This is Insane
Breitbart.com finds this little tidbit:
Chicago isn't broke if Rahm's pissing away nearly $100 million dollars on the 1.3% of Chicagoans who actually use the bike lanes.
- Occupy Chicago’s nickname for Chicago’s infamous Mayor Rahm Emanuel, “Mayor 1%,” is looking more accurate than ever—but for reasons that do not fit the self-proclaimed “99 percent’s” typical narrative. More likely, Emanuel’s plan to spend millions on the 1% percent will receive applause from the Occupy crowd, good “environmentalists” that they are.
This $91 million expenditure will go towards bringing roughly 650 miles of new protected bike lanes to the city of Chicago over the next eight years. This, Mayor Emanuel says, will add more “transportation choices” and help the city recruit start-up companies.
Leaving aside for the moment the loss of traffic lanes, the narrowing of other lanes, and the pushing cars closer together to head-on collisions, is the cost per mile here:
- $91 million dollars / 650 miles of bike lanes = $140,000 per mile.
Chicago isn't broke if Rahm's pissing away nearly $100 million dollars on the 1.3% of Chicagoans who actually use the bike lanes.
Labels: money questions
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
60 Comments:
You know, I might be able to see this if it was in a warm-weather city/state, but this is Chicago. The weather is crap for half of the year (at least). What a waste of money, especially on a minute group of people who don't follow the rules of the road like they are supposed to anyway. $91 mil could hire a lot more police officers too .
"$91 million dollars / 650 miles of bike lanes = $140,000 per mile."
$20k, max, per mile, for materials
$10k, max, per mile, for labor
$10k, max, per mile, for contractor profit
$100k left for kickbacks, per mile
Chicago Math
stop building the bike lanes. It's increasing my commute time from 20 to 30 minutes.
America
It's more like 25%.
What a waste of fucking money. Most of these bikers ride where they want even with existing bike lanes. The city is broke and they are wasting $100MM on bike lanes. And half the year the bike lane can't be used due to weahter. And how to you plow around these plastic poles. This city is fucked. And Rahm is a fucking idiot. My planned departure from this hell hole is moving up. But not before I run over hundreds of those plastic poles.
Wow....I know Chicago has higher costs than many cities, but again, wow!
Previous to arriving in Chicago I was a parks and recreation superintendent/director for a fairly large city(at least for the state I was in). Within the last year, in this shit economy, we did a small trail project. This included engineering(roughly 12% of the total cost), full construction(grading, applying a base layer and laying down an 8 ft. wide 4 in. thick asphalt trail). The project was done during the end of construction season so bids weren't necessarily high, but still...
2.2 miles of trail. Cost= $125,00. 80% funded by government grants(state and local) and NONE of the rest fell on the backs of the local taxpayers except maybe my salary, which of course didn't 'go up' for this project as I was just doing my job. This was a year ago and this trail is in immaculate condition still. There was no paint needed.
I gotta think that somewhere down the line these new bike lanes will need repainted due to traffic wear and tear and natural fading. What will THAT cost the taxpayer?
I don't get it...how the fuck can paint and plastic posts cost $140,000/mile? This sickens me as a Chicago citizen and former park superintendent. I would have bocked at those costs and said "no fucking way, it's not happening. There's much better use for that money in capital improvements elsewhere."
I gotta wonder...who is getting this contract? Any ties to Rhamato? Guessing we will find out in the future.
This is just a view from a citizen who sees this as a waste. Maybe I'm way off here...
we look like europe more and more everyday this is bullshit 91 million for bike lanes???????? this asshole should be voted right out of office......
"Why are we reading this on Breitbart?"
Because you're not reading the local papers? Sun-Times, 2 weeks ago:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/14267923-418/more-bike-lanes-planned-for-city.html
SCC said :
Chicago isn't broke if Rahm's pissing away nearly $100 million dollars on the 1.3% of Chicagoans who actually use the bike lanes.
=
Chicago isn't broke, period.
Choosing not to use the money you have stashed in the mattress (i.e. the TIF windfall) is not the same as having NO money stashed in the mattress.
The economy bottomed out in February. It has started its move upward. But you wouldn't know that from the poormouthing being done by all the politicians. You have to care enough to read the boring financial reports to learn about it, and most people don't.
They will still bleat and wail that we are broke, so they can:
1. Bust the unions
2. Bust the pensions
3. Shatter the voting blocs.
4. Use the turnaround to congratulate themselves on 'fixing' the economy all by themselves.
5. Raise taxes.
6. Raise fees.
7. Raise fines.
8. Raise water bills.
9. Cut services.
10. Privatize everything
11. Strengthen their own positions on the backs of the working man.
Chicago is a long way from being broke, but saying we're broke excuses all the sins being committed in its name.
When you don't hire police that's how you can afford all these little expenditures. The city IS broke. They are stealing from police funding.
Brilliant considering we have 8 months of shit weather. Would like to see a critical mass nude ride in the middle of February.
For that kind of dough he can buy everyone a bike!
I hope the CTU and Karen Lewis blast this point home to all Chicagoans when the school strike begins.
Goodness gracious, we all know that our scandal embroiled, leadership ineffective, Mike Shields can not see the power in disseminating truthful information to Chicago taxpayers!
This is th the best ammunition for strong contract negotiations and an increase in police manpower that I have seen in years.
$91 million dollars / 650 miles of bike lanes = $140,000 per mile.
--------
...and it's going to take 8 years!!
Let's see 650 miles / 8 == 81.25 miles per year / 50 weeks == 1.625 miles per week / 5 days == 0.325 miles per day / 8 hour == 0.040625 miles or 214.5 feet per hour. (about 10~15 car lengths)
So that's $5,687.50/hour to do 214.5 feet of bike path per hour.
If you have 20 people all paid the same we're looking at $284.375 an hour per person. Of course you have to take out for the paint and the drills and cones --- so cut it in half..ef. sweet gig.
Are you telling me that with the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants that were just granted back door amnesty this is the best we can do?
Oh and let's remember. These projects ALWAYS run over and have to be extended and we'll have to compensate that parking meter outfit too for their lost revenues..
Effffff. me.
Rahm knows that the price of gasoline is about to soar to $8.00+ a gallon. This will occur as soon as Israel initiates overt military action against Iran.
Iran will bottle the Straight of Hormuz and effectively stop 25% of the daily, global oil flow.
Worldwide panic, global oil rationing, massive global economic chaos coupled with famine in a vast amount of the world.
Rahm knows what is about to occur, hence production of bike lanes. Will he attempt to take credit for his brilliant foresight???
Pay attention!
Wake Up sheeple!
Yeah sure, not to mention all the money in the TIF funds just waiting to find its way into a connected pocket.
What's that you say ...... fund the pensions......fat cance, sucker !
Remember you can enforce traffic laws. Write them moving violations like a car. If Rahm wants to give bikes our streets then make them obey the traffic laws.
Obviously the city isn't broke. It's only broke when Rahm talks about employer compensation and our decimated pension funds.
When it's something Rahm wants, it's his way or the highway, he waves his magic wand and funding appears.
It's all about Rahm and his fucked up priorities and clearly we're not one of them.
Rahm is a dork.
Instead of spending one million on bike lanes which do not stop crime,
SPEND THAT MILLION ON NEW RECRUITS FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.
As working taxpayers leave the city in droves because it isn't safe there won't be many cars on the road anyway. Let Mayor Shylock put in all the bikes lanes he wants and piss away more $Millions we don't have. Chicago is a city in deline. Pretty soon no one will be left to pay the bills and we will become the sister city of....Detroit.
Daley invented them until he fell off his bicycle and tore his ACL. and never pedaled his ass again!
Now the bike lanes slow traffic and cause accidents?
What is Rahm 9.5's angle? Licensing bicycles ?
Critical Mass don't need no stinking bike lanes, Vamanos!
A bridge to nowhere with out a river to cross?
A pension and taxes to poverty for City workers.
Daley got three pensions and no one who knows his net worth is still alive or in jail.
"Chicago isn't broke if Rahm's pissing away nearly $100 million dollars on the 1.3% of Chicagoans who actually use the bike lanes."
---
Please don't forget the $250 million bucks Rahm pledged to build a new Malcolm X College of remedial reading.
The bike lanes are very useful, they give the drunks a new way to aim their cars when driving home dead drunk.
Maybe someone could come up with a way to tax all those ignorant bikers to pay for this. No, the taxpayers, most of whom drive, will pay more so that a very few can be satisfied.
HuffPost has about a 30 minute video conference going on its website addressing the violence in Shitcago. Not all of the panelists are sharp though. There's a female hispanic (Puerto Rican, I think) who blames police
brutality for the rise in violent crime here. Go figure!
i like the bike lanes, it gives me something to aim at.
It's for the children. Won't somebody think of the children? We have to reduce our carbon footprint. That takes a lot of money. We need to give the paupers transportation options and make some money in the process. if we can squeeze in bike lanes with the Maggie boxes, all will be well.
I ride my bike often throughout the city. In my opinion pulling out those flower potted midsections, would do more than installing "protective bike lanes". Open up Ashland Ave. Madison St. etc. Get rid of those flowers ! The streets need to be transportation lanes again.
We are not hearing of this through "Chicago media," and I use that term loosely. But what else would we expect when the mainstream media is just an arm of the democratic party, just like it used to be in U.S.S.R.
They can't wait until they can control the internet, so stories like this never see the light of day.
Glenn Beck's take on Agenda 21
http://tinyurl.com/3jk3aep
And ain't no money to hire and train police officers to deploy and curtail the senseless killings and maimings due to gunshots ?
So we finally see what the mayor's priority is and it ain't the safety and well-being of the citizens of Chicago. This is pathetic.
Meanwhile the body count continue to mount and the mayor ignores it while worldwide attention is being focused on Chicago because of the killings.
Chicago rises to the challenge of Agenda 21 / ICLEI
http://tinyurl.com/9arf7v6
http://www.icleiusa.org/news/mayor-emanuel-announces-retrofit-chicago-commercial-buildings-initiative
Rahm and Retrofit Chicago. An Obama Admin initiative
onymous said...
When you don't hire police that's how you can afford all these little expenditures. The city IS broke. They are stealing from police funding.
8/20/2012 01:46:00 AM
you don't have to be broke to steal. you can use being broke as an excuse to steal. a lie that is very popular with mayors of Chicago. and the mayor thinks citizens don't notice his grand expenditures while he's not providing police protection and letting core maintenance needs go down the toilet as well.
Give every biker a Prius and call it a day, we will still come out ahead.
I said it elsewhere and I'll say it here:
Time to hire more police, Rahm, and start treating the ones you already have with some respect. Otherwise, I say you can kiss your hopes to be a U.S. Senator good-bye when you try to run for Kirk's job.
Rahm knows that the price of gasoline is about to soar to $8.00+ a gallon. This will occur as soon as Israel initiates overt military action against Iran.
Iran will bottle the Straight of Hormuz and effectively stop 25% of the daily, global oil flow.
Worldwide panic, global oil rationing, massive global economic chaos coupled with famine in a vast amount of the world.
Rahm knows what is about to occur, hence production of bike lanes. Will he attempt to take credit for his brilliant foresight???
Pay attention!
Wake Up sheeple!
If they close that strait it will last very shortly. USA said they will prevent them from doing that.
I bike every day in this city, from my condo in Streeterville, to my work in the loop & back. I also use my bike to run a lot of errands like grocery & hardware store, attend Cubs games, and get exercise on the Lakefront Path.
I really don't see the need for more "protected" bike lanes like on Kinzie near the west branch of the river. They are a hazard and a nuisance to both bikers & car drivers (I also have a car, a big SUV). They are a hazard to bikers because they are one more thing I have to be aware of & avoid while riding, and a nuisance to drivers bc they impede traffic when things are happening like someone turning left into a garage, you now can't pass that person on the right while he waits to turn. Also, if a car breaks down on a street that has a bike lane, now you have TWO lanes that could have carried traffic blocked.
The ONE thing this city needs to do, to make things safer for bikers, is permanently put down some sort of smooth surface on old drawbridges that no longer go up (like the one on Kinzie going over the River). And put down temporary, removable smooth surfaces on the bridges that still are raised 6 times per year, like the Columbus Ave bridge.
The grated surface on those bridges is the biggest danger to bikers. It's hard to keep control, and if you have to swerve or brake, there is a decent chance you will wipe out. A friend of mine had his entire jaw broken & bottom set of teeth destroyed when he wiped out on one of the separators between the grated panels. His tire got caught in it when he had to swerve, and he flew head first over the handlebars – he never had a chance. Thank goodness he was wearing a helmet, or it would have been worse.
Forget the bike lanes, as I biker I know that I have to stay as far to the right as possible. When the right lane is a turn lane, I know that I have to bike in between that turn lane, and the first regular driving lane left of it. And I also know that when I’m on the road, I need to be aware of everything around me, including behind me. I wear a little clip on, flashing red LED bulb on my back (cost <$20), to help make me extra noticeable; I also wear a bright orange vest like a hunter.
Like everything else, this boils down to: Personal responsibility (for drivers & bikers alike), vs. those who want the government to spend a ton of money on a plan that only works in theory, to help facilitate my daily life. Guess what, government? I don’t want or need your “help.” Save the $90mm, use it to buy more cops, and I’ll be just fine biking in the right lane like I have been for the past, you know, 35 years.
Chicago isn't broke if Rahm's pissing away nearly $100 million dollars on the 1.3% of Chicagoans who actually use the bike lanes.
Correction to your stat, SCC: There is no way in hell that 1.3% of Chicagoans use the bike lanes. More likely, it's 1.3% of Chicagoans actually own and use bikes. I'm an avid biker, and I assure you that virtually none of my biking friends use the designated bike lanes - they ride on the far right of traffic, like they're supposed to.
If resources will be earmarked for bicycle use of public roadways they should be licensed, along with their operators, and inspected at least as often as other vehicles using the roadways
per us census:
Chicago population: 2,707,120
1.3% bikeriders(?): 35,192
Bike lane cost 90,000,000
Cost per bike rider: $2,571
Cost in terms of traffic delays, accidents, maintenance etc.: Who knows.
Actual cost: sky is the limit
Last time a Chicago project stayed within budget: HAHAHA
What do I know, I'm just a dick.
Now the bike lanes slow traffic and cause accidents?
Bike lanes don't cause accidents. People driving like assholes do.
OT - Deleware judge rules Chicago city pension funds can fire DV Urban Realty as manager of pension funds.
Story in Slum Times
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/14558496-418/ax-for-pension-adviser.html
Too bad he didn't make them pay any money back!
most bike riders are liberal fuckheads write every one that you see disobey a traffic law. let them screem and cry to thier alderwhores, then numnuts rahm will have the liberal scum pissed at him too.
ATTENTION ALL MEDIA AND TREE HUGGERS>>>Meanwhile...a devastating invasion of the emrald ash borer beetle is decimating the ash tree population..the trees that were planted decades ago to replace the elm trees killed by dutch elm disease...two large trees on my block are dying from the top down and will not survive the winter..a call to forestry says it,s a major problem..they requested emergency funding,,about One Million..to treat as many trees as they could get to to try and save them...BUDGET DENIED REQUEST...remember Daley "the tree lover"...soon not much left but concrete...that's nice...
No money for pensions though.
Ninety One MILLION to add bike lanes.
Then there's Northerly Island...
The first phase of the restoration project will cost $4.3 million -- with $2.8 million coming from a federal grant -- and $1.5 million coming from revenues generated by the concert venue at Northerly Island.
To date there has been NO additional $$ put into our pension fund as 9.5 claims the city has no funds.
If the police were to actually enforce traffic laws and cite motorists for the moving violations, we wouldn't really need these damn lanes. However, talk to your buds on the bike unit about what it's like to get buzzed by a car, 1-foot away.
so, with about 72 trillion in national debt, unemployment through the roof, foreclosures out of sight, state and city pension debts out of control, this mayoral clown is concerned about bike lanes?......leave it to the liberals....
OT did you hear that Swan Lake is speaking at the Dummycrat convention? Gag me big time (not that I planned to watch it, but please already).
--No Cop Here
Please don't forget the $250 million bucks Rahm pledged to build a new Malcolm X College of remedial reading.
8/20/2012 06:18:00 AM
---------------------------
Yeah isn't that a joke. Rahm creating a skills match community college program for the 21st century that will focus upon of all things welding and other manufacturing skills.
The demand for those skills will be almost zero by the time anyone completes the course. Good luck to anyone with the mindset of: "yeah once I graduate this class I'll be able to walk right into any company and demand $"X" dollars and be set for life. RAHM told me they have shortages..ha.
I'll tell you what. If there were ANY shortages these CEO clowns would be offering higher wages for the positions and to keep their current skilled workers happy. They're not. THERE ARE NO SHORTAGES!
The old hanger-on-ers. Hanging onto old world 20th century technologies and ideals to protect the status quo and it's all falling apart. GM is about ready for bailout two point oh because they can't compete and we're doing the same thing with Sears, Motorola, Groupon, etc...
Prepare for the next economic downturn. We already have Obama creating a $500 million dollar aid bailout for the teachers and a $100 million dollar aid package for transportation. It's all suppose to create or save jobs but do you see any jobs being created? For the last two months unemployment in Illinois has been increasing NOT decreasing. That's how well it's working.
Slightly O/T:
Speaking of "This is Insane."
Scum-Times online yanked and buried an article regarding a chancery court ruling that the city pension funds invested with D.V. Realty had just cause to terminate.
We noted there were comments tying D.V. with the ongoing campaign to bust out muni pension funds because they're the scene of the greatest series of municipal financial crimes ever.
Also... The political-criminal-media campaign to bust out muni employee unions.
Bust the unions and there's no unified voice to to scream bloody murder about the theft from muni employees by Daley Inc and Rahm & Co.
What about that $70 million Crime King Shorty flew to Rio with to show them "how we do business in Chicago?"
The world's most expensive lap dance... No kissy. No peek. No touchy.
These cowards in the media ought to be good and tired from pedaling their unicycles backwards as fast as they can from this bullshit while they're painting a false picture of regular Coppers getting six figure "cush pensions and early retirement that regular people don't get..."
The average Copper is lucky to get $40k to $50K or so...
The average Copper is lucky to live 10 years less than his age peers...
Stress. Grief. Anger. Aggravation...
Nobody wants to hear about, address or own up to the fact that Policemen die younger and Policing IS a young man's game.
These dirty fucks are consumed with the bean counter theory of "getting their money's worth" out of a Policeman's life.
There is NO business model that can be applied to something as messy and unpredictable as Policing.
The hunt for "efficiencies" are pure bullshit and distraction by people who never had any notion of putting themselves in harm's way.
Especially the little North Shore Shit-Ass...
He has the luxury of counting his ill gotten millions and fucking with good people's lives.
Only disposable peons shed their blood, sweat and tears of anger and outrage over being reduced to indentured servitude to appease a catered to constituency in support of a criminal-political apparatus.
Duly noted for the record SCC...
They yanked that article out of fear of SOMEONE with resources doing some digging and starting to ask some hard, pointy and uncomfortable questions.
Watch for shit to get real interesting when it becomes apparent to Daley Inc., Rahm & Co. and local media that their insurance policy in the White House doesn't get renewed in November.
You'll see all out war against any and everything in the interests of Policemen.
Among other things...
Consider it our punishment for not "supporting" Rahm al Ghoul and refusing to "sit down and shut up."
Hopefully a new USAG with much hatred in his heart for Daley Inc. and Rahm & Co. is appointed.
Or at least one with enough street smarts to spray these dirty vermin when the lights finally come on and they try to scatter to their holes with pieces of tax-payer flesh in their mandibles...
How the fuck did The Policeman end up being the enemy when he's the only one who's sworn an oath and still gives more of a fuck than these politicians?
Didn't those dirty bastards swear an oath too?
*Crickets*
Anonymous said...
ATTENTION ALL MEDIA AND TREE HUGGERS>>>Meanwhile...a devastating invasion of the emrald ash borer beetle is decimating the ash tree population..the trees that were planted decades ago to replace the elm trees killed by dutch elm disease...two large trees on my block are dying from the top down and will not survive the winter..a call to forestry says it,s a major problem..they requested emergency funding,,about One Million..to treat as many trees as they could get to to try and save them...BUDGET DENIED REQUEST...remember Daley "the tree lover"...soon not much left but concrete...that's nice...
8/20/2012 02:03:00 P
You cannot even get a tree trimmed much less anything else! I live on west end of 008, now pushed into king eddie burkes 14th ward,tried to get trees trimmed talked to a girl in his office was told"You could call forestry" Yea ok then why the fuck do we even need alderthieves??
8/20/2012 02:03:00 P
You cannot even get a tree trimmed much less anything else! I live on west end of 008, now pushed into king eddie burkes 14th ward,tried to get trees trimmed talked to a girl in his office was told"You could call forestry" Yea ok then why the fuck do we even need alderthieves??
8/20/2012 10:59:00 PM
I called 311 and got a very nice lady who took down my information to get the city trees trimmed in the parkway in front of my house. She said that I would be added to the list and that there was a request tracking number. I don't remember how long it took because I even forgot about the request. One day while I was out washing my front windows with my back to the street, I heard a truck pull up and stop. A female voice says just loud enough to be heard over the engine noise, "That's probably the asshole that called". They than pulled away. It was a big orange truck with at least four maybe five people inside. I almost felt bad for ruining their day because they had to stop at my address. Maybe for GPS? Now that's Chicago values...
"Chicago rises to the challenge of Agenda 21 / ICLEI
http://tinyurl.com/9arf7v6
--8/20/2012 09:19:00 AM
It's another NGO!
http://www.icleiusa.org/news/mayor-emanuel-announces-retrofit-chicago-commercial-buildings-initiative
"Rahm and Retrofit Chicago. An Obama Admin initiative"
--8/20/2012 09:27:00 AM
Fussing and fussing and fussing about the light bulbs in banks and law offices and brokerage houses.
Every penny of these costs will be borne on the shoulders of the taxpayer and the consumer.
They will hold endless banquets, hand each other awards as the cameras flash.
"Energy use" would not be a problem if the population was not being doubled and redoubled and redoubled again through wide-open immigration.
I can't imagine that there are so many people who are clamoring to ride a bicycle to work that this expenditure is needed. I have to agree with the Chicago Math guy - someone is getting a nice fat bonus from Rahm.
Anonymous said...
I said it elsewhere and I'll say it here:
Time to hire more police, Rahm, and start treating the ones you already have with some respect. Otherwise, I say you can kiss your hopes to be a U.S. Senator good-bye when you try to run for Kirk's job.
8/20/2012 10:59:00 AM
===================================
He isn't looking at Kirk's spot. That will be up for election in 2016. We doesn't plan on waiting that long.
He will be going after Durbins spot in 2014 if they don't talk Durbin into leaving early & appointing Rahm as his replacement as early as early 2013. Look for this to happen in jan-Mar of 2013
Vanecko/Daley Municipal Support Consultants.
I said it elsewhere and I'll say it here:
Time to hire more police, Rahm, and start treating the ones you already have with some respect. Otherwise, I say you can kiss your hopes to be a U.S. Senator good-bye when you try to run for Kirk's job.
8/20/2012 10:59:00 AM
===================================
He isn't looking at Kirk's spot. That will be up for election in 2016. We doesn't plan on waiting that long.
He will be going after Durbins spot in 2014 if they don't talk Durbin into leaving early & appointing Rahm as his replacement as early as early 2013. Look for this to happen in jan-Mar of 2013
8/21/2012 07:05:00 PM
-
Great, so if he leaves before his term is up, does Amy from Washington, D.C. inherit his position, like all the alder-widows do?
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