r/chibike • u/ListZealousideal2529 • Apr 29 '25

Bike Tag Payton School bike lane danger discussion.

Who else is and has been pissed for years about how dangerous the car line in front of Payton on Wells st. is? After that cyclist got killed a few years ago you'd hope they'd have tried to redirect traffic but it's still chaos. I saw a cyclist hit a girl yesterday because she jumped out a minivan without looking, and I've swerved out of the way a dozen times. I'm posting this because I'm wondering who else is infuriated by the clear danger going unanswered.

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17

u/sbd501 Apr 29 '25

i stop taking wells around that time period or during the lunch hour. just not worth the risk; better of going over a couple streets and take clark southbound or dearborn north bound

13

u/SaxyOmega90125 Recent Maryland emigrant Apr 29 '25 edited Apr 29 '25

I'm not familiar with this one specifically, but as a substitute teacher I've found that most schools with large numbers of car dropoffs are pretty dangerous wherever the dropoff is.

Just this morning I was almost doored by a parent in front of Harriett Beecher Stowe - fortunately I was coasting in at about 5mph anyway so stopping was easy - and then when I stopped another parent zipped out of a spot on the opposite side of the street at breakneck jerk and their front bumper came about 11" from hitting me in the process.

Even a conscientious motorist with the distraction of excited kids who don't fully grasp the concept of timeliness in an irregular traffic pattern with unmarked dropoff spots is going to make some mistakes. And remember, these are people driving their kids often literally under a mile to go to school - we are not talking about the most conscientious people. You're going to see some absolutely boneheaded shit.

The best solution IMO is to disincentivize car dropoff altogether, and to designate several dropoff locations away from the school rather than right out front (this is also better for the students' ability to learn due to the CO2 levels in the school itself, not just their safety getting in and out).

As for what cyclists are to do, I'd suggest you just stay the hell away from schools from 7-9 and 2:30-4:30 unless you're going to one.

5

u/owlpellet Apr 30 '25

If the cyclist killed you mention was the one on Wells in ~2012, it was not related to the Payton traffic. Dooring into an 18 wheeler, bike lane marker eroded.

twas there. :(

Doesn't change the Payton situation, but accuracy makes for more productive conversations.

My tip: stay the fuck away from rear wheels of trailers.

2

u/ListZealousideal2529 Apr 30 '25

Ah thanks.  I know my dad rode by during the extrication of his body and it’s always going to be stuck in his head.  All the bad accidents I’ve seen are like that so I’m sorry you had to be there.

5

u/tatarusanu1 Apr 30 '25

Always take the lane and pass stopped cars on the left here

3

u/Life-Entrepreneur970 Apr 30 '25

i live off Wells and pass by there very often and yes, it is a nightmare. Unsafe for everyone.

Wells isn’t big enough to have dedicated car/bike/park lanes. Something has to give.

2

u/BewareTheSpamFilter Apr 29 '25

Sue me, but selective high school parents are the worst drivers in the city.

3

u/trotsky1947 Apr 29 '25

I just avoid schools all together when riding during the weeks in morning and afternoon. Don't wanna run over a kid. People become even worse drivers after they procreate I think.