Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Bike Crashes

Looking southeast on Chicago and Milwaukee. Image: Google Maps

Driver, 90, Strikes Two Cyclists in West Town, Police Arrest One of the Cyclists

By John Greenfield | Apr 24, 2019 | 34 Comments

As the elderly motorist was striking the cyclists, one of them smashed his windshield. The cyclist was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, but the driver got off with a moving violation.

The crash site. Image: Google Street View

Driver Fleeing in Stolen Car Seriously Injured Cyclist in Terrifying Avondale Crash

By John Greenfield | Sep 5, 2018 | 3 Comments

A young father who was transporting his daughters on a cargo bike says the driver nearly struck them seconds before the crash.

Why the Driver Who “Left-Hooked” a Tiki Bartender on Her Bike Deserved a Ticket

By John Greenfield | Aug 22, 2018 | 8 Comments

In addition to being a bicycle advocate, I’m a longtime tiki bar aficionado. So few things make me angrier than a reckless driver seriously injuring a tiki bartender on her bike, and not even getting a traffic citation. That’s exactly what happened on the evening of Friday, August 10, when Desira “Baby D” Miller, who […]

Madison and Halsted, as it appeared last fall. Image: Google Street View

Another Cyclist Struck at Madison/Halsted, a Week After Angela Park Was Killed There

By John Greenfield | Aug 17, 2018 | 15 Comments

Fortunately the second bike rider was uninjured, but this latest collision is a symptom of dangerous conditions at this location.

Yesterday's crash took place at the intersection between Grand and the southbound exit ramp of LSD, 100 feet or so west of the flyover. Image: Google Street View

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Navy Pier Flyover Wouldn’t Have Prevented Yesterday’s Bike Crash at Grand/LSD

By John Greenfield | Apr 26, 2017 | 12 Comments

Details released by police today indicate that the bike bridge wouldn’t have made a difference in this case.

Andrew Berg and his children. Photo courtesy of Berg

Justice for South Side Dad Who Was Right-Hooked in 31st Street Protected Lane

By John Greenfield | Mar 3, 2017 | 5 Comments

There’s some good news in the case of Andrew Berg, a South Side father who was struck and injured by a right-turning driver while bicycling in the 31st Street protected bike lane last May. After suing the driver and winning the case in arbitration, yesterday he received a settlement to cover his hospital bills, pain […]

A close examination of CBS footage shows the cabbie (behind reporter) may have blown a red light. This screen shot shows the north-south Walk signal was activated just before the collision. Image: CBS

Once Again, Police Assume a Bike Crash Was Solely the Victim’s Fault

By John Greenfield | Feb 28, 2017 | 6 Comments

After a bike crash was inadvertently captured by a news crew, police ticketed the cyclist for blowing a red. But closer examination shows the cabbie may have disregarded his signal as well.

The intersection of Wellington and Racine. Photo: John Greenfield

After an Officer Seriously Injured a Cyclist in Lakeview, Police Blamed the Victim

By John Greenfield | Feb 15, 2017 | 17 Comments

The CPD argues the cyclist was at fault, claiming that she ran her stop sign. However, her attorney says the truth about the crash has yet to be determined, and the CPD's refusal to accept responsibility is yet another example of our city's larger problem of police accountability.

Pins distributed to Cann family supporters at the sentencing hearing. Photo: Bart Crouch

Court Transcript, Crash Videos Show Why Bobby Cann Sentence Was Unjust

By John Greenfield | Feb 9, 2017 | 5 Comments

In an effort to understand what might have motivated the judge's ruling, last week I viewed security-camera footage of the crash and analyzed the transcript of the January 26 sentencing hearing.

South Side Dad Says He Wants Justice After Being Right-Hooked on 31st Street

By John Greenfield | Nov 7, 2016 | 11 Comments

Andrew Berg, a McKinley Park resident who commutes year-round with his two small children from their home to Hyde Park via cargo bike, is trying to recover damages after being struck by a right-turning driver within a gap in one of the 31st Street protected bike lanes last spring. On Wednesday, May 25th, Berg was […]

Details on the Bike Crash That Took the Life of Fire Lieutenant Danny Carbol

By John Greenfield | Oct 13, 2016 | No Comments

There were at least four media-reported bike fatalities and three serious injury crashes in the Chicago area during the 12-day stretch from September 19-30. During that same period, on September 20, Chicago Fire Department lieutenant Danny Carbol, 56, sustained serious brain damage in a bike-SUV crash in suburban Evergreen Park. Carbol died from his injuries […]

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