Traffic Independence

Let's all hope for a light traffic start to the holiday weekend...

Sunset through the Glass

Last Friday's sunset through the car windshield. Don't worry, it was the passenger side. Glad you can't see how spotted the windshield really is ;)

High Bridge

Finally figured out that this bridge, part of the Chicago Skyway, is called High Bridge. What an original name.

Summer (Traffic) in the City

Two reasons why I prefer walking to driving in general and definitely during the summer in Chicago.

Stand-Off

It was a stand-off. The traffic was stopped so the bridge could be raised so the Odyssey could sail up the Chicago River. But ...

The bridge wouldn't go up so the the Odyssey was stuck in place ... along with the traffic. I hope everyone involved at least noticed and enjoyed the pretty blue water (and the pretty blue sky) for a while why they were stuck.

A Hint of What's Coming

While I am glad this is not snow, it is something related: road salt.

A huge pile of road salt.

This one, in the East Side neighborhood, is probably one of many stashes around the city (Chicago does stockpile and can be a little selfish about its road salt). I'm glad we're prepared but I hope we don't need to use all of it!

Urban Transportation System

Let's see

Car - check
Taxi Cab - check
El - check
Bus - check
Truck - check
Bicycle - check
Feet - check

Not all the methods of urban transportation, but many of them. Too bad one of those stretch Hummer limousines wasn't cruising down the street when I took this picture.

Two-Way Traffic

The line of yellow buses going east and the boats lined up pointing west caught my eye.

(Click to enlarge the photo)

Traffic Cop

This seagull was making sure that everyone obeyed the traffic lights near Navy Pier.

Testing 1..2..3

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the Chicago Transportation guys were testing the gates in preparation for the upcoming sailboat "bridge runs". In the Spring, there are scheduled "bridge lifts" on Saturdays and Wednesdays so the sailboats can get to their summer homes (Chicago Harbors) from their winter homes (various boatyards). The first one is Saturday April 18.

Yes, I know --it ties up traffic.
But it is really beautiful to watch the sailboats come through.

Topsy Turvy

It never fails. I'm sitting in traffic and I see something that I want to capture to post here. But ...

my camera isn't out ...
the traffic light changes ...
the sun goes under a cloud ...
the intended subject moves.

I thought it was interesting that this cement truck had the Friends of the Chicago River logo on it. The cement mixer part was turning so one side was right side up for my view and the other side was upside down.

By the time I thought to take a picture and got out my camera, the upside down side was facing me.

And the turning light for the lane the truck was in was green.

I figured: Snap this picture now, and just flip the photo for the blog. I took the picture just as the truck started to pull away.

Doing the math, though, if the organization was established in 1979 (as it says), then its 25 year anniversary was in 2004 and this year will be its 30th anniversary.

Before and After

On Tuesday, Chicago got hit with a snow storm (well, we weren't the only ones -- I think the weather system effected most of the nation). We got a record snow fall (for December 16) of 4.8 inches. It started late afternoon so the evening rush hour was quite a mess. Traffic was backed up on Lake Shore Drive until past 8:00 pm. It usually looks this congested after the 3rd of July Fireworks display.After 3+ hour commutes, I wouldn't be surprised if drivers were seeing more like this ...