Here's what it's like being a cyclist on the streets of Chicago: I nearly got hit BAD yesterday and forgot to post about it until just now.
Riding in a bike lane, to my left is a long line of cars stuck in traffic. I am always very cautious about this scenario so I'm not going top speed, thankfully. As I pass a Burger King, a car squeezes through a tiny gap in the cars that I didn't even think was big enough and nearly nails me. His front bumper stopped literally 4 inches or less from my wheel.
I am only on this road for like 6 blocks but I really gotta find another option, so many of my close calls are on this road. Why is this tiny stretch so bad? It's filled with car-oriented businesses with drive throughs and huge parking lots and multiple curb cuts.
The land use you build determines how people interact in and with it.
For the locals/curious, here's a map.
Green to light blue (a contraflow bike lane) to royal blue is my old route.
Royal blue is my current route.
Red Xs are where I've had close calls or crashes.
Yellow Xs are uncontrolled intersections - no light or stop signs for traffic going E-W.
Green is the boulevard option but once you pass the state route (Cicero) there's no way to get north.
The dark purple is what I was hoping was an option until I saw it doesn't cross the train tracks.
Kaz
Madopal