WHAT'S NEXT A POLICE UNIT DEDICATED TO THE GOOSE LIVER RESTAURANT BAN?
A crackdown near downtown Chicago on bicyclists running red lights and disobeying other traffic laws led to dozens of warnings and at least one ticket Tuesday morning.
But the combination enforcement-and-education operation, conducted at the busy and chaotic intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Desplaines and Kinzie streets, may not have convinced all the violators to change their unsafe ways.
"I know the police have a job to do, but if obeying the law is going to cost me my life, I'm not going to do it," bicyclist Peter Walke said after being pulled over for two traffic violations -- riding in a pedestrian crosswalk and against a red light.
Walke told police officers that the location, on a popular commuter biking route used by hundreds of cyclists during rush hours, is extremely dangerous.
"I've been turned into (by drivers) a couple of times," Walke, 31, told the officers. "Cars will run into you. They don't like cyclists."
Walke agreed to follow the traffic rules in the future, and he was let go after being issued a flyer on traffic safety along with a verbal warning.
Police and officials from the city's bicycling ambassadors program said the enforcement operation went smoothly overall.
"Our priority is education," said Carlin Thomas, bike safety and education manager in the city' bicycling ambassadors program. "We partner with the Chicago Police Department to raise awareness and show visibility to all road users."
One of the red light tickets written Tuesday was issued to a bicyclist who "didn't like us being out here," said police Sgt. Patricia Maher.
"Most everyone was been pretty nice," Maher said. "A lot of the bikers we stopped simply said they didn't know you cannot blow through a red light."
Kate Patterson, one of the bicycling ambassadors, stood on one corner shouting out, "Go bikers! Thanks for stopping for the red," as stream after stream of bicyclists approached the intersection.
Most bikers smiled or waved, but some couldn't resist offering some feedback.
"Is this like bicycle Breathalyzer day?" bicyclist Justin Schmitz, 30, asked a police officer.
When he was told what the campaign was about, Schmitz said he supports it.
"If it will save some lives, why not?" He said. "There are as many crazy bikers as crazy drivers out here."
Authorities said changes in the traffic-control signals are needed at the intersection, which has been the site of numerous vehicle, vehicle-bicycle and vehicle-pedestrian accidents.
"The lights are timed awkwardly and the pavement striping is not effective," Patterson said.
As she spoke, city crews were restriping Kinzie, part of a project that the Tribune reported about on Monday to install protective bike lanes from Milwaukee to Wells Street.
Tuesday's sting operation was prompted in part by complaints from aldermen that police should do more to go after bicyclists as well as motorists who ignore traffic laws.
But some bikers felt singled out.
"Are the police tagging cars too today for running red lights?" said bicyclist Paul Jurkowski, 48, who police stopped for riding in a crosswalk. The law requires cyclists to walk their bikes in crosswalks.
"When are you targeting cars?" Jurkowski asked a police officer. "I'd like to see it."
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