Chicago officials are renewing an ordinance to discourage cyclists from riding on some of the city's sidewalks, while bike advocates argue the city isn't doing enough to make the streets safe for both pedestrians and bike riders.
"Every summer, bicycle riders and pedestrians grudgingly compete for space on crowded lakefront paths, streets and sidewalks all over the city.
This year, the battle between bikers and pedestrians has heated up a notch with the renewal of an ordinance aimed at keeping bikers from pedaling illegally on the sidewalks next to Sheridan Road in Edgewater.
North Side Ald. Mary Ann Smith (48th) recently resurrected an expired 2002 ordinance that would hit cyclists 18 years and older with a $250 fine for riding on the sidewalks between Hollywood and Devon -- well above the $25 fine for doing the same thing on other city sidewalks.
You'd face a lighter fine if you drove your car on a Chicago sidewalk."
"But the measure doesn't sit well with cyclists who say they stick to the sidewalk because they're afraid of being hit by speeding cars on Sheridan...They suggest that the city look into redesigning Sheridan to make it easier for bikers, motorists and pedestrians to co-exist."
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