lanes and bike boulevards in locations that matter to them. The next public meeting happens on Wed. 1/25 at Woodson Regional Library. I hope you can be there to ask for bike facilities that matter to you.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
stand up for libraries
I just got this from an e-mail and wanted to share it with you.
Mayor Emanuel has closed branch libraries on Mondays. This Monday, library staff and supporters will gather in front of branch libraries across the city for
Join us for music, story time, hot chocolate and more.
Monday, January 23 at 10:00 a.m.
Beverly Library, 1962 W. 95th St.
as well as the Little Village and Bucktown libraries
Mayor Emanuel has closed branch libraries on Mondays. This Monday, library staff and supporters will gather in front of branch libraries across the city for
PEOPLE'S LIBRARY HOURS
Join us for music, story time, hot chocolate and more.
Monday, January 23 at 10:00 a.m.
Beverly Library, 1962 W. 95th St.
as well as the Little Village and Bucktown libraries
Mayor Emanuel cut the library budget and laid off 176 library staff. Then he unilaterally shut down branch libraries on Mondays.
But the facts don't support the mayor's argument that library hours should be reduced. There are many options for funding libraries: TIF surpluses, scaling back corporate subsidies, asking companies to support libraries as they are being asked to support the G8 meeting in Chicago and more.
But the facts don't support the mayor's argument that library hours should be reduced. There are many options for funding libraries: TIF surpluses, scaling back corporate subsidies, asking companies to support libraries as they are being asked to support the G8 meeting in Chicago and more.
Show up and send a clear message!
Chicago residents love their libraries.
Reverse the cuts at ALL Chicago libraries
and restore all hours and jobs.
Chicago residents love their libraries.
Reverse the cuts at ALL Chicago libraries
and restore all hours and jobs.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
stop SOPA day
Do you oppose heavy-handed censorship of the internet? Click here to voice that opposition.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Streets for Cycling 2020 plan - public meeting on 1/17
Do you ride a bike? Would you like to feel safer riding on city streets? The Streets for Cycling 2020 plan is for you!
The city's bike program has gotten a substantial chunk of federal grant money for the purpose of adding bike lanes (protected, buffered or regular), bike boulevards and other improvements to make city streets better for transportation cycling, and reduce traffic congestion. The Dept. of Transportation is seeking input from regular cyclists to determine where these improvements should be added.
One of the program's goals is identifying locations where local cyclists would like to see protected bike lanes on busier streets. Click here to view a video showing the city's first protected lane, so that you can see an example of the concept.
Bike boulevards are another goal. They are residential streets with traffic calming measures, designed to offer safe transportation for cyclists of all ages. Click here to see examples of the concept.
There are 2 public meetings scheduled in our area in the next 2 weeks. On Tuesday 1/17, there is a neighborhood meeting at Ridge Park fieldhouse, 9625 S. Longwood Dr., from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday 1/25, there is a south side meeting at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Anyone is welcome to attend either meeting, where they can get more information about the project and offer their ideas on where they'd like to go by bike, and where they'd like to see bike lanes and bike boulevards.
Those who are not able to attend one of the public meetings are encouraged to interact using the program's Facebook page. The site will be updated with project news as well as provide opportunities for people to share their ideas.
There will also be 2 webinars available: Friday 2/3 from noon to 1:00 p.m. and Monday 2/6 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Please note that the webinars require advance registration.
Please share this information with anyone you know who may be interested.
The city's bike program has gotten a substantial chunk of federal grant money for the purpose of adding bike lanes (protected, buffered or regular), bike boulevards and other improvements to make city streets better for transportation cycling, and reduce traffic congestion. The Dept. of Transportation is seeking input from regular cyclists to determine where these improvements should be added.
One of the program's goals is identifying locations where local cyclists would like to see protected bike lanes on busier streets. Click here to view a video showing the city's first protected lane, so that you can see an example of the concept.
Bike boulevards are another goal. They are residential streets with traffic calming measures, designed to offer safe transportation for cyclists of all ages. Click here to see examples of the concept.
There are 2 public meetings scheduled in our area in the next 2 weeks. On Tuesday 1/17, there is a neighborhood meeting at Ridge Park fieldhouse, 9625 S. Longwood Dr., from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday 1/25, there is a south side meeting at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Anyone is welcome to attend either meeting, where they can get more information about the project and offer their ideas on where they'd like to go by bike, and where they'd like to see bike lanes and bike boulevards.
Those who are not able to attend one of the public meetings are encouraged to interact using the program's Facebook page. The site will be updated with project news as well as provide opportunities for people to share their ideas.
There will also be 2 webinars available: Friday 2/3 from noon to 1:00 p.m. and Monday 2/6 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Please note that the webinars require advance registration.
Please share this information with anyone you know who may be interested.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
are you interested in beekeeping?
Garfield Park Conservatory is offering a beginning beekeeping class on 1/21.
Click here for info.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
recycle your Christmas tree
Now that Christmas has passed, you may be thinking about taking down the Christmas tree soon. If it's a real tree, please consider taking it to one of the recycling sites mentioned in this article, so that it can be turned into mulch to help protect trees around the city.
If you have dead strings of Christmas lights or other items that may not be among the regular items accepted in our recycling pickups, here's a resource to find a place to recycle them.
Wishing you and your family a healthy, prosperous, green New Year.
If you have dead strings of Christmas lights or other items that may not be among the regular items accepted in our recycling pickups, here's a resource to find a place to recycle them.
Wishing you and your family a healthy, prosperous, green New Year.
do you need to get your sidewalk replaced?
Info from the 19th ward office:
Funding for the City of Chicago's shared cost sidewalk program will become available at the start of the New Year. This program, which allows residents to pay a portion of the cost for new sidewalks in front of their homes, is very popular and the limited funding does go quickly.
If you are interested in participating in the program this year, please call 311 or follow instructions on this web site this week to enroll.
For more information on the shared cost program, please click here.
Funding for the City of Chicago's shared cost sidewalk program will become available at the start of the New Year. This program, which allows residents to pay a portion of the cost for new sidewalks in front of their homes, is very popular and the limited funding does go quickly.
If you are interested in participating in the program this year, please call 311 or follow instructions on this web site this week to enroll.
For more information on the shared cost program, please click here.
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