Bike Blitz (May 21, 2002)

by Jack Winans

After a few false starts and weather cancellations, the first 2002 Sheridan Road sidewalk 2002 bike blitz was a great success on Sunday, May 19. Six of Mayor Daley's Bicycle Ambassadors, Tom Samuels from the 48th Ward and ASCO volunteers assembled by Sheli Lulkin were stationed from Ardmore to Granville on Sheridan Road sidewalks. The campaign titled, “Don’t ride on the sidewalk” was essentially an education program designed to inform riders of the available bike lanes on Kenmore and Winthrop. The Chicago Police Dept. had requested this educational blitz prior to the onset of the new ordinance that mandates “plastic-strip booting” of bicycles on Sheridan Road sidewalks taking effect May 25.

Volunteers handed out leaflets explaining that Sheridan sidewalk bikers were breaking the law and gave them directions to the bike lanes on Winthrop and Kenmore. The leaflet also had a map of local bike paths and lanes. The leaflet was created by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation for CDOT and was sponsored by the city of Chicago’s “Safety in Motion,” CDOT, Ald. Mary Ann Smith and ASCO.

Sergeant Jeffrey A. Sacks and Patrolman Debbie Takaki from the 20th District were on hand to enforce the “no riding on the sidewalk” ordinance. These Chicago Police officers issued only warnings Sunday, with the exception of one sidewalk rider who fled the scene and rode his bike north on the Sheridan Road sidewalk after exiting the bike path at Ardmore. He was apprehended at Thorndale after a bike chase by both officers and issued a ticket.

Bicycle embassadors meeting at Ardmore

Biker Samuels with Sacks & Takaki

Police stopping biker at Ardmore

Biker on Kenmore lane