Bicyclist Suffers Multiple Fractures Following Logan Square Hit and Run

A 35 year old bicyclist is still suffering the painful effects of being struck by a hit and run driver on the night of February 21, 2013.  The crash occurred at the intersection of West Logan Boulevard and North California Avenue in the city's Logan Square neighborhood at around 11:00 p.m.  

The cyclist was riding in the right westbound lane when he entered the intersection, the light green in his favor.  He had a bright white light flashing on the front of his bike.  When he reached the middle of the intersection an eastbound vehicle turning left smashed into the cyclist's rear wheel throwing him onto the car's hood, according to another cyclist who witnessed the incident,   The victim and witness both say that immediately after the crash the driver stopped, got out of his vehicle, said he was sorry, then got back into his car and drove away.  In pain and in shock, the bicyclist had the wherewithal to snatch the car's license plate number before the driver got away.  My law firm has been retained to represent the cyclist and is in the process of tracking down the driver.

The collision occurred not far from the victim's home.  The cyclist who witnessed the crash played the role of good samaritan and helped bring the injured man and his crumpled bicycle back to his apartment where the police were called.  As the night progressed, and the initial shock and adrenalin rush started to abate, the pain came.  Smartly, the cyclist got himself to a nearby immediate care clinic where he was diagnosed with a fractured rib, broken collar bone and broken scapula.  His recovery is proceeding slowly.

Emergency Fund Created For Bike Messengers Hurt On The Job

I have had low paying, tough-as-hell jobs that I loved.  But I've never been a bicycle messenger.  No one becomes a bike messenger for the money, or the glamour.  I have know plenty of messengers and represented more than a few.  It is a damn dangerous, dirty job.  That's why the Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund was created.

Created by messengers for messengers, The Fund is a, "non profit public charity organization that provides emergency compensation to bicycle messengers who are hurt on the job. Currently the BMEF allocates a $500 emergency cheque to help messengers anywhere in the world during the first week of injury. This provides a boost, to both the financial and the mental/emotional state of the injured messenger."

Click here to learn more.  Please consider giving to this worthwhile organization.

Want To Learn To Ride The City? Here's Your Chance

Wanna learn to ride the city?

Then let's do this together.  Jane Blew Healy and I will teach the League of American Bicyclists' Traffic Skills 101 course in April at the REI store in Lincoln Park.  The TS 101 course is the foundation of the League's Smart Cycling program which is "designed to develop your knowledge and expertise in the craft and science of bicycling."  It provides the first building block for adults to learn to ride with confidence and competence.  It is strongly recommended for adult commuters, city cyclists and newbies (or aspiring newbies) alike.  It is also the prerequisite course for those interested in becoming a League Certified Instructor.  The program consists of nine hours of in class and on the road course work.  The class room portions will be on April 15 & 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at REI's awesome community classroom in its store located at 1466 North Halsted.  We are presently working on the details of the road riding portion, but it will take place in a nearby parking lot and on nearby streets.

Jane and I are certified instructors by the League of American Bicyclists and have been involved in Chicago's vibrant cycling community for many years.  Jane is past president of the Active Transportation Alliance's board of directors and co-founder of Cycling Sisters, a group that encourages women to get more involved in cycling.  She is a mom and is often seen schlepping her kids around town on her bike.  She is an all around awesome woman.  I am a bicycle attorney, legal columnist for Urban Velo magazine, biking advocate and everyday cyclist.  You can learn more about my background here.

Save your spot in the class by emailing me at bhk@mybikeadvocate.com.  Please provide your name, age, email address and telephone number.  We will be back in touch in a few days with the particulars, including cost of the program.  

Skokie Bicycle Commuter Thrown High Into The Air By Minivan To Be Compensated

The case of a 33 year old bicyclist thrown 15 feet into the air by a minivan while commuting to work in Skokie has resolved successfully.  The male lab technician will be compensated for his injuries and the extensive damage to his bicycle thanks to a settlement reached in the case by my law firm late last week.

The cyclist was riding at a moderate pace along the right side of 7501 Lincoln Avenue in Skokie on the morning of October 24, 2012.  As he pedaled north a 1999 Plymouth Voyager emerged from a parking lot on the opposite side of the street.  The driver rocketed across Lincoln Avenue in an effort to enter Sigler's Auto Center on the north side of the street and slammed into the unsuspecting bicyclist, throwing him in to the air.  He landed hard on his helmeted head and left shoulder, sustaining a mild concussion and soft tissue shoulder injury.  He spent several weeks undergoing physical therapy, but has recovered fully.

Automobile Association Unveils Bicycle PSA

I love this bicycle PSA video unveiled at this week's National Bike Summit by AAA.  Wait, what?  You heard me, AAA, the American Automobile Association.  Bicycle advocates and AAA have apparently found some common ground on the whole us vs. them thing.  You see, the thing is there is no cars vs. bikes.  As the video highlights, we are all just moms, dads, sons and daughters using one tool or another on the road to get from place to place.  Thanks AAA for helping us remember that.

Car Company Creates Bicycle Detection System

Volvo tries really hard.  It pioneered the use of the three point seatbelt as standard equipment.  More recently, it started looking into external airbags to protect pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a collision.  Now, those brainy Swedes are at it again, developing what it calls a "cyclist detection" system.  The idea is to assist the driver with braking should a sizable object, like a bicycle or pedestrian, suddenly serve into the vehicle's path.

I am a bit concerned that technology like this may encourage drivers to be more passive behind the wheel.  An over reliance on such technology could discourage drivers from simply paying attention.  I'll check my email real quick.  If something swerves in front of me the car will just stop itself.  Scary.  On the other hand, humans have always been fallible, and I for one have to tip my (cycling) cap to Volvo for continuously seeking to address that continuing truth, and for its willingness to consider how bikes and cars may interact with each other.  Tack själv.

Behold The "Helmet Of Justice," Wearable Tech For Bicyclists

Helmet of Justice

It seems that wearable tech will be the next-big-thing, what with the buzz surrounding Google glasses and products like the Jawbone Up.  Tech studio Chaotic Moon is joining the march toward the future with the "Helmet of Justice," wearable technology for bicyclists.  The concept is quite brilliant really:  Take a skate style helmet and fit it with seven tiny cameras that activate in a crash.  The idea developed as a means to create a video record should the cyclist be involved in a crash.

Locating the means to corroborate a bicyclist's version of events following a crash is one of the biggest challenges I commonly face representing cyclists.  Sometimes witnesses are available.  Often they are not.  Riding with a video camera is a great way to protect your rights should you be the victim of a careless driver.  A video recording may demonstrate just how a crash occurred.  It may capture the license plate of a hit and run driver.  However, a camera, even a small one, is just one more piece of gear you need to schlep with you when riding your bike.  A helmet is something many urban cyclists ride with anyway.  Having one that can preserve valuable evidence following a crash would be fantastic.  I am not aware of anyone testing the "Helmet of Justice," so I do not know if it will live up to its promises.  For it to be a truly viable option for the urban cyclist it will need to be light, comfortable, durable and reliably function as advertised.  It would also need to be reasonably priced.  The company developing the helmet expects it to sell for about $300.  Not bad. . . if it truly delivers.