Going Car-Free, Bicycle Commuting for a Legal Professional (Am I Missing Something)?

ADAP7IVE

This is a complex issue, so please bear with my long explanation. I've had much luck on the site before, so I'll leave it to my fellow Answers members to help where they can.

I'm seriously considering going car-free and using only a bicycle (and public transit if the need arises) for transportation once I move to Chicago. Bike commuting sounds like a cost-effective, fun, healthy, and environmentally-friendly way to go, but my parents insist I'm an idiot for a) not keeping a car, and b) paying over $1000 on a bicycle and equipment (get a $100 wal-mart bike instead, my dad says).

From my research and talking to friends who bike-commute (one who hasn't owned a car since 1989 and manages with two young kids), $1000 is on the low end of decent functional bikes, whatever they're built for. In addition, riding a wal-mart bike is far less comfortable than a "decent" functional bike, and will probably kill my opinion of commuter cycling as well as my physical ability to ride for long distances.

I had attributed my family's response to the strong car culture in the US (cars are for adults, bikes are toys), but the strength of their aversion to the idea is giving me doubts. I guess I'm looking for a wider survey on whether I'm totally off on my idea or if I'm nuts to expect that a bicycle is a viable mode of transportation in Chicago, IL for a legal professional. Thanks for your help, everyone.

PS Yahoo's categories are biased, too: the transportation section refers specifically to cars, without a cycling subsection, so I posted in the sport section, where cycling is placed.
That's true, I don't know much. I haven't even owned a bike for ten years. But I'm convinced the theory is sound.
I should have been more specific: I'm going to be living in East Hyde Park. I just finished being a hermit for the CA bar exam, so no telling yet where I'll be working.

In light of all your helpful comments and my uncertainty of the length and terrain of my ride, I'm considering a touring bike. Perhaps a Surly LHT w/ disc brakes?

Answer
If a cycle is going to be your only form of transport then you need to get a reliable one, and 1000$ is the starting point for reasonable cycles.

Get along to a reputable cycle store, explain to the staff what you need the cycle for, and they will show you cycles that will be suitable, and reliable. All of the bigger cycle companies have a range of cycles that will suit you, so just try them out, and buy the one that feels right for you.

Don't forget that you are also going to need extras, such as lights, tool kit, pump, spare tubes, mudguards, probably a rack or panniers to carry things, and probably a complete sets of cycling suitable clothing, along with a helmet.

I can't help you with your family's attitude to your plan, but I can speak from experience and say that using a cycle as transport can work because I've done it myself.

Many years ago I realised that almost all of my driving was by myself, and mostly over short distances, so it made sense to ditch the car, and use my cycle to commute.
Whenever I needed a car, I hired one, and for most years the money I spent on car hire was less than what I would have been paying to insure a car.

I returned to car ownership when I changed jobs, and I couldn't afford the 2 hours a day it would take me to commute by cycle, although I did still do it 2 or 3 times a week.
Now my partner is disabled, a car is a necessity rather than a luxury, but I still cycle more each week than I drive alone.

Rahm blasts Chik-fila bc it doesn't represent Chicago values.Do strip clubs, gang wars, sex shops represent?

TAT

Chicago values better?
Joe, Chickfila is not refuisng service or employment to anyone

Answer
Homosexuals make up less than 4% of the population. Christians make up a much greater percentage regardless of how it is defined. Why is it, according to politicians, so "wrong" to say anything negative about homosexual behavior but they have no qualms about bashing Christian beliefs?

Rahm is just telling the world that Chicago has no values.

JOE: Except liberals have banned certain cooking oils in restaurants, large soft drinks in NYC, require seat belts in cars, and require helmets to ride motorcycles or bicycles (in many places). So much for doing what I want with my body.

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In California, can a 17yrold ride a bicycle on the sidewalk without a helmet ?

poweredlac

Here's the law:
A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, or ride upon a bicycle as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4 bicycle helmet standard), the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling, or the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM F-1447 standard). This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

Can I?
Let me make things more clear, It doesn't say anything about a SIDEWALK

Answer
You did your homework and answered your own question. Yet you ask us if it is OK to break the law.
Another name for a sidewalk is pedestrian walkway. Therefore you can't ride on the sidewalk.
Buy and wear a helmet. Ride on the street with the flow of traffic. Do you know how fortunate you are to be living in a part of our country where you can ride at least 10 months a year? I reside near Chicago IL and only have good riding weather about 5 to 6 months out of the year.
Edit,
No matter what section 890.4 states, you cannot ride a bicycle on a sidewalk. Sidewalk is a pedestrian walkway.

do i need to know anything important before bike riding on bike lanes in chicago?

Anthony

Its finally summer, and for once i plan on using the old bike in my garage to go places. Are there any rules or things i should know before I hit the streets?

Answer
Designated bike lanes are a joke! Separate but equal? My @ss! All a bike lane does is put you in the "no zone". "No officer, I didn't see the guy on the bike." Or if they do see you - the ignore zone. Ignore 'em, they got their own lane.

The most common occurrence in a bike lane is the old "right hook". Cars will pass on your left & make an IMMEDIATE right turn DEAD in front of you. As you approach a 3 way or 4 way intersection in a bike lane, scan around for cars possibly looking to turn. That's why a helmet mirror is important.
http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Zone-Bicycle-Helmet-Mirror/dp/B003LVHZ4O/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top/189-4719599-8876809

And what happens if you need to make a left turn? Now you are forced to cross out of the bike lane and cross one (or more) traffic lanes to get into the proper lane.

Rules? You follow the SAME rules & regulations as motorized traffic. Plus there is a separate set of laws for cyclists. http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a143.pdf See the illustration on page 7? Forget it!!! That shows a line of bicyclists riding way TOO close to the curb! NEVER ride next to the curb. A) Puts your tires in a vulnerable spot to pick up road debris causing flats. B) Motorists don't SEE you. ALWAYS ride away from the curb 5 feet or so. ALWAYS go around parked cars leaving 5 to 6 feet of space - out of the "door zone".

To my knowledge, there is no law stating you MUST use the bike lane. If cars are parked to close, crossing the white line - or a delivery truck is blocking the bike lane - scan with that mirror - LOOK - signal & get out of the damn bike lane.

I repeat...designated bike lanes are a joke! Most are designed by engineers & city planners who never ride a bicycle.

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Cycling hats chicago?

bicycle helmets chicago image

Packman52

Does anyone know a good place to get a cycling cap in chicago?

Answer
Hat or helmet? Either way - a bicycle shop. Tons of 'em.
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=cycle+shop+chicago%2C+il.&oq=cycle+shop+chicago%2C+il.&gs_l=hp.3..0i5i30l3j0i8i30.8513.9880.2.10227.5.5.0.0.0.0.196.870.0j5.5.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.5.psy-ab.I9ZzPwvUFec&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43148975,d.aWc&fp=47365c5637b3a90e&biw=1024&bih=653

i heard if you do alot of reading you wont get alzheimer's. is that true?

Peter

Answer
not exactly. here are some ways to prevent it though:
Eat healthy. Your best defence against this disease appears to be in the food you eat. A recent study published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association found that people who eat the recommended amount of fol-ate have a much lower risk of developing the disease.

Fol-ates are B-vitamins found in leafy green vegetables, oranges, legumes and bananas.

But, "Although fol-ates appear to be more beneficial than other nutrients, the primary message should be that overall healthy diets seem to have an impact on limiting Alzheimer's disease risk," said Maria Corrada of the University of California Irvine's Institute for Brain Ageing and Dementia, who co-led the study. Antioxidant-rich foods are also extremely important.

Lead a healthy lifestyle. Things like avoiding tobacco and excess alcohol, exercising and staying socially active all are linked to a healthy brain, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

"The major way we've reduced the death rate from heart disease is through lifestyle changes: eating better, exercising more, smoking less," said David A. Bennett of Rush University in Chicago. "It would require a lot of people to change the way they live, but there's no reason to think we can't have the same impact on Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia."

To get a complete idea of the most risky lifestyle choices when it comes to your health and longevity, check out The Six Worst Lifestyle Choices You Could Make.



Playing chess and other mind-stimulating games helps keep your brain healthy.


Exercise your body. As mentioned above, regular exercise is important for your brain health. "Walking 45 minutes three times a week for six months significantly improved mental ability of older adults with no dementia; a randomly selected control group that did stretching and toning had no change," says Arthur Kramer, a psychologist at the University of Illinois.

Exercise your mind. "Just keeping busy seems to tune the brain," says neuropsychologist Yaakov Stern of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. In a seven-year study of 1,800 older adults, Stern found that the more "leisure pursuits" a person had, the lower their risk of developing Alzheimer's. Leisure pursuits included:

â¢Visiting friends
â¢Playing cards
â¢Going to the movies
The key is to keep your brain engaged as you age. Try crossword puzzles, games like chess and checkers, reading, attending a lecture, volunteering or taking a class that interests you.

Avoid head injuries. Research has uncovered a strong link between serious head injury and Alzheimer's. You can reduce your risk of head injury by always wearing a seat belt while driving, wearing a helmet on a motorcycle or bicycle and making sure to remove tripping hazards around your home.

Try to relax and stay positive. According to the Centre for Healthy Minds, elderly people who experience a lot of psychological distress (worrying, feeling insecure or nervous) are more likely to show signs of mental decline. In fact, one study found that people prone to high levels of distress were twice as likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease after five years than those who were prone to low levels of distress.

Further, adults who suffer from depression have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than those who show few or no depressive symptoms.

The Bottom Line

"It's hard to prove a lot of these things, but I'm convinced there's enough evidence that there is a cause-and-effect relationship," said Gary Small of the University of California at Los Angeles, who developed a "memory prescription" for Alzheimer's that includes a healthy diet, daily exercise and relaxation and memory exercises.

Indeed, clinical studies have yet to be performed to test many methods of Alzheimer's prevention, but when the techniques are employed in a population, benefits seem to be found.

And, as Small points out, there's nothing to lose, "We may not have conclusive proof. But the evidence is strong. And these are all healthy choices for other reasons."

hope this helps!

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In California, can a 17yrold ride a bicycle on the sidewalk without a helmet ?

bicycle helmets chicago image

poweredlac

Here's the law:
A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, or ride upon a bicycle as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4 bicycle helmet standard), the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling, or the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM F-1447 standard). This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

Can I?
Let me make things more clear, It doesn't say anything about a SIDEWALK

Answer
You did your homework and answered your own question. Yet you ask us if it is OK to break the law.
Another name for a sidewalk is pedestrian walkway. Therefore you can't ride on the sidewalk.
Buy and wear a helmet. Ride on the street with the flow of traffic. Do you know how fortunate you are to be living in a part of our country where you can ride at least 10 months a year? I reside near Chicago IL and only have good riding weather about 5 to 6 months out of the year.
Edit,
No matter what section 890.4 states, you cannot ride a bicycle on a sidewalk. Sidewalk is a pedestrian walkway.

Cycling hats chicago?

Packman52

Does anyone know a good place to get a cycling cap in chicago?

Answer
Hat or helmet? Either way - a bicycle shop. Tons of 'em.
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=cycle+shop+chicago%2C+il.&oq=cycle+shop+chicago%2C+il.&gs_l=hp.3..0i5i30l3j0i8i30.8513.9880.2.10227.5.5.0.0.0.0.196.870.0j5.5.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.5.psy-ab.I9ZzPwvUFec&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43148975,d.aWc&fp=47365c5637b3a90e&biw=1024&bih=653

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Are you required to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle?

bicycle helmets chicago image

snoopeh

I'm 15 y/o and I'm riding like roughly 30 minutes away to buy something. I just need to know if helmets are required by law because i don't want to come home with a fine.

Answer
the law depends on where you live. here in chicago we don't have one, but other places they do. it's up to your city and state. call your local public safety office, they should be able to tell you.

********************************************

i'm a commuter biker- i ride my bike for fun as well as transportation. i wear a helmet EVERY SINGLE time i ride, even if i'm only riding for few blocks.

i don't agree with bike helmet laws and believe it should be an optional thing.

i wear one because i know that every time i go out with it, drivers and pedestrians are automatically more courteous to me because they have a visual cue that i follow safety standards. i wear one because i am constantly aware of how "squishy" i am compared to almost everything else around me. i'm not willing to wear chain mail when i bike, but at least i'm protecting the most vulnerable part of me!

i also don't support helmet laws because i support the right for natural selection to do it's job. if a person is dumb enough to ride without one then i'm not gonna feel sorry for them when they end up paralyzed!

Do you think illegal immigration is responsible for the sharp rise in taxes?

Peanut But

My parents live in a town flooded with illegal immigrants. Their taxes this year went up $2000 this year. Coincidence ?

The home market is very slow in the Chicago area and property value has decreased too. Do you think this is a result of illegals not being able to purchase homes due to lack of documentation and income?

NOTE: I am not racist, nor did I make a racist comment in my question. I just believe in "Liberty and justice FOR ALL." However, that does not apply to people who are illegal. Until recently, you had to be LEGAL to benefit from what America has to offer. So for those of you who are going to pull out "the racist card" for this question and not have a reason why it is racist to be against illegal immigration, I will ignore your comments. I will colaps them with a thumbs down and consider you not intelligent enough to back up your statement.

Answer
I would say yes. when municipal taxes rise every year. (and we are talking local taxes here, not the federal taxes that pay for the war.) And the only difference in the town is the longer line at the market, where you have to stand behind an illegal buying food with the stamps we supply. then yes, my local taxes doubled in the last 5 years.

Siervocal; That war helmet is much cooler then the bicycle helmet you usually wear.

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