Chicago cycling group opposes bike-fee idea

Biking on Chicago's streets can intimidate cyclists fearful of getting hit by a car. At the same time, cyclists can infuriate drivers when they ignore the rules of the road. It's the ever-present battle of bikes versus cars.
"As cycling grows in Chicago, and all around the region but especially in Chicago, we know that certain conflicts on the roadways are going to become more common,"
Chicago's cycling advocacy group is pushing for an approach to make the roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians in a way where all can co-exist and share the road

Education could be as simple as cyclists and drivers learn where bike lanes are, what traffic laws are in place, such as drivers yielding to cyclists, and what fines are for dooring cyclists, said Beth Mosher,at the editorial board meeting.

One more tool to promote safety is building more infrastructure separating bikes from cars. Since 2011, the city has built more than 45 miles of protected or buffered bike lanes.

In Chicago, there are 60 car crashes that result in injuries or deaths every day and 47 of those are people in cars and the remaining 13 are cyclists or pedestrians, according to the alliance. Recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show there were 8 cyclists killed in car crashes in 2012.

Mosher said:
"We need to talk less about the blame game , or these are my roads and what have you, and more about how are we all going to take responsibility and share the roads safely,"