A 4-Bedroom “Modernist Dream” in the East Village: 915 N. Wolcott
For those of you who are contemporary lovers, this Studio Dwell designed 4-bedroom single family home at 915 N. Wolcott in the East Village neighborhood of West Town has been on the market since April 2011.
It has been reduced $200,000 in that time.
At 4700 square feet, it has the modern aesthetic found in Studio Dwell properties.
The kitchen which has what looks to be a wall of glass also has modern white and stainless steel cabinetry and what looks like might be concrete counter tops (does anyone know?)
3 out of the 4 bedrooms are on the second floor with the master bedroom on the third floor.
There is also a 18×13 home theater in the lower level.
The house has several outdoor spaces including a stone patio off the kitchen and a rooftop deck of some kind (off the bedroom?)
Will the sales price ultimately be under the 2005 purchase price on this minimalist home?
Stephen Somogyi at North Clybourn Group has the listing. See the pictures here.
915 N. Wolcott: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4700 square feet, 2 car garage
- Sold in May 2005 for $1.38 million
- Originally listed in April 2011 for $1.65 million
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $1.45 million
- Taxes of $12,810
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 27×23 (third floor)
- Bedroom #2: 12×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 12×10 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 15×10 (second floor)
- Theater room: 18×13 (lower level)
I like it except for the deck being off of the master bedroom
Although I think there’s a gator deck
I also like the decorations for the kids rooms, the rooms look fun unlike the craptastic farmhouse letters with the kids name and bright paint you usually see in rooms with cribs in this city
Owners are trying to sell before the place becomes even more tired looking. Anyways, yes it’ll sell for closer to a million, possible 950,000, if they find a buyer who isn’t turned off by the design.
I love this. If it was north of Augusta and closer to Wicker Park or in LP or Bucktown, I would buy it…even for more money. Why doesn’t Studio Dwell build these in better locations?
This part of east village is very nice. I wonder how the kids faired in the hood however. (aside from the schools–which were or were soon to be private) I think it would be harder to have neighborhood friends and a tough sell to have friends visit from east of the expressway.
I love it too. Nice to see something out of the ordinary and done right. I don’t love the neighborhood,but lots of people do.
“Although I think there’s a gator deck”
GatorDeck, but only in one direction, as the garages for the neighboring condos cut off the view of the gators in the N-S alley.
Wow. beautiful.
If the private practice job market wasn’t so terrible in chicago i’d be tempted to expunge whatever trust money i’ve got left and buy this place. I don’t think my salary would be enough to pay utilities and taxes and still manage to feed myself though. I could probably ignore the blah neighborhood ; why would you even want to go outside?
Is there any other desirable (hot etc.) place in the city were you could get 4,700 sqf feet for under $300 a foot? Well designed none the less. It looks like they did a great job mitigating the alley location. I love the exterior it feels very insulated.
its actually a pretty nice hood riz, little grimy but not a crime infested dump at all, this little enclave over here has some extremely nice properties
Interesting looking house. I wonder how people will view it 20 years from now though. If I had the kind of money to buy this place, I would probably plan to hang onto it until I was elderly and the mortgage was long paid off. Otherwise, I would worry that in a few years people’s tastes would change and this would look as ugly to future generations as the 1970s complexes look to us now.
What makes this owner think it is worth more than in 2005? They certainly think they made a shrewd purchase back then, despite almost all data indicating otherwise.
Sonies,
you’re right, didn’t realize this was that far up on Damen, was thinking it was a bit closer to 290. I think anything past damen/chicago towards bucktown is a pretty decent ‘hood, but you do see a ton of graffiti on a lot of the new development along damen leading up to division. I love division as well, i know it’s a bit of the ‘brah’ crowd but there are some legit restaurants and bars there.
Bob,
it’s nearly 5k square feet and is very well built. I’d say this house would definitely net more than 1.5 mil if it was a few blocks up on damen towards bucktown, so i think anything from 1-1.2 mil is a reasonable price given the size and build quality. If i was in a position to buy i’d probably offer 1 mil for it and see what happens.
Ahh, just realized 05′ price was 1.38, not 1 mil. anything past 1.2 might be a bit much , even for such a beautiful house.
Interesting place and I like the interior decor. I’m not crazy about the exterior, but I can see this home’s appeal to some. The location is too far south and west for me, however.
nice place. looks very well done to me.
$950K is crazy talk.
$200/Foot for this? i can’t see it going for under $250 when you factor everything in.
$1.175MM is bearish IMHO. probably goes for more than that. done at $1.3MM is my guess.
This place is very nice, but for $1.3MM, there are far better 4 bed options.
“but for $1.3MM, there are far better 4 bed options.”–find one…ready to move into.
“This place is very nice, but for $1.3MM, there are far better 4 bed options.”
Dunno about “far better”, but here’s one:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1935-N-Lincoln-Ave-60614/home/13345253
that reflects the current market v. earlier in the decade.
Approach hate for the interior decor, but that’s cheap to change, relatively speaking. About the same size, similar layout, radically (say it again!!) different style.
“find one…ready to move into.”
You’re willing to have the painters come in, strip some wallpaper and swap out light fixtures, right? Or is that not ready enough?
I’d pick my find over this one all day long, even tho I like the style of the Wolcott house far, far more.
514 W. Webster?
maybe so, anonny, but this just looks very, very well done to me. that’s all i can say.
the more i look the more i love.
love the layout. love the kitchen. the master suite is perfect imho. that master bath is one of the best i’ve ever seen, combined with the outdoor space up top…talk about a private sanctuary. love the outdoor spaces (yes that rooftop deck is off the master and it is huge…not to mention the huge deck off the second level, and the outdoor space off the main level). the lower level is perfect. sauna, move room, with a playroom that could easily be considered a 5th bedroom.
IF i’m in the market for a 4 bedroom in the city, this would be near the top of the list.
done at $1.3MM all day long. only question is the flexibility of the seller.
Beautiful place…just wish it were in Miami…or any other locale that would better suit the style.
re: 1935
You’d be right on Lincoln (it is not crazy busy at that point but still. No roof deck. The interior design here is terrible and hard to look past. Very little vintage feel remaining (except for the stair case) and over-all just a little blah. I guess the question is would you like to live in Lincoln park in a nice but less than perfect place that needs alot to feel finished or would you like to live in west town in a home where people are taken a-back? I am sure many would choose Lincoln, but these are not comps IMHO.
Nice place but the bathrooms are not that great.
“but these are not comps IMHO”
But you just asked for 4+ br for $1.3 in move in condition. Satisfied all of those.
“No roof deck.”
*Wrong* Listing sez: “3RD MSTR W/ LUXURIOUS BTH, WALK-IN CLOSET AND ROOF TOP DECK”
And it’s got a full lot, a public school you could send your kids to, and proximity to Latin and Parker if that’s your thing.
i find it funny how people accept this hood but yet complain that my far NW side hoods are almost burbs. crazy when nw side have quicker access to public transport to loop and ohare, nicer public transport both are car centric yet here is acceptable.
go figure.
Groove you are 15 blocks from downtown here–you can reach out and touch the skyline. (and closer to other hoods (west loop, wicker, bucktown, Logan Square). In the far nw you are 40+ blocks and the feel is very different.
“i find it funny how people accept this hood but yet complain that my far NW side hoods are almost burbs. crazy when nw side have quicker access to public transport to loop and ohare, nicer public transport both are car centric yet here is acceptable.”
Sure, better if north of Augusta, east of Wood, but it’s still only a 15 minute walk to the Division stop, which means your total commute time is about the same as a 5 minute walk from Jeff Park stop, which is a pretty small circle. And there’s a lot more to walk to from this place than there is from *most* of your beloved NW Side.
i agree jason, but i am going off the biggest CC critera here “commute to the loop”. with the 30+ block difference i bet from jeffpark station i could get to the loop faster than if i lived here. plus have a more pleasant commute, also weather wouldnt effect my commute either.
“i find it funny how people accept this hood but yet complain that my far NW side hoods are almost burbs”
This isn’t my favorite neighborhood, but there is actually stuff to walk to around here. I have relatives with kids in the far nw hoods. They can take a nice walk around the block, but they don’t walk anywhere else, except to the blue line, which is pretty much an hour door to door to the loop for them (obviously depends a bit where you live and work, but it’s a long commute). They drive (or sometimes bike) pretty much everywhere else.
“there’s a lot more to walk to from this place than there is from *most* of your beloved NW Side.”
i could argue thats more opinion, but i am not a good debater plus wicker par does have lots of stuff and its only a one mile walk it would be a tough debate.
Chicago Bus is lighting fast. But most people with 1 million bucks to burn on housing don’t want to take trains or buses. In that case the drive to the loop is 10 minutes.
“blue line, which is pretty much an hour door to door to the loop for them (obviously depends a bit where you live and work, but it’s a long commute). ”
i drive over to our friends house in Jeff Park and we walk to the blue line and are in the loop in 40-45 door to door and thats on a weekend!
This place is really awesome, but I dont know much about the hood.
Radically different style and different hood, but I found it interesting that this recent CC property went under contract so quickly. 15 days and it’s got a contract. Will love to know what it closes for. 3935 North Paulina
http://cribchatter.com/?p=10730#comments
“Chicago Bus is lighting fast. But most people with 1 million bucks to burn on housing don’t want to take trains or buses”
haven’t been on the chicago ave bus in about 10-12 years, but remember it was not pleasant. and i dont think its lighting fast with only one inch of snow on the ground. shoot even if it rains add 15% time to your commute if its by bus. I F’ing hate the bus.
I grew up in the Peterson Park area and now live in the south loop and I find the commute very easy. The houses on the NW side are very nice and unique and the neighborhood was very safe. I still prefer living closer to the loop. I drive to work in River North and arrive in 15 minutes. I still depend on my car since I can’t stand the CTA.
I agree with Groove that the far NW side is probably nicer than a lot of the areas closer to the loop, but I just can’t stand the long commute. I’m picky in that the most time I want to spend commuting is 20 minutes each way.
“i drive over to our friends house in Jeff Park and we walk to the blue line and are in the loop in 40-45 door to door and thats on a weekend!”
But your carbon footprint is disastrous. My relatives do live farther away, it’s a good 12-14 min walk from harlem stop, and another 5-7 to work, which puts them v close to an hour assuming a few min of wait time. Still, I think 50 min from say norwood park would be pretty standard.
Oof, that Lincoln listing is horrid, IMHO. Plus you’ve got what appears to be a large multi-unit right behind you.
“I agree with Groove that the far NW side is probably nicer than a lot of the areas closer to the loop, but I just can’t stand the long commute. I’m picky in that the most time I want to spend commuting is 20 minutes each way.”
also take my words with a grain of salt as i dont commute to the loop.
I will always live 30 minutes or less from work. so my view is not of the typical sorts. if it takes 35 mintues on average then i will move 🙂
Groove – you could drive to the Loop in under 10 minutes from here.
“I will always live 30 minutes or less from work. so my view is not of the typical sorts. if it takes 35 mintues on average then i will move”
You do realize that for anyone working in the loop and applying your rule, that would pretty much rule out norwood/oriole.
“But your carbon footprint is disastrous. My relatives do live farther away, it’s a good 12-14 min walk from harlem stop, and another 5-7 to work, which puts them v close to an hour assuming a few min of wait time”
why you say that, if we are hitting say the taste of chicago together (his wife and kid and my wife and kid). I could drive all the way there and meet them but its nicer as a group to roll down there together
“Groove – you could drive to the Loop in under 10 minutes from here.”
yes but the typical CC comment is “commute to loop by public transport” and my view and question/comparison is from that standpoint.
You need four bedrooms for no more than $1.3 million? Buy a rowhouse or smaller SFH in LP east of Halsted or an even bigger and nicer SFH in LV, or spend more like $1.0 million on a condo in the northeast GC, ELP, LVE or north Sville and allocate the difference to assessments. Otherwise, take the $1.3 to the east side of Evanston/Wilmette and call it a day.
Love the house, but having Black Dog Gelato on Damen three minutes away would be very, very dangerous to my waistline.
“I could drive all the way there and meet them but its nicer as a group to roll down there together”
The fact that you could do something worse doesn’t absolve your environmental sin of driving (completely kidding as we drive everywhere).
something about this I do not like. Feels tight and too undefined, high ceilings, in areas, make it feel even tighter.
And anon… your place at 1935 looks like it’s move in ready for Abraham Lincoln with that living room.
Nothin like wakin up from a good nap….but where did I hide my stuff.. I love playing search all my hiding places cause I don’t remember which I used. Makes everyday like looking for matzo on Passover.
“Michelle on June 21st, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Love the house, but having Black Dog Gelato on Damen three minutes away would be very, very dangerous to my waistline.”
NOMNOMNOM.
I sampled their offerings for the first time last Friday at the Toast of the Town event at the Field Museum. They had some lemon ginger stuff that was awesome.
“Chicago Bus is lighting fast”
this is just flat out 100% WRONG
I swear I take the #66 chicago bus frequently and its the 2nd worst (#8 Halsted bus is worse) in the entire city… it takes me 20+ minutes to go from chicago/franklin to chicago/michigan
and about 15-20 minutes to go from chicago/franklin to chicago/ashland (I have friends in this area and it takes sometimes 30+ minutes!!!)
and there is NEVER a time when that bus isn’t packed full of wierdos any hour of the day
valid point, Groove (and i really have never entered the whole debate you reference)
but i find if funny that numerous people on here seem to think that access to public transportation is high on the list of important consideration for anyone buying in the $1MM+ range.
honest question: of any 100 potential buyers for a $1MM+ property in your NW side hoods, how many would you say actually give ANY consideration to the fact that they can hop the blue line to O’Hare?
or, for another often-cited example, that they’re just a block/two walk to a bus stop where they can then get to the Brown line to then get to the Loop.
i would venture to guess that, at this specific price point and up, maybe 1 or 2 out of 100 would actually value this added “convenience”.
because for people who make serious dough, it is not actually a convenience at all.
these people take cabs/car service or they drive to O’Hare.
and they don’t do a bus-to-train CTA commute to the Loop every day either. because on average you don’t save any time at all to use the CTA like this.
point is: at a certain price point in Chicago, convenience to the CTA simply doesn’t matter. because it is not the Metra, which can actually save you TONS of time relative to driving the farther out you go. the CTA is MOST efficient the closer you are to the Loop, whereas the Metra is completely the opposite.
from a time=money perspective, the CTA doesn’t compute and $1MM+ home buyers generally have a time=money perspective.
all jmho.
Or for a similar price buy a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Highland Park:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1689-Lake-Ave_Highland-Park_IL_60035_M83749-57648
“Chicago Bus is lighting fast”
this is just flat out 100% WRONG
I was being sacrastic–though I did take it the night of the blizzard a little past midnight and was extremely happy!!! The driver and I being the only ones on the bus we talked pension reform and I tipped her nicely. It was amazing that the bus was still running….I will never forget that.
“from a time=money perspective, the CTA doesn’t compute and $1MM+ home buyers generally have a time=money perspective.”
Maybe it will be a buyer from Alvarez&Marsal adhering to the company philosophy of “as little as possible, in as long as it takes”
jmho.
I personally can’t wait until the city bans all motorized vehicles except for buses, taxis, delivery trucks and police/fire from the central business district during peak hours.
“Oof, that Lincoln listing is horrid, IMHO.”
It’s really ugly, yes. But you could move in and live there just fine.
When you add to “for $1.3MM, 4 bed options, ready to move into” criteria the “that suits my personal taste better” criterion, nothing works.
“from a time=money perspective, the CTA doesn’t
compute and $1MM+ home buyers generally have a
time=money perspective.”
It doesn’t compute in the far nw side, that’s part of the point. In logan or btown where you can be 25 min true door to door, I’d rather do that than drive even if cost were the same. If you’re close to 50 min commute, driving is a lot more attractive.
“And anon… your place at 1935 looks like it’s move in ready for Abraham Lincoln with that living room. ”
Furniture and wallpaper are the biggest problems in that place. Fix the walls, rent some furniture, sell it quick.
“The fact that you could do something worse doesn’t absolve your environmental sin of driving (completely kidding as we drive everywhere).”
yeah who am i kidding we drive everywhere too and just valet. they only time you catch me on the train is with our friend in jeff park. we do ride our bikes on date night to oak park for dinner if it not too humid.
until our new DC immagrant transportation head F’s up driving in chicago (comming very soon to a theatre near you), my car will be my feet 🙂
Regarding the Lincoln house…no way near a comp. Its fugly…this house is gorgeous. Yes, LP land/lots go for a premium but I’d still take this Wolcott house. You can’t underestimate function and quiet (Lincoln is noisy). The only reason to buy the Lincoln house is if you want that neighborhood but the houses are not comparable. The kitchen in the Wolcott house costs about 50K more than the Lincoln house. To repaint the Lincoln house, retile, and get rid of the wallpaper is 50K…the tile is tacky…and that’s expensive to replace.
Old Hickory,
spot on brother spot on. but even when i talk to folk that moved by the metra for the reason of commuting i find that they drive 3-4 days a week anyway. I got fam in Mt Prospect who the first year they moved there the used the metra after that they went back to driving. they make enough and live modest so the rise in gas prices isnt a factor for them.
“I personally can’t wait until the city bans all motorized vehicles except for buses, taxis, delivery trucks and police/fire from the central business district during peak hours.”
make my words our bike hugging 2 mile commuting transportation head will F this up, and from interviews he is looking towards a London type of fee already.
his view of chicago and its transportation is skewed and his blinders are as bad as many here (does chicago go past western ave?)
“To repaint the Lincoln house, retile, and get rid of the wallpaper is 50K”
I know wallpaper *can* be a bitch to take down, but 50k to remove, repaint, tile (how many sq ft you thinkin here?)
Curious, what’s labor $hr? Only tilling, i would think, needs a pro.
Groove, it seems every major city in the world simultaneously decided you shouldn’t drive into it any more. Doing the same down here now too. Closed off half the lanes for buses only, and it was real bad before this, now impossible. Fairly certain that’s the intention.
Of course finishing the new metra *first* might have helped.
“It doesn’t compute in the far nw side, that’s part of the point. In logan or btown where you can be 25 min true door to door, I’d rather do that than drive even if cost were the same”
but add in the second most commented criteria on CC “i want top schools” then that commute from btown or logan means nothing if you have to send them to Brentano or Pulaski. so the far NW side make more sense, unless your still trying to be the “hip family w/ kids”.
“I know wallpaper *can* be a bitch to take down, but 50k to remove, repaint, tile (how many sq ft you thinkin here?)”
I’d take the job for the fixed fee of $50k, sub out all the work, and take a nice vacation.
They obviously aren’t going to appeal to the same person, but they are similar sizes, with similar overall layouts, for similar prices, with this one (the nicer *house*) giving up 20% of the land, and in a cheaper (if not necessarily less desirable for a given person) location. Basically, drop this house on the Lincoln lot, they probably would have started it at ~$2mm, and gotten something close, while the Lincoln house squeezed onto this short lot would probably slip below $1mm, unless they neutralized the interior.
“but add in the second most commented criteria on CC “i want top schools” then that commute from btown or logan means nothing if you have to send them to Brentano or Pulaski. so the far NW side make more sense, unless your still trying to be the “hip family w/ kids”.”
Two birds, one stone–buy the ugly house on Lincoln and have Groove and anon repaint/re-tile the place for you for $75k.
The Lincoln house needs an entirely new kitchen, save for appliances.
unless your still trying to be the “hip family w/ kids”.–is big to people who want that lifestyle–so you can’t discount that.
ALso in this price range private schools (either the 30K kind or the 8K (catholic) kind) are not out of the question.
“Groove, it seems every major city in the world simultaneously decided you shouldn’t drive into it any more.”
soon you will have hipsters around the world throwing red paint on your car because your driving it.
i just cant wait to see them pull that here, with State street in a constant uphill battle, the theaters losing non grey haired visitors and michigan ave loosing visitors due to perceived crime it wont be pretty cuz midwest is car-centric. take that away you alienate many suburban consumer dollars, that will just spend it in their own towns and only visit on special occasions.
“The Lincoln house needs an entirely new kitchen, save for appliances.”
For *you* (yeah, and me, too. mondo-ugli), but there is nothing functionally wrong with it, based on the one pic. A family could *definitely* move in and live there, except for seizure potential from the wall coverings.
“Two birds, one stone–buy the ugly house on Lincoln and have Groove and anon repaint/re-tile the place for you for $75k.”
im in, i always wanted to send my kid to private school 😉
“take that away you alienate many suburban consumer dollars, that will just spend it in their own towns and only visit on special occasions.”
This is already the reality: biannual visit to the city, kids! Taste of Chicago in summer, and looking at the Macy’s windows at Christmas!
I’m just trying to stir the pot today.
“The Lincoln house needs an entirely new kitchen, save for appliances.”
To me that’s a good thing. This Wolcott house. I LOVE that cooktop. BUT about 36 inches of pass thru space between the range and the sink. Try walking thru that while I am cooking and I will stab you. behind looks like even less space, and to walk closer to the windows makes you look at what looks like unfinished cabinetry, an out of place garbage can, and a ladder. Not even sure where the fridge is, but I’m assuming it’s hidden in those cabinets forcing someone to constantly come thru my knife wielding passage of death. NO WAY! HUGE FAIL HERE!! Contemporary is my favorite, but not when it loses function.
“Frank Lloyd Wright home in Highland Park”
Crazy banisters, I’m guess not original. There’s this place:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/636-N-East-Ave-60302/home/13273671
I make no where near enough to afford a million+ house and there’s still no way I could stand to take the CTA. I admit that I don’t really care about my carbon footprint and access to public transportation has no impact on where I would choose to live.
But I completely disagree that making Chicago more friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians will harm its economy or turn away visitors. Quite the opposite. Tourists from other parts of the midwest love Chicago for its walkability, and the density and accessibility of shopping and sights. Taming Chicago’s streets to make them even more enjoyable will only help.
Some of you may remember how fugly ALL of River North was just 10-20 years ago, and compare it to now, with sections that have much more of a neighborhood feel due to people on the streets (many living in the residential condos) going to shops, art galleries and clusters of restaurants with outdoor seating. Cities like Kansas City and Oklahoma City are eminently driveable due to wide-open streets meant only for cars, but the tourists sure ain’t flocking there.
Based on stupid mortgage rules-of-thumb, I do make enough to afford a million+ house, and access to reasonably quick metra service is a pretty big factor in choosing a place in which to settle down. Of course, that’s years off.
Michelle,
I agree and I think Rahm will strike a good balance. Chicago has become much more livable over the last 20 years and It may just get even better over the next 10! Keeping cars out of the loop would also help the CTA.
“But I completely disagree that making Chicago more friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians will harm its economy or turn away visitors. Quite the opposite. Tourists from other parts of the midwest love Chicago for its walkability, and the density and accessibility of shopping and sights. Taming Chicago’s streets to make them even more enjoyable will only help.”
taming or whipping into submission? taming is needed but the latter is what he has his eye on.
More bicyclist will SUCK, as it is today they are out of control in the city and pull more traffic violations on one day than i do in 10 years. the full lycra lance armstrong guys are ok as they are safe riders, its the rest of these idiots that are the ones clogging the streets.
tourists love the walkability and tourists dollars wont change, it will be the weekend warriors, the suburban lets go to [insert place here] on a whim, people like me who just wake up one day say let got to the “Bean” park. those are whose dollars you will lose.
or, they’ll drive to the nearby metra and walk around, therefore not clogging up traffic for people that actually work during the day and saving billions in man-hours of time/money
” it will be the weekend warriors, the “suburban” lets go to [insert place here] on a whim, people like me who just wake up one day say let got to the “Bean” park. those are whose dollars you will lose.”
So you finally admit you live in the burbs!! Good progress.
There are a lot of crappy cars that clogg up the loop and they are not here to do shopping–The: “Which way to the Daley center” from their rolled down window drivers.
“I agree and I think Rahm will strike a good balance. Chicago has become much more livable over the last 20 years and It may just get even better over the next 10! Keeping cars out of the loop would also help the CTA.”
Rahm will and is already giving his middle finger to the outer-hoods, what he is doing now and what the media reports the most is actually his campaign for next term, dont be fooled. his moves and plan are not for a better chicago as a whole.
not saying he wont do a good job, and somethings will be great, im just looking at the big picture and long term view.
“the full lycra lance armstrong guys are ok as they are safe riders, its the rest of these idiots that are the ones clogging the streets.”
Ha, your baiting is not going to work on me. Gotta go get on my Schwinn cruiser now for my ride home, stopping for every red light on the way.
Please… no more god damned bicycles!!!
I would like to find the least bike friendly city and move there… Whether a pedestrian or a driver, I have never encountered a friendly biker. A bike once yelled at my for walking on the “wrong” side of the sidewalk and another swore at my for taking up too much of the sidewalk as he nearly hit me while I was walking down the sidewalk.
…another smashed his hand into my car when I honked at him for cutting me off.
No more bicycles!!!
The outer hoods get a good deal. See your Oak Park vs Jeff Park debates. WHat do the outer hoods need that Rahm is screwing them on? Good schools, good public transit. I don’t get what you are talking about. Besides the loop will never be car free…it’s just a fun idea.
“A bike once yelled at my for walking on the “wrong” side of the sidewalk and another swore at my for taking up too much of the sidewalk as he nearly hit me while I was walking down the sidewalk.”
Elbow into the sternum as they ride by. Followed by mace. Followed by hitting them over the head with their own lock.
Those a’holes are breaking the law. And that’s coming from someone who (1) has been known to be a reckless cyclist and (2) occasionally rides his bike on the sidewalk.
“the loop will never be car free…it’s just a fun idea.”
One of the issues with congestion pricing are the contracts for street and garage parking–if the city implements congestion pricing in a fashion that reduces the parking revenue, the owners of the meters and park-garages might have recourse.
What is needed is some separated bike lanes somewhere useful. Kinzie is a decent start, but need something out of the loop on the south end and some N-S options. Also need some dedicated bus lanes, apart from the bike lanes–Halstead and Chicago would be prime for that, as the buses are so slow. Course, requires rebuilding some rail bridges, to avoid choke points, and giving up some street parking here and there.
Talking about slow buses had anyone taken #4? Man it stops on every block! This is another strange thing about US (or maybe just Chicago) why does the bus have to stop at every intersection. I mean would it kill people if they walk couple of blocks?
Also I hope Rahm would improve the pathetic blue line. A faster commute to O’Hare is really needed and lack of it is pretty embarrassing.
“Also I hope Rahm would improve the pathetic blue line. A faster commute to O’Hare is really needed and lack of it is pretty embarrassing.”
Yeah he’s gonna do what over a hundred years worth of mayors never got around to. LOL.
I used to take Kinzie home, but stopped after they put up that ridiculous bike lane with the stupid poles. Ugh. They took away an entire car lane for a bike lane. The bikes should have to pay yearly fees and get a license if they want bike lanes installed.
“I mean would it kill people if they walk couple of blocks?”
Yes, yes it would.
“Yeah he’s gonna do what over a hundred years worth of mayors never got around to.”
Yeah, Big Bill was a real failure for not making the predecessor of the blue line–a privately controlled operation at the time–run 50 years into the future. That would have been *really* fast.
“The bikes should have to pay yearly fees and get a license if they want bike lanes installed.”
And you should have to pay for all of the externalities of your car driving if you want to have that attitude. Not to mention that *ALL* on-street parking *should* cost the true value of the parking space, not the subsidized amounts it does. (note: we drive everywhere, too, just like DZ and Groove)
First smooth paved streets in Chicago? Done for bikes.
“The bikes should have to pay yearly fees and get a license if they want bike lanes installed.”
That is an interesting point.
Frank Lloyd Wright house:
Someone commented on the bannister. Right, they’re not original. Some idiot added them years ago. I’m surprised the current owners, who’ve done a lot for the house, didn’t take these out and try to find something approximating the original. That would be my first project if I bought this place.
What about pedestrians? Should they pay too? Also one could argue about the health problems pollution causes as well. Should car owners pay towards healthcare costs of people with asthma for instance?
Jenny, sounds like a fat chick.
^ -comma
Bikers rule!! End of argument.
Now for dream contemporaries… not sure he will be needing this any longer so maybe shortly available.
http://www.slideshare.net/ycaro1201/maison-du-fils-kadhafi
Cars pay tolls for riding on certain roads. Maybe it could be the same with the bike lanes.
you want bikes on tollroads?
make sense, Groove.
gringozecarioca on June 21st, 2011 at 1:27 pm
“To repaint the Lincoln house, retile, and get rid of the wallpaper is 50K”
I know wallpaper *can* be a bitch to take down, but 50k to remove, repaint, tile (how many sq ft you thinkin here?)
Curious, what’s labor $hr? Only tilling, i would think, needs a pro.”
I’m including materials (so tile included) that are comparable to the Wolcott bathroom tile. The grey long tiles in the Wolcott house are Ann Sacks (I have them in my home) and quite expensive. Thus, I do think it will be this much to repaint and retile all the baths…to a level comparable to Wolcott.
“And you should have to pay for all of the externalities of your car driving if you want to have that attitude. ”
Bikers should pay. There aren’t that many increased externalities from riding a human powered bike vs. a moped with a 50cc engine yet the moped has to be licensed, insured and registered. Why should one category get a pass?
“I would like to find the least bike friendly city and move there”
Jenny, to start you on your job search: the cities with the lowest number of bicyclists are Kansas City, Memphis, Indianapolis, Wichita, and Omaha. Good luck!
Bob, you and Jenny should go get a beer together.
“a moped with a 50cc engine yet the moped has to be licensed, insured and registered.”
Yeah, but a moped with a 49cc engine does NOT.
And have you been near one of those nearly lawnmower-worthy engines? Some of them are worse than an average new car.
Love everything about this place….but the price. Little outta my range.
I do like the modern finishes in/out. It’s been hard to find that in multi unit places or condo buildings.
As Riz mentioned a lot of new and unoccupied places have graffiti. Noticed this on a lot of nice new places along/adjacent to Ashland (north of Chicago) too.
Hope city fixes its numerous deep potholes before it adds more bike lanes. It’s cute to see half-dressed girls peddling along showing a great deal of leg, but I drive all over N, NW, and W-sides and worry about flat tires and alignment. If I drove a moped, I’d probably fall into a pothole and never get out.
I’ve stopped riding a bike in the street because I’ve seen so many near-misses, and I’d probably hit a pothole and crack my head open. Our son was hit by a car in RF last summer while on his bike; guy drove through stop sign and made a left right into his left bike tire. Fortunately our son was fine, just shaken; bike wrecked.
“Hope city fixes its numerous deep potholes before it adds more bike lanes. It’s cute to see half-dressed girls peddling along showing a great deal of leg, ”
The other day I was walking down the east side of Halsted near Diversey and saw some guy changing a tire, didn’t think much of it.
Several hours later saw a different guy in a different car changing a tire in that exact spot so asked him about it. He pointed to a massive pothole 20 ft away.
A few days later another car in that exact spot with the AAA guy. Who knows how many tires that single pothole claimed in between but every time I walk by it there’s another victim LOL.
“A few days later another car in that exact spot with the AAA guy. Who knows how many tires that single pothole claimed in between but every time I walk by it there’s another victim LOL.”
And, if the city’s been notified of the hole, and the owner knows about the reg, they can get reimbursed for the damage.
“Yeah, but a moped with a 49cc engine does NOT. ”
In Illinois it does. Only certain states exclude under-50 CCs and as far as I know all mopeds are treated as a motor vehicle.
Let me know if not because I might pick up a 49cc one (if there are actually any decent ones, last time I checked only rare ones from the late 70s).
Interesting tidbit: a year ago at Best Buy they were trying to sell me an electric bike–since it’s not gas powered it’s exempt in Illinois, at least back then.
I love the “bikers r evilz!!” attitude here. Of course, drivers are perfect. Not a one of them acts like a complete, selfish prick with no regard for their fellow man. Nope, perfect they are.
The justifications that people make to prop up their choices are laughable. I’ve driven, taken the CTA, biked and walked in Chicago for the last 12 years of my life. It has been my experience that pedestrians, bikers and drivers are all complete asshats who only look out for their own interests. And they’ve all convinced themselves that the other groups are both evil and the root of all of Chicago’s transportation problems. That certitude of course gives them just cause to act like an even bigger asshat to the “others.”
I can only imagine the horror that is jenny behind the wheel. Would never take the CTA and thinks bikers don’t deserve to be on the road? I see vehicular manslaughter in the near future…
Bob: that hole has a traffic cone in it now. Last I saw it, it was sticking out of the hole with about half of it showing. Not very visible, IMO.
That intersection, BTW, is a great spot to watch pedestrians at their worst. There’s a left turn light from Diversey headed east to Halsted headed north. Pedestrians stay out of the intersection for that left turn light about 30% of the time, enraging drivers.
We’ve really got a strong system going for pissing off everyone in Chicago. Nobody follow the rules, everyone blame someone else.
You don’t need a motorcycle license under 50ccs, a regular drivers license is fine, but unlike some other states you need:
1) insurance
2) registration
3) plates
Unsure on
4) city sticker.
All for a bike with a slight uphill assist. What a joke.
“I love the “bikers r evilz!!” attitude here.”
The other day I walked by the scene of an accident between a biker and a car. It was much more jarring than a car-car collision. Blood on the ground, dude not moving, his bike pretty messed up, paramedics not there yet (fire was though, putting a brace on his neck).
Not sure who was to blame for that accident but someone was at fault and should pay a price for it. Maybe if cops ticketed bikers every now and again when they ignore traffic laws there would be less of this? I’m sure that guy would’ve rather gotten a ticket a few months ago vs. what happened to him now if he was at fault.
“In Illinois it does.”
Okay, yeah, it’s a HP and top speed test. Up to 1 HP, with a gas or electric engine, top speed of 20, is treated as a bike.
also bob you can’t park your 49cc scooter on the sidewalk either without getting a ticket, which IMO is crap and completely deters me from thinking about getting a scooter
guess a V10 sedan will have to do… LOL
“Okay, yeah, it’s a HP and top speed test. Up to 1 HP, with a gas or electric engine, top speed of 20, is treated as a bike.”
Basically half the power of the motor in my blender. So they set it so infinitesimally low that: 1) no practical application for this and 2) no off the shelf bike or parts for this threshold.
49cc/2hp and 30/35mph top speed was tough enough to make practical, but might be a fun project in states that allow it.
“which IMO is crap and completely deters me from thinking about getting a scooter”
I hate the overbearing government in Illinois. I think mopeds need a lobby to get similar laws enacted here as in the southern states where they could care less about your 49cc bicycle with an occasional 2hp assist.
“I hate the overbearing government in Illinois.”
Yet you call for the licensing of bicycles. You hate it except when it restricts something else you hate.
I always give bikers the rule of the road. Seems simple enough. Not a fair contest plus they are doing more work.
G – does this mean you are not going to post here anymore (per our bet)?
http://www.suntimes.com/business/6083246-417/home-sales-prices-in-the-chicago-area-rose-in-may-vs.-april
IAR inflates their sales price data by excluding certain sales. That’s a known fact. I would love to see their sales price statistics audited.
I saw a pedestrian (who had the walk symbol/right of way) get hit by a bike while crossing the street near my office in River North. The biker fell and then just got up and road off without saying a word to the woman he just hit. She was OK, luckily, thanks to strangers who helped her get up.
I suppose some drivers do things like that too, but it just seems like the vast majority of bikes care about no one but themselves and their carbon footprint.
“I suppose some drivers do things like that too”
Except that when a driver does it, the person they hit is rarely okay, and often dead.
Clio, you know you bet me that June 2011 Chicago sales volume would increase YOY from June 2010. So, you’ll be gone in another month. That is, if you are a man of your word.
I know today I said farwell to cribchatter (because I blew the bottom call)
BUT I came across the best example of the dumbest tv above the fireplace, ever.
http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/68/bigphoto/791/07838791_7_0.jpg
4228 N Tripp on Redfin
“BUT I came across the best example of the dumbest tv above the fireplace, ever. ”
That’s so awesome it hurts.
“Yet you call for the licensing of bicycles. You hate it except when it restricts something else you hate.”
I don’t really hate bikers and don’t really mind them. I just wish there was a way to reduce accidents with them. They always seem to lose in car-bike collisions–I think their self-preservation instinct is not well attuned.
“BUT I came across the best example of the dumbest tv above the fireplace, ever.”
It’s a tube TV so makes it cool/retro.
Reminds me of something my parents used to have: the concrete foundation had a cut out for the fireplace on the first floor which extended down to the basement. When finishing the basement a 32″ fit perfectly in there.
Worked out perfectly since the early 1990s till when they moved out when tube TVs no longer cut it. I always wonder what the new owners were going to put in there. Aside from a kegerator or mini fridge their options are limited. Different aspect ratios killed the tube TV star I suppose.
“BUT I came across the best example of the dumbest tv above the fireplace, ever.”
Why stop there? Lets just mount the sucker on the ceiling and lay on the floor!
“I suppose some drivers do things like that too, but it just seems like the vast majority of bikes care about no one but themselves and their carbon footprint”
Easy honey. Far too many people care about no one but themselves. Not just bikers, who are people too.
“Why stop there? Lets just mount the sucker on the ceiling and lay on the floor!”
lol…i saw something pretty close to that in a bathroom of someone’s house. i remember i could not stop laughing.
“Easy honey. Far too many people care about no one but themselves. ”
Isn’t that the quintessential American way, me me me and screw the others. If someone cares about others then they are terrible socialist : )
“Isn’t that the quintessential American way, me me me and screw the others. ”
Many other ‘socialist’ countries fit the description rather well too.
fair enough Ze.
There can’t really be any people who commute daily downtown via bike on this site. If so, you would have known about this……
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-police-crack-down-on-bicyclists-20110607,0,7331699.story
I do commute daily downtown via bike, and I had read that story. It was a terribly misleading headline. That “crack down” mainly consisted of interns from the city’s bicycling ambassador program reminding cyclists to stop for red lights and thanking them when they did. There were cops present, who mostly gave a “talking to” to a few cyclists who didn’t obey the law.
I’m a bike rider, pedestrian and car driver in the city, and I believe EVERYONE needs to follow the laws, and should be ticketed when they don’t, no matter which mode of transportation they choose. Stay safe, be kind, and smile!
““BUT I came across the best example of the dumbest tv above the fireplace, ever.”
Why stop there? Lets just mount the sucker on the ceiling and lay on the floor!”
CK,
how else are you supposed to watch your dirty movies? with a TV above the fire place your just asking for carpel-tunnel and neck pain with it above the bed on the ceiling once done your already in position to take a nap.
funny coincidence story, my buddy that lives in jeff park i talked about above commutes by bike to work.
he rides like an asshat but totally admits it. like i said i dont mind the stupid looking sponsorship jersey tight shorts carbon bike livestrong wristband riders, its all the other jackbutz that need to meet the end of my louisville slugger.
how in the heck could you have a bike lane and still end up in traffic, i dont get it! and these tree hugging fixie idiots dont understand how to use signals and just fly right into the left turn lane. then get pist when you almost hit them.
F’ing signal then merge safely you pricks, then there wouldnt be an issue.
and i dont give a flyin f***** if you stopping at stop sign makes you pedal harder to get back up to speed, you need to STOP as i treat you like other vehicles and expect you to stop then when you dont i get to test my reflexes. then my son starts crying all because you dont want to pedal harder you stupid fat azz.
the best of all are the mix matchers i call them, the ones who jump from sidewalk to street when ever they feel like it or when ever it suits them. if i am driving and see you on the side walk i assume your a pedstrian, if your in the street i treat you like another vehicle. but when your assclown idiocy jumps the curb randomly then what the f am i to do?
i swear one day if you see on the news a man going bat-tastic on these idiot cyclist then you know groove has snapped and will need to be committed.
we need to bring back hot girls on rollerblades trend as that will solve all problems.
Groove – hysterical. No matter what we will always have crappy bikers, drivers and pedestrians too. That’s just how it is. The sidewalk one is really annoying…only bikes on sidewalks should have kids under 10 on them.
Although if I had a choice – I would get rid of bad drivers over bikers anyday. They take up a lot more room and do a lot more stupid things. I always love the people who won’t pass you running or biking on the side of the road as they feel like they are getting too close. I mean come on…..a 20 foot wide road with 10 feet for parked cars leaves 10 feet for a car and a person to share. You can tell people really have no concept of the size of their cars. And if that is the case, they shouldn’t drive them on public roads.
oh and oddly enough….last weekend I saw 2 different girls on rollerblades…I even remarked on how it was unusual….maybe it is making a come back.
Michelle – “Jenny, to start you on your job search: the cities with the lowest number of bicyclists are Kansas City, Memphis, Indianapolis, Wichita, and Omaha. Good luck!”
Really? – http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/bfc_minneapolis.php
If you don’t like cyclists, I wouldn’t recommend Minneapolis.
Here’s a great video about cyclists and bike lanes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
JohnnyU — Indianapolis is bicycle unfriendly. Minneapolis is bicycle friendly. I know, I know, those Native American names all sound alike. 🙂
Speaking of car vs. bikes, here’s some lively talking as well, http://www.sloopin.com/2011/06/woman-hit-at-13th-and-wabash.html
“how in the heck could you have a bike lane and still end up in traffic, i dont get it!”
Daley’s pathetic sharrows are often too dangerous to be in. At least we have a mayor now who realizes that and is putting in protected lanes which will completely separate bikes and cars for the most part.
Might wanna work on that road rage too btw, no good comes out of that. Cars aren’t exactly innocent, just this morning on the opposing lane a car was double parked, the SUV behind it instead of yielding to me went around it and missed me by about 6 inches…
And yes, there’s a big education problem with bikers (fixable), but if you’re in a car they ain’t gonna hurt you, so why rage so much. Just chill out and let god sort em out.
groove do you stop your bike at stop signs if there are no other vehicles at the intersection?
Cars are supposed to yield for pedestrians in EVERY cross walk whether there is a stop light/ stop sign or not. I have thought about testing this out as NO ONE seems to follow it …..but it was always toyotas and hondas heading towards me….once I see a nice Porshe, Astin or Bentley….kidding!
up in evanston they put in this odd signs that say “stop here for pedestrians” by crosswalks. the “stop” is a smaller stop sign, it confuses drivers who see it an instinctively stop regardless of pedestrians. must have caused at least a couple rear-enders by now.
“but if you’re in a car they ain’t gonna hurt you, so why rage so much”
the rage is my car insurance will go up on the claim, I will be ticketed and get some random moving violation and my insurance will go up more. i will have the guilt of hurting another human unintentionally, i will be late to where ever i was going, if its a hipster i will be slightly happy but have more guilt cuz i was happy, i dont like testing my reflex skills, if its a tree hugger and all his organic groceries are all over the ground with him i will laugh but then feel guilty laughing and hitting the guy, i will probably know the cop on the scene and the bike will get the ticket i will feel guilty, if i hit a hipster and his fixie and he bleeds ironically through his tight jeans i will laugh so hard i will pee then i will need a new pair of pants, sometimes i drive without pant and that would be awkward, and what if i hit a fat guy and rip his lyrca shorts the image will scar me for life, what if i hit a hot chick it will go against all i believe in.
“groove do you stop your bike at stop signs if there are no other vehicles at the intersection?”
heck no, but if there is a cars around i do. when i do roll around the hood i only take sides streets and cross at lights.
most of my riding was on trails (pre little groove)
“Cars are supposed to yield for pedestrians in EVERY cross walk whether there is a stop light/ stop sign or not.”
i will stop if your walking, on a bike your a vehicle i will treat you that way dang hippies.
“Cars are supposed to yield for pedestrians in EVERY cross walk whether there is a stop light/ stop sign or not.”
OK, not to geek out on you, but this isn’t quite accurate. Since July 2010, the law was changed to require drivers to STOP for pedestrians in a crosswalk with no traffic control signals, or at an intersection where the traffic control signals are not functioning. If the stoplights are working, the pedestrian does not have the right of way in a crosswalk if they’re crossing against the light. The law previously only said that motorists had to “yield” to pedestrians, which no one could define any more clearly, but it didn’t mean STOP, as it does now. Also notice that pedestrians don’t have the right to dart out in front of cars, even though they have the right of way. Here’s the new law:
When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right?of?way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a moving vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
“Cars are supposed to yield for pedestrians in EVERY cross walk whether there is a stop light/ stop sign or not.”
OK, not to geek out on you, but this isn’t quite accurate. Since July 2010, the law was changed to require drivers to STOP for pedestrians in a crosswalk with no traffic control signals, or at an intersection where the traffic control signals are not functioning. If the stoplights are working, the pedestrian does not have the right of way in a crosswalk if they’re crossing against the light. The law previously only said that motorists had to “yield” to pedestrians, which no one could define any more clearly, but it didn’t mean STOP, as it does now. Also notice that pedestrians don’t have the right to dart out in front of cars, even though they have the right of way. Here’s the new law:
When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right?of?way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a moving vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
jaywalkers are funny in that they generally dont see bikes, they are looking for bigger threats. while biking i’ve had more near misses with, and been cursed more by, jaywalkers than motorists. only dickish thing motorist ever really do is tailgate and or honk bc they want me out of the way when there is nowhere for me to go.
“only dickish thing motorist ever really do is tailgate and or honk bc they want me out of the way when there is nowhere for me to go.”
You’ve never had someone *intentionally* swerve at you to scare you or turn right directly in front of you forcing you to stop? Consider yourself lucky.
oddly no. most of my on street biking is in the loop and river north, maybe the congestion has something to do with it.
“oddly no. most of my on street biking is in the loop and river north, maybe the congestion has something to do with it.”
All I can say is watch out for jenny.
And be *very* wary of Clark and Lincoln, especially cabs.
“You’ve never had someone *intentionally* swerve at you to scare you or turn right directly in front of you forcing you to stop? Consider yourself lucky.”
wouldnt it be funny if they guy (or Jenny) had a “share the road” bumper sticker on his car.
“wouldnt it be funny if they guy (or Jenny) had a “share the road” bumper sticker on his car.”
More likely a “Start Seeing Motorcyclists” sticker.
“More likely a “Start Seeing Motorcyclists” sticker.
oh boy, dont get me started on those loud azz motorcycles!
@ Michelle –
Geek
😉
“When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right?of?way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a moving vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.”
But what does that mean? If the speedlimit on a city street is 25 and the car is 10 car lengths away or so, I should be able to cross. Issue is most people are doing 40. I would never hop into the street as the car is about to get into crosswalk – but if the car is 10 car lengths away, I should have every right to cross.
“But what does that mean? If the speedlimit on a city street is 25 and the car is 10 car lengths away or so, I should be able to cross. Issue is most people are doing 40. I would never hop into the street as the car is about to get into crosswalk – but if the car is 10 car lengths away, I should have every right to cross.”
Does it mean I can run them down when they’re waddling across in the middle of the block?
A good friend of mine was riding his bicycle legally on the street and hit a JAYWALKING pedestrian and is now being sued by her.
This is what’s wrong with America.
“A good friend of mine was riding his bicycle legally on the street and hit a JAYWALKING pedestrian and is now being sued by her.
This is what’s wrong with America.”
EXACTLY. Get that scumbag hipster biking with the fixie off the street and onto an authorized legitimate trail like the lakefront path. the less bike in the street, the better.
“Get that scumbag hipster biking with the fixie off the street and onto an authorized legitimate trail like the lakefront path.”
But then he’ll get flashmobbed. Haven’t you heard that the element has completely taken over the lake front?
“But what does that mean? If the speedlimit on a city street is 25 and the car is 10 car lengths away or so, I should be able to cross. Issue is most people are doing 40. I would never hop into the street as the car is about to get into crosswalk – but if the car is 10 car lengths away, I should have every right to cross”
It means that at a marked zebra crosswalk, you can’t dart out in front of a car at the last second, but yes, if you are obviously trying to cross the street and there is any chance the car CAN stop, it MUST stop to let you cross. As you said, the problem is mostly that 1/ cars are going faster than the posted speed limit and 2/ they are more afraid of getting rear-ended by the car behind them than they are of getting caught breaking the law and getting a $200 ticket, so they buzz right by you.
“Geek”
Thank you!
“EXACTLY. Get that scumbag hipster biking with the fixie off the street and onto an authorized legitimate trail like the lakefront path. the less bike in the street, the better.”
HD,
i love this post even more knowing that you ride your bike down elston where no hipsters dare to ride because they cant show off there cool deep v purple rims.
*full disclosure-I am almost done building my Fixie i am waiting for my matching colored chain to be delivered, i dont have a chain tool so will need to take it to a bike shop to have it put on.
Its very easy to build these and very cheap too. (except for the wheels). you guys should check out origin8 products very low cost.
I’d like the PK Ripper (SE’s re-issue trend speed/fixie), but with freewheel/rear-hand break and a few speeds.
walmart has a five dollar chain tool groove. wont last forever but i’ve used it a few times
“walmart has a five dollar chain tool groove. wont last forever but i’ve used it a few times”
The *good* one is only $25 on amazon.
The law is that if you ‘dart-out’ into the street as the cases are called you have a 50/50 chance of recovering money from a jury. And given those odds, a lot of dart-outs go to jury. One particular dart out case I first chaired on its way to jury, eventually settled at pre-trial for $75,000, Plaintiff asked for $450,000 (broken femur among other things, necrosis of the bone, hardware removal and reinstallation, messed up gait, etc) – but at pre-trial the judge said, “Based on the facts you’d probably get nothing at jury, but I’ll recommend $75,000 to pay your medical bills, but that’s it.” $75,000 it settled for.
Enough war stories about auto v. pedestrian accidents.
“walmart has a five dollar chain tool groove. wont last forever but i’ve used it a few times”
“The *good* one is only $25 on amazon”
remember a few things, i wont be building a bike again, i take my “real” bike to the shop for tune ups and fixing. so though the $5 and $25 are good options just doesnt fit my plan.
the only reason i built this fixie is because i just learned about them earlier this year and wanted to see whats all the hype. got a free Schwinn from a friends garage and have some free time and need a hobby since im not playing softball this year.
“the only reason i built this fixie is because i just learned about them earlier this year and wanted to see whats all the hype.”
Poseur.
“Poseur.”
i will concede that point as the skinny jeans gave me an unsightly moose knuckle, so i could never truly “be down” anyways.
“the only reason i built this fixie is because i just learned about them earlier this year and wanted to see whats all the hype.”
They’re fashion accessories and quickly becoming stale. Shoulda gotten a mini velo.
mini velos are so gay
and tomorrows housing convo Summer Edition.. boogie boarders vs surfers vs swimmers….
as for rollerbladders, they take up the whole dam bike path… but that swing back and forth makes it ok. girls who rollerblade and rock climb seem to always have great bodies.
“honest question: of any 100 potential buyers for a $1MM+ property in your NW side hoods, how many would you say actually give ANY consideration to the fact that they can hop the blue line to O’Hare?
or, for another often-cited example, that they’re just a block/two walk to a bus stop where they can then get to the Brown line to then get to the Loop.”
I dunno about the Blue Line for the nice house/public transit combo, but I know a lot of people who make a ton of money who ride public transit everyday. A guy who I work with lives near me and does probably a 45 minutes bus/train combo every day. This guy makes seven figures and just prefers the public transit commute, I guess. I make six figures and mostly drive because I like to. I occasionally catch the train when it makes more sense for whatever reason. You shouldn’t just assume that everyone is just like you.
I think that the subject property would be a great deal at around $1.2 million. If the owner will sell it there, I think that someone will snap it up. Not everyone who has money is Johnny and Mary Suburban Mindset.
jenny: A bike once yelled at my for walking on the “wrong” side of the sidewalk
The hell with building my own fixie, I want one of those talking bikes that jenny mentioned.
“as for rollerbladders, they take up the whole dam bike path… but that swing back and forth makes it ok”
let them take the whole path and run you into the grass. have you ever been mad at a *woman rollerblader? enough said.
Why don’t overweight people rollerblade, BTW? It is easier than walking after all so shouldn’t it appeal to the less physically active?
Overweight people don’t rollerblade because then they would spill their Big Gulp.
Groove, now that you mention it, I’ve never been mad at a surfer girl in her bikini stealing my wave either. They really do have magical powers.
“Why don’t overweight people rollerblade, BTW? ”
i would assume the ankle support would be scary? and like ZE said you cant eat your flaming red hots and rock a slurpee while skating!
“Groove, now that you mention it, I’ve never been mad at a surfer girl in her bikini stealing my wave either. They really do have magical powers.”
there is two reason men do what they do and that is one of them.
Bikers are terrible in Chicago. I had nothing against bikes, I own one I used to ride occasionally. But all the hardcore biker types have ruined it. I’ve been yelled at, cursed, and literally spat at by bikers over nothing. I once made a right turn into a parking lot from a right lane down by the post office on canal. The biker behind me got irate because he had to use his brakes. I lowered my window to say “sorry I didn’t see you.” His immediate response was to attempt to spit a big glob of phlegm right in my face. How civilized. I was soo lucky it just barely hit the door of my car. The next occasion I was unloading from my car with my door opened into the bike lane. My door was already openned before any bikers were in the area. There was also no traffic on this part of north kenmore, so I wasn’t impeding anyone. Then a female on a bike rides by and starts name calling and just keeps going. So I guess you don’t even have a right to get out of your car when you are parked next to a bike line from their perspective. Then I needed some part time help for my small business. This guy shows up and just assumes its ok to bring his bike indoors, which I didn’t mind, but then he pulls this stunt of intentionally not working like day dreaming when I’m not looking, then when I walk in the room he suddenly starts working again. This was in his first day, his first freakin few hours on the job. Needless to say there wasn’t a second day. On youtube there are some good videos of bikers intentionally blocking cars and one gets his bike run over and the cops don’t do anything, some funny stuff. I’m sure there are a lot of upstanding courteous bikers out there, but unfortunately a great many of them are broke as a joke and have a grudge. One externality is that they slow down every car driver, who are on average more productive to society. Yep, every biker over 16 should be licensed, registered, and taxed like cars. It’s not right for them to be anonymous little terrors of the road.
Sold: 1.25M. http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/915-N-Wolcott-Ave-60622/home/12563069