Overview
- A 35-year-old cyclist was doored on the 3200 block of South Halsted, which occurred Friday, and after striking the opened car door he fell into traffic and was fatally struck by a semi-truck.
- Police and witnesses identified the victim as Riley O’Neil, a Chicago Department of Transportation employee who led the city’s bike parking program and Complete Streets work.
- Officers cited the driver who opened the door for unsafe door opening, parking in a prohibited area, driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured vehicle, and the crash remains under investigation.
- The stretch of Halsted where the crash occurred has a paint-only bike lane, and safety advocates say a curbside protected bikeway with parking to the left or physical barriers would reduce dooring and vehicle incursions.
- CDOT and colleagues have held tributes and planned a vigil while the city faces at least three bicycle fatalities this year and may see renewed pressure to redesign streets and speed up protected-lane projects.