Two Chicago Area Bicyclists Killed One Day Before Remembrance Ride

On a day when bicyclists around the world will honor fellow cyclists killed by drivers, the Chicago area is mourning the death of two cyclists.  A woman in her 30s and an 83 year old man were killed in separate incidents about 12 hours apart yesterday.  Both were riding their bikes when they were struck by motorists.

At around 9:00 a.m. yesterday the woman, whose name has not been reported, was struck and killed "crossing Higgins Road at the exit ramp from northbound Route 53" in Schaumburg, according to the Daily Herald.  The Herald reported that according to Illinois State Police "witnesses differed as to whether the driver had exited the ramp and turned east or had been driving on Higgins" at the time of the crash.  The intersection is close to the Busse Woods Bicycle Trail.

Leonard Ratajczyk, 83, was struck and killed at around 9:10 p.m. by the driver of a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu as he rode his bicycle in the 7800 block of West Irving Park Road, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.  Both cyclist and driver were traveling westbound at the time of the crash, the Sun-Times reported.  The driver was cited for "for failure to reduce speed."

Tonight is the 10th Edition of The Ride of Silence.  Started in 2003, the event, which takes place at locations all around the world, consists of a slow remembrance ride in honor of bicyclists killed and injured by motorists.  Chicago's edition begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Richard J. Daley Center.  The ride will depart at 6:45 p.m. and proceed about 8 miles past the several ghost bikes installed around the city.  All are encouraged to attend.

The Gathering

Last night, certified instructors of League of American Bicyclists from northern Illinois, myself included, gathered in downtown Chicago to discuss and plan for 2013.  The meeting took place at the offices of the Active Transportation Alliance.  Here are some of the highlights from the meeting:

• Ed Barsotti, Executive Director of The League of Illinois Bicyclists discussed plans to launch  a "first-of-its-kind online bike safety curriculum."  The curriculum will consist of a challenging online test and dedicated website with modules emphasizing safe roadway practices for both bicyclists and motorists.  It will cater to both adults and children.  Importantly, the website will contain a teachers' account page to accommodate educators wishing to make the quiz a part of their own curriculum.  Read more about it here.

• The Active Transportation Alliance is considering drafting LCIs to provide pre-event cycling instruction for prospective participates in the popular Bike The Drive and Four Star Bike Tour events later this year.  

• Elizabeth Adamczyk, of the Ride Of Silence, is looking for passionate cyclists willing to organize rides in their towns to compliment well established memorial rides in Chicago, Bartlett and Arlington Heights.  Every year for the past 10, on May 15th bicyclists around the world gather to ride in solemn solidarity to honor and remember cyclists killed or injured by motorists.  Click here to learn more about the Ride Of Silence.  Elizabeth can be reached at emadamczyk@hotmail.com.

• Like statistics?  Well, on January 15, 2013, the very bike friendly city of Minneapolis released a report, Understanding Bicyclist-Motorist Crashes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, A comprehensive look at crash data from 2000-2010 and recommendations for improve bicyclist safety.  Among other things, the report reveals that as the number of cyclists increased in that city the crash ratios deminished.  In plain language, with an increase in the number of cyclists came an increase in the number of bike crashes.  However, any individual cyclist was less likely to be involved in a crash   ostensibly because motorists were more used to seeing bikes on the road.

Bicyclists Take To The Streets To Remember The Fallen

Yesterday, a few hundred riders across Illinois braved lousy weather and the siren song of Bulls playoff basketball to join many others from around the world in commemorating bicyclists killed and injured by motor vehicles.  The Ride of Silence occurs worldwide each year.  This time the ride included 126 riders in Chicago, 136 in Peoria, 58 in Joliet and 68 in Arlington Heights who solemnly cycled past several Ghost Bikes set up as memorials marking the sites of bicycle crashes.  Here is a link to photos from the Chicago ride.

Photos Of Yesterday's Ride of Silence

Yesterday was the Chicago Ride of Silence in honor of bicyclists killed by motor vehicles on city streets. The procession of bikes took riders from Daley Plaza in the Loop, north past several (too many) Ghost Bikes erected as memorials to riders who lost their lives. Serge Lubomudrov has posted some wonderful photos of yesterday's event. Click here to view them.

Chicago's Ride Of Silence This Wednesday

A reminder: The Ride Of Silence in honor of fallen bicyclists in this coming Wednesday, May 19th. In Chicago, riders will gather at 6:30 p.m. at Daley Plaza and will get rolling at 7:00 p.m. The ride will travel north past several ghost bikes placed in memory of cyclists killed on city streets. It will end at Damen & Wellington - the location of Liza Whitacre's ghost bike. Rides will also commence from a number of suburban locations. Click here for more details and to see how to participate in this worthy and important event.

Date Set For 2010 Bicycle Ride of Silence

A date has been set for this year's Ride of Silence tribute to bicyclists who have been injured or killed: May 19, 2010. Riders are to gather at Daley Plaza in Chicago at 6:30 p.m. The ride will begin at 7 and will wind for about 10 miles through the city past the many ghost bikes honoring fallen cyclists. Click here to view the Ride of Silence website to learn more.