Unit #1, Meet Unit #2
- Reckless drivers who endanger bicycle riders would pay fines of $150 -- $500 if there's a bike crash -- under a crackdown proposed Wednesday by Chicago's No. 1 cyclist.
- All three violations [turning in front of cyclist; passing too close; open door in traffic] were targeted by the ordinance introduced by Daley at Wednesday's City Council meeting. It's designed to reduce the number of crashes involving bikes and motor vehicles. There were 6,000 such crashes in Chicago between 2001 and 2005, killing 30 cyclists.
We know of a number of traffic guys and gals who take tremendous pleasure in naming the cyclist as Unit #1 - that is to say, "the at-fault vehicle."
Cyclists are among the most self righteous, arrogant law breakers around. That isn't to say all of them are that way, but enough that we notice it constantly. Running red lights, failure to stop, failure to yield, weaving in and out of stopped traffic, riding on sidewalks knocking over pedestrians. We know for a fact that the Bike Unit used to do "Bike Safety Checkpoints" up on the north side and racked up an impressive amount of tickets until they were told to knock it off by certain politicians.
But a bicycle is a vehicle and drivers of vehicles can get tickets. It cuts both ways.
Cyclists are among the most self righteous, arrogant law breakers around. That isn't to say all of them are that way, but enough that we notice it constantly. Running red lights, failure to stop, failure to yield, weaving in and out of stopped traffic, riding on sidewalks knocking over pedestrians. We know for a fact that the Bike Unit used to do "Bike Safety Checkpoints" up on the north side and racked up an impressive amount of tickets until they were told to knock it off by certain politicians.
But a bicycle is a vehicle and drivers of vehicles can get tickets. It cuts both ways.
Labels: dumb ideas
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
56 Comments:
If the proposed county sticker requirement is passed into law, will it's added expense motivate more citizens to use bicycles more often?
And are these proposed new ordnances intended to increase the revenue flow, given that increased bicycle traffic will inevitably result in increased incidents of bike vs vehicle events?
I would love to open a door on that Fat Headed illiterate Mayor!!!!!
Well, try driving east in the more 'affluent' areas of the city near the lake and you will understand exactly what SCC is talking about. These 'cyclists' act like they are made out of titanium! Once again, a few dollars appears to go toward the superficial safeguarding of uppity urban trash. Now I REALLY need to be more careful pulling into and out of Recreation Park. How about increasing the fines for fat women in stretch pants?............
I catch cyclists yelling at and punching cars all the time. Then I have to explain to them that the driver can kill them at any time, not to start a fight they cant win.
Sometimes I'll thank the driver for
backing down in my presence.
I say more bike Cops in the congested areas for better response,
less civilian bikes; keepem on the paths(lakefront, f. preserve). The city infrastructure isnt built for bikes, maybe in the next life....
Hey what about the scumbags that ride on the middle of the street, just going in circles in the intersection, against traffic, or on the sidewalk and slithering up to cars while yelling "rocks/blow"
Unit #1 is always the striking vehicle not the at-fault vehicle.
I say let's ban all Bikes. Then only Criminals will have bikes.
OK like who is going to ANOV a bicyclist? Besides what do you write them for anyway? Is it an IVC or ANOV? Hell if I know. But I will write them, just tell me the charge. Havent written a mover in 5 years or so.
its about time, bikes are a huge problem they never obey the rules of the road. screw the yuppies. we have obstructing and DOP for shit birds. now we have tickets for the yuppies.
working copper
I hate people on bicycles, they dont' stop at stop signs they drive around cars they put themselves is hazardous situations and the poor motorist that has an accident is always at fault unless the get an officer that knows the bicycle laws and is not afraid to handle the job correctly. I know it sounds petty but we really need to start stopping and citing these rougue and hazardous cyclist.
more positive law ... we ned more positive law .... just like we need more cowbell
I agree we should ticket bicycle riders that disobey red lights , stop signs.
"I would love to open a door on that Fat Headed illiterate Mayor!!!!!
2/07/2008 11:04:00 PM"
3 Things the Mayor of Chicago has NEVER done his entire life a Chicagoan;
1) Drove a vehicle on Ciy streets or X-Ways
2) Taken the CTA or Metra
3) Rode a Bicycle on city Streets
Probably the only big city Mayor in the World who's been coddled & sheltered his ENTIRE LIFE. F HIM TOO!!
fuck Cyclists! ignore this order and keep writing cyclist tickets! Scc already mentioned why you should. if i was mayor i'd ban bike riding on the streets except for the lake front.
OK like who is going to ANOV a bicyclist? Besides what do you write them for anyway? Is it an IVC or ANOV? Hell if I know. But I will write them, just tell me the charge. Havent written a mover in 5 years or so.
2/08/2008 12:57:00 AM
tru will right the anov's they are good at that
Unit #1 is always the striking vehicle not the at-fault vehicle.
2/08/2008 12:43:00 AM
Better talk to your FTO or go back to the Academy. Unit #1 is the "at Fault" vehicle (the one that caused the accident) It is not always the striking vehicle. IDIOT
Officer Kerbs and Terds said...
Unit #1 is always the striking vehicle not the at-fault vehicle.
2/08/2008 12:43:00 AM
Once upon a time Buck-O, but was changed a few years back. Requires you to attempt to determine what actually happened [hence the term: preliminary investigator...] you may also notice boxes [lower right quadrant on the ITCR] that ask you to fill in causation factors for the crash.
Be a better preliminary investigator [AKA - Do your Fuckin' job correctly] call Traffic Safety, MAIU or Training Academy and ask them to send you out a copy of the most recent instructions for completing the ILCR put out by the state.
TO: Officer Kerbs and Terds said...
Check again....Unit #1 is the striking vehicle unless it can be determined that the other vehicle was the proximate cause of the accident or "at fault"....I've cited pedestrians for walking out between cars and getting hit, they were at fault...not the innocent guy driving down the street....
Not all cyclists break laws. If they do, write a ticket. All people on the streets deserve protection, even if you think they don't.
This seems like quite a one sided debate. I ride my bike daily - snow, rain, sunshine. I stop at stoplights I only swerve around cars when they block the bike lane (often an illegal stopping/standing/parking manuever) and try as best as I can to follow the cities bicyle ordinances. In general, I do not ride recklessly.
But I've been hit because a car did not use a blinker and turned right just as I was passing. They made no warning, nothing. On a daily basis I need to slam on my brakes in order to avoid an accident that I would not be at fault for.
I understand that some regular bikers flagrantly disobey the rules of the road and they should be given citations (last I checked they were a measely $20) however to see an entire group of commuters written off as scumbags is absolutely terrible.
Also, I'm not anonymous. Have some courage.
The Unit #1 is the at fault vehicle, the one that was the cause of the crash. In the old days Unit #1 was the striking vehicle, but that has changed. Bicyclist are obligated to follow all the traffic laws of the state and the city. Try reading the city code.
"Cyclists are among the most self righteous, arrogant law breakers around."
Truer words have never been spoken.
If you want to increase fines for fat women in stretch pants start with my ex wife and her sisters.
Now you know why I ride a bike to forget.
Cyclists do all kinds of stupid stuff. So do drivers. Sometimes the stupidity is coming from on or off duty cops. How many of you have screwed up badly while driving?
I nearly ran over an old guy in a crosswalk while driving east into strong sunlight. Barely noticed him in time. My fault. I got out and apologized.
I ride a bike frequently to keep my weight down to under 220 and because I hate gyms. If the Lord wanted me to be a freakin gerbil I would have been born hairier and smaller. Stairmaster my fat pale ass.
I also hate subsidizing both parts of the terror war with my gas dollars and taxes.
Not everyone lives far SW or NW and biking is actually a quicker way to travel in many areas of the city.
It is certainly quicker than the CTA if you need to get downtown and live near the lakefront.
As for the comment about more bike police I completely agree. Now the bikes the department uses need to be more comfortable. I suggest one of the Mayor's relatives open up a recumbent bike dealership.
As for bikes being banned everywhere, but the lakefront and forest preserves that is just silly, silly, silly.
Oh well if you "doored" the Mayor while he was biking what would the charge be? "Dwarf impediment".
RUN OVER CRITICAL MASS ON THE LAST FRIDAY OF EVERYMONTH. WHAT A BUNCH OF JAGOFFS!!
i don't even like to ride my motorcycle in the city.....way too many drivers with their head up their ass.
these crazy, self ritcious urban bicyclists are a danger to themselves and others.
i say we BAN them from the public way.......i mean, if it saves just 1 life it is worth it !
THESE ASSHOLES RUN LIGHTS AND CUT OFF PEOPLE ON FOOT. FUCK THEM ANY CHANCE THAT YOU CAN!
About 20 yrs. ago I wrote a bicyclist for causing an accident right in front of me. He wasn't involved but caused it. Court was interesting as the judge saw COLUMBIA in the box for type of vehicle and questioned me. I calmly explained the circumstances for which the tickets were written and he found the "driver" guilty of both offenses that I wrote him. I remember smiling as the "driver" had told me there was no way I could write him the ticket and it would be 'thrown-out' in court. I guess the one who laughs last laughs hardest and boy was I laughing!!!!
I worked with a guy who did write the bicyclists when involved in traffic accidents, for starters the best one is usually no DL, and go from there: redlight, stop sign, etc. Had one removed to the hospital, boy did he flip when his bicycle got inventoried. The mope was salivating thinking about the payday from the vehicle owners ins., oh well, needless to say he was Unit #1 and at fault, not just striking veh. #1. Priceless!
Unit #1 is always the striking vehicle not the at-fault vehicle.
WRONG genius!
YOU WRITE THEM A MOVER , AND TAKE THEIR LICENSE.
Remember kids, even pedestrians can be put down as unit #1! Try it out. The smiles on the pedestrians' faces are priceless when they find out they're at fault.
"But I'm a spoiled little brat from the suburbs, I can cross whenever I want!"
Officer Kerbs and Terds said...
Unit #1 is always the striking vehicle not the at-fault vehicle.
2/08/2008 12:43:00 AM
WOW!! All these years I thought it was the at fault vehicle. Learn something new everyday!!
Unit #1 is the at fault vehicle, not necessarily the striking veh.
Anonymous said...
I worked with a guy who did write the bicyclists when involved in traffic accidents, for starters the best one is usually no DL, and go from there: redlight, stop sign, etc. Had one removed to the hospital, boy did he flip when his bicycle got inventoried. The mope was salivating thinking about the payday from the vehicle owners ins., oh well, needless to say he was Unit #1 and at fault, not just striking veh. #1. Priceless!
2/08/2008 03:09:00 PM
------------------
No DL?! You can write those in the hood all day long. That and DWLR or DWLS cause the pookster got too much play from the po-po hatin on him when he had that Fleetwood with dem rims. Someone say DEM?...........I know they didn't up the fine to protect the Pookster or Silky Smooth. It's for Albert H. Leinweber and Mellisa K. Bean. Gold Coast, not Gold Tooth.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I worked with a guy who did write the bicyclists when involved in traffic accidents, for starters the best one is usually no DL, and go from there: redlight, stop sign, etc. Had one removed to the hospital, boy did he flip when his bicycle got inventoried. The mope was salivating thinking about the payday from the vehicle owners ins., oh well, needless to say he was Unit #1 and at fault, not just striking veh. #1. Priceless!
2/08/2008 03:09:00 PM
No driver's license required for a bicycle.
I am always amused at those "hipster doofus" types that populate wicker park. It's always some 30-40ish looking dork, wearing some blue jean/army-navy surplus fashion combo, riding a homemade bike that is 2 or 3 frames welded together one on top of the other. So he's like 12' high. I always hope I'll see him wipe-out. Kind of like seeing the guy on stilts in the parade fall down!
;-)
Box 39- Determine Unit 1; enter the "striking" Unit as Unit 1 unless you determine that the "striking" Unit is NOT the "at-fault" Unit, then enter the "at-fault" Unit as Unit 1. It is not necessary for the "at-fault" vehicle to strike another vehicle.
There is a section of the MCC that states a bicyclist has to obey the traffic code.
You write the guy an ANOV, I've done it and they really BF the cyclist down at the kangaroo court.
My personal favorite is writing wrong way on a one way.
Kerbs and Terds apparently struck a tender nerve. Even to the point of being called "idiot" by someone that is familiar with idiocrisy.
When you are questioned by the driver's attorney as to what observations and measurements allowed you to arrive at finding his client "at-fault". You can explain where you learned it from. Oh wait! you didn't learn accident scene analysis and reconstruction.
But on a more serious note. let's have someone with the wherewithall explain in fine detail the roles of unit 1 and 2. Thanks.
Hail Sieser
OK like who is going to ANOV a bicyclist? Besides what do you write them for anyway? Is it an IVC or ANOV? Hell if I know. But I will write them, just tell me the charge. Havent written a mover in 5 years or so.
2/08/2008 12:57:00 AM
tru will right the anov's they are good at that
2/08/2008 09:06:00 AM
YEAH!!!Take that TRU.
This is why I ride on the lakefront and in the forest preserve with my kids.Much safer and you can't beat the scenery.Yuppies on bikes are the biggest JAGOFFS!
YOU MIGHT BE A WUSSIE IF:
You pee your pants at the sight of a Boy Scout or a Marine in uniform
You would rather hand your country over to radical Islamists than miss an episode of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”
It takes more than three words to order your coffee
You shave any part of your body except your face or skull
You Tivo Will and Grace
You buy your shampoo at a salon instead of a grocery store
You are working really hard to stay in touch with your feminine side
You have panic attacks when a four wheel drive pulls up next to you at a red light
You have cried at a Ben Affleck movie
You only drink imported bottled water
You own more underwear than your mother
The downtown bicycle messengers has got them all beat as far as being the biggest jagoffs. Good luck finding anyone who works in 001,018,traffic,central control bike or even tma's who will disagree with that.
Self-righteous idiots thinking their crap doesn't stink, holding their "Critical Mass" protest-rides...
They swerve in and out of traffic lanes, don't stop at the red, bark at everyone else to get out of their way, yell at people lawfully crossing in the crosswalk...a ticket's too good for them. Until I see a huge increase in LAW-ABIDING cyclists, I don't feel one whit of sympathy for them or their so-called "cause".
Fuck it, I say we raise the legal kill limit of cyclists to 5 a week... that'll get those ignorant fuckers off of the city streets...!!!!
To Just Wondering, who wrote "increased bicycle traffic will inevitably result in increased incidents of bike vs vehicle events?":
In actual studies, increased bicycle use leads to fewer accidents per capita, and the incidents do less damage and cause lower medical costs.
So wtf are you talking about? Just blowing off steam because you're too fat to ride a bike?
Also, I like the naivete of the dude who wrote "city infrastructure isn't built for bikes." You're right. It was platted out with horsecarts in mind, mostly. So unless you're thinking about going back to horses, I have no idea wtf you're talking about either.
Fat people just have a bug up their fat asses about cyclists, that's all I can figure.
It's hilarious that a bike cop would talk about "catching cyclists yelling at cars all the time."
What do you stop them for, "riding while angry"?
If operating a vehicle while angry was an infraction, we wouldn't have any cars left on the streets. And cops couldn't drive either -- from the tone of the comments I can tell that just the sight of somebody riding a bike is enough to make some of you guys start bleeding from your gums.
Maybe yoga would help.
You can write bike messengers for not having helmets, riding on sidewalks, and not having their messenger permits along with other traffic violations. Also, you can do a safety check of their bikes at any time; write them for unsafe equipment.
to 5:24pm
I think the point the bike cop was trying to make was that when your
punching at and yelling at a car,
some of these fine citizens,in the absence of a Police Officer, will swerve in an attempt to crush the biker or pull a gun. You might get
away with it in Lakeview or Linc Pk
but not in Austin or ghetto blocks in Hum Pk. where life is cheap. But you beefing,phony-lib yuppies know that, so youz dont ride there.
Besides, that Bike Cop might have better things to do(like meet a mistress for coffee),than to process a crime scene for your useless dead carcass..........
==To Just Wondering, who wrote "(....)increased bicycle traffic will inevitably result in increased incidents of bike vs vehicle events?":
In actual studies, increased bicycle use leads to fewer accidents per capita, and the incidents do less damage and cause lower medical costs.
So wtf are you talking about? Just blowing off steam because you're too fat to ride a bike?
Also, I like the naivete of the dude who wrote "city infrastructure isn't built for bikes." You're right. It was platted out with horsecarts in mind, mostly. So unless you're thinking about going back to horses, I have no idea wtf you're talking about either.
Fat people just have a bug up their fat asses about cyclists, that's all I can figure.
2/09/2008 05:10:00 PM===
Your asshole status is showing.
Nice that you chose to omit the first parts of my comments, those parts being:
"If the proposed county sticker requirement is passed into law, will it's added expense motivate more citizens to use bicycles more often?
And are these proposed new ordnances intended to increase the revenue flow, given that....."
As anyone who actually rides a bicycle on the streets of this city knows, (and I'm one of those anyone's, asshole), there are verifiable jagoffs riding bicycles, ignorant fucks who don't give a shit about avoiding pedestrians, vehicles, (parked or moving), the property of others, etc., and ride their bikes as if they owned the fucking planet.
More cyclists on the streets equals more accidents, even if more cyclists slightly reduces vehicular traffic.
More accidents caused by assholes on bikes equals more traffic citations, which equals more revenue for you know who's gigantic black hole of a city budget.
Reckless Driving charges are often appropriate for those cyclists committed to not giving a shit about the safety of others and of themselves.
In case you hadn't noticed, that's why even bicycles have fucking brakes.
So the responsible cyclist can STOP, before they run into someone or something, on their way to wherever they're in such a fucking hurry to get to.
A bicycle is a moving vehicle.
Stay off the fucking pedestrian walkways, unless you've arrived at your destination.
Obey the common sense traffic laws, unless you have no common sense, in which case, go head to head with any vehicle of your choice and see who walks away from the impact.
Oh, and try, if you can muster the mental energy, to think before you submit a comment.
away with it in Lakeview or Linc Pk but not in Austin or ghetto blocks in Hum Pk. where life is cheap. But you beefing,phony-lib yuppies know that, so youz dont ride there.
Actually, I'm the guy who wrote that, and I live in Humboldt Park, puta. Go to hell with your wussie I'm a cop so I carry a big gun and can pretend not to be scared of anything lifestyle. You're just another coward with a fake piece who wouldn't be caught in the places where I hangout without your fake courage in your pocket. Your comment proves you know nothing about this city.
"More cyclists on the streets equals more accidents, even if more cyclists slightly reduces vehicular traffic."
You're just making shit up.
Absolutely pulling it out of your ass and posting it on the internet. Nothing illegal about that, but it pollutes the minds of young people who might believe your crap. If you feel good about that, keep writing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I'm a pedestrian, and EVERY single day that I walk into work, I have I have to deal with these infractions from the bike riders: they ride on the sidewalk, block the crosswalk, run red lights, ride the wrong way down one-way streets, weave in and out of traffic; the list goes on.
And the critical massers are the worst offenders of all. They bully pedestrians and car drivers equally.
Please write tickets on these goofs!
Anonymous said...
RUN OVER CRITICAL MASS ON THE LAST FRIDAY OF EVERYMONTH. WHAT A BUNCH OF JAGOFFS!!
2/08/2008 01:30:00 PM
Anonymous said...
Self-righteous idiots thinking their crap doesn't stink, holding their "Critical Mass" protest-rides...
They swerve in and out of traffic lanes, don't stop at the red, bark at everyone else to get out of their way, yell at people lawfully crossing in the crosswalk...a ticket's too good for them. Until I see a huge increase in LAW-ABIDING cyclists, I don't feel one whit of sympathy for them or their so-called "cause".
2/09/2008 02:33:00 PM
"Cyclists are among the most self righteous, arrogant law breakers around."
Cyclists? I think you mean cops.
Actually, I'm the guy who wrote that, and I live in Humboldt Park, puta. Go to hell with your wussie I'm a cop so I carry a big gun and can pretend not to be scared of anything lifestyle. You're just another coward with a fake piece who wouldn't be caught in the places where I hangout without your fake courage in your pocket. Your comment proves you know nothing about this city.
2/10/2008 01:42:00 PM
Humboldt Park is going to pussies like yourself. Take your "Critical Mass" ride west down Division and keep going. Now let's see who's got the courage. Where do you hang out that is so rough anyways? Just because you hang out with a few token black and hispanic folk doesn't mean you hang with a rough crowd. So take all your pretentious bullshit and always remember you ain't shit.
We all know that there is enough blame to go around on this issue for everyone�motorists and cyclists alike. Let's try being more civilized in here. No need to name-call and cuss like drunken sailors on a Saturday night liberty.
Handled an accident between a cyclist and an elderly pedestrian and the cyclist almost wet her pink spandex shorts as I handed her the ticket. No ANOV, just a plain old mover.
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