Drivers and bikers living together
The new bike ordinance has generated the usual driver vs. biker vitriol in online comments and blogs.
While I myself have no sympathy for drivers, I truly believe there needs to be a truce and a peace treaty between the two warring factions.
To that end, I propose the following concessions:
*For bikers: Registration, licensing and a biking course to ride on Chicago’s streets; a rule for no riding on sidewalks and no riding against traffic (i.e. in the left-hand lane); a must-yield-to-cross-traffic-at-intersections rule; a must-have-head-and-tail-lights rule; a must-signal-to-turn rule; and fines for non-compliance with the above.
*For drivers: Compliance with the ordinance (including no driving in bike lanes) should do.
*For the city: Enforce the ordinance, unlike the cell-phone ban; create actual bike lanes throughout the city rather than the signed lanes that the city tries to pass off as bicyclist-friendly; repaint existing lanes; and add lanes on busy streets (Michigan, North, State, etc.).
— Carl Pickerill, Chicago
Teaching driving
Your March 24 editorial “Driving — or not — at 16” brought back memories of my son getting his license. You state that parents should not cave in to pressure to get a learner’s permit if they don’t think their child is ready.
I disagree.
My original thinking had been to put it off until we thought our son was ready. But then research was published that showed the biggest problem with young drivers was lack of time (experience) behind the wheel. So at age 15 we enrolled him in a private driving school.
Did he get his license the minute he was legally eligible? No. He got it when we thought he was ready and after 150-plus hours behind the wheel with us.
Today my son is 23 and is an excellent driver and has never been in an accident. His friends call him Grandpa when he’s behind the wheel due to his conservative driving.
My suggestion to parents is instead of delaying the inevitable, take a proactive approach. Get the learner’s permit and then do your job as a parent. Teach them and don’t cave to their demands for a license until you have done your job.
— Phil Landon, Hanover Park
Oil prices
First they tell us that the weak dollar is causing high oil prices. Then they say that high oil prices are causing inflation.
Which is it?
— Paul Redfern, Aurora
Gasoline prices
When gasoline prices reach $5 a gallon, big oil and the government will scale back the price to $4.50 or $4.60 a gallon and we’ll all marvel at the great bargain we’re getting.
— Timothy D. O’Reilly, Chicago
