Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

Two Chicago men plead guilty to taking turns running down bicyclists in Brookfiled on May 31, 2009. Erik Fabian, 20, and Armando Reza, 18, were out driving when Reza bet Fabian that he wouldn’t hit a bicyclist. Fabian then proceeded to run into bicyclist David Silivis, knocking him to the ground causing scrape injuries. The two laughed about the incident and switched places driving. Reza then proceeded to run into a bicyclist named Juan Gamboa, knocking him to the ground.

Surprisingly, even though they both plead guilty to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and leaving the scene of an accident, Fabian got only probation and Reza got only 10 days in jail.

Given the fact that the bicyclists could have easily been seriously injured or killed the sentences seem too light. Bicyclists have enough to worry about without having crazy morons purposely trying to run them down.

As a frequent bike rider on the Chicago Lakefront “bike” path, I can attest that bicyclist injuries are common on the bike path. So are walkers, runners and bladers injuries. The scene is chaotic. Bikers, bladers, runners and walkers are all using the path along the beach. Some parents set up camp with their children on the street side of the path so kids are regularly running across the path. On top of all this some bikers and bladers go insanely fast given the conditions. Add to this, some parents along the Chicago bike path seem to have a death wish for their children and bring their young bicycle beginners to learn to ride among the chaos. I have seen more bloody injuries on the bike path then any where else. I have also seen the aftermath of a fatal bike-blader crash.

Common sense dictates that bladers and bikers need to go very slow when riding along the crowded beaches. Additionally, parents need to watch their kids and keep them from running across the path without looking. Lastly, a parent has to be crazy to take their beginning biker children to learn to ride on the Chicago lake front bike path. The path is not even safe for experienced adults.

Rob Sadowsky has headed Active Transportation Alliance for six years and has worked to make bicycling safer in Chicago. He has recently accepted a job to head the Bicycle Transportation Alliance in Portland. During his tenure at Active Transportation, Sadowsky has advocated for the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois to adopt a “complete streets” policy which means streets that accommodate not only cars but also bikes and pedestrians. The city of Chicago has adopted the policy and now city engineers are trained to take into account bicyclists and pedestrians when designing new roads.

Sadowsky still sees areas where the city is still lacking. One of the top priorities for the Alliance is to have bike lanes in Chicago physically separate from from the car lanes. This is being done in other United States cities and in Europe. After all, a bicycle is no match for a car and Chicago bicyclist are injured by cars every week, especially in the summer. It is simply not safe to ride ones bike down a busy street like Western Ave. in Chicago, though many people do. Many more people would ride bikes in Chicago if it were safe to do so.

The Illinois House and Senate have passed a law that would help protect Illinois bicyclists and pedestrians being harassed by motorists. Senate Bill 2951 would make it a crime to ride unnecessarily close to, toward or near a bicyclist, pedestrian or a person riding a horse. If the violation results in great bodily harm, the motorist could be charged with a felony. The legislation awaits the Governor’s signature to become law.

The law would be especially relevant in Chicago where some motorists seem to be openly hostile to bicyclists. In recent weeks, Chicago bicyclists have been injured by motorists who appear to have intentionally hit the bicyclists with their cars. This law will address situations where motorists are driving close to bicyclists just to harass them.

Various Chicago organizations are sponsoring Chicago bike to work week from June 12 to June 18, 2010. This is a great opportunity for bike riders to come out in force to show that Chicago bicycle riders have the same rights on the road as automobile drivers. Such high profile events can also encourage the police to enforce the law that states that automobile drivers cannot drive or park in the bike lanes. Many Chicago bicycle accidents are caused by cars driving in bike lanes when cars have stopped in front of them. I have personally had a motorist drive directly in back of me while I rode my bike in the bike lane in Chicago. He even beeped his horn when I refused to surrender the bike lane to his car.

Tuesday afternoon, after a yelling match with a bicyclist regarding lane space, a female motorist in Chicago revved her engine and intentionally tried to run over bicyclist Tim Heath with her car at the corner of Milwaukee and Diversey. Four witnesses back up the story of the bicyclist. The car ran over the Chicago bicyclist’s foot and leg causing a laceration to his leg. The bicyclist got the driver’s license plate number and turned it over to the police. The police made contact with the driver and made arrangements for her to turn herself in. The police have yet to announce what if any charges will be brought. Hopefully, the police will take the case seriously and charge the driver with aggravated battery like she deserves. With the number of bicyclist injured by cars in Chicago, police should make a special effort to protect bicyclist, for example, ticketing motorists who drive in bike lanes to cut around stopped cars. Maybe that way there will be less Chicago bicycle accidents involving cars.

Mary A. Rehn, 67, got 42 days in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for running down a teen bicyclist in downtown Naperville, Illinois. The teen was riding his bike on Washington Street when Rehm came up behind the bicyclist in her car and started honking her horn. Rehm then floored it but the teen was able to jump off his bike before the bike was hit. Rehm then drove off, dragging the teen’s bicycle under her car. The teen stated that Rehm acted intentionally and that the crash was not an accident.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that that the federal government is going to give bicycling the same importance as automobiles and trucks in planning and selection of federal projects. Secretary LaHood posted on a government blog: “This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized”. LaHood’s blog recommends, for example, including biking and walking lanes on bridges and clearing snow from bike paths.

LaHood’s announcement was praised by biking organizations such as League of American Bicyclists along with local Chicago bicyclist groups.

A 48 year old man was struck and killed as he rode his bicycle across Chicago Avenue at the intersection of Lawler Avenue and Chicago Avenue in Chicago. The accident happened at 4:30 pm. The bicyclist, who was identified as Jerry Simpson, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:51 p.m.

The driver of the car, Victoria Fobbs, 26, was cited with negligent driving and failure to reduce speed.

With the nice weather there have been many more bicycle accidents in Chicago. Bicyclists need to be sure to wear their helmets to avoid traumatic head injuries.

Roscoe Village Bikes is selling a bike that was specially build for Chicago bicycle commuters. The bike, called the “Four Star” (like the Chicago flag) comes with Kevlar lined tires that are more puncture resistant and reflective sidewalls that are more visible. The bike also comes with full fenders to prevent mud from being sprayed on to the back of the biker. It comes in a blue and white color scheme.