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Bicyclist Killed on Southside - Any Details on Who this was?

A bicyclist was killed in a hit and run - does anyone know who this was?



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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 18, 2011 at 7:27pm

Tried the Sun Times again, tried to express that people are interested in this-- the guy spoke in a weird croaking voice I could barely understand but all he could say was call the Medical Examiner's office.

http://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/35231868/chicago_il/cook_coun...

I'm not going to be able to during daytime hours.

Permalink Reply by Mike Keating on January 18, 2011 at 8:00pm

First, my point (as you reference) was simply that Bridgeport/Canaryville/Pilsen, etc. are only recently seeing a large influx of bicyclists. I wasn't saying anything more than that.

Second, I am well aware of the infrastructure in that area for bike lanes. Remember, after all, where Chicago's most famous bicyclist lived most of his life. Also, did you read my blog post? I mentioned riding the Halsted bike lane down to Comiskey many, many years ago.

Third, I agree that overall those neighborhoods are safer for bicyclists as there is a lower population density.

Again, my post was not in the least a criticism of those neighborhoods. I love those neighborhoods. My grandfather worked at the Stockyards, my parents are both South Siders (Beverly and Roseland) and I am as big of a Sox fan as you'll meet.

Trust me when I tell you that I was in no way trying to criticize that area. It was a simple observation that I fear there will be more accidents in those areas as the numbers of bicyclists increase and the locals aren't used to being around bikes as much. That's all. No need to criticize me. Thanks.

 

lauren sailor said:


Mike Keating said:

I just did a blog post on this on www.ILBicycleLaw.com. Hit the link to go to the post.

 

I've been concerned for a while that Bridgeport/Canaryville/Pilsen is seeing a greater influx in

 

I haven't looked up the data, but I have a hunch that there is a lower population density in Bridgeport/Canaryville/Pilsen than on the north side. As far as I'm concerned this is a great thing, as there tends to be fewer cars on the road, fewer cabs double-parked in the bike lane, fewer drivers trying to door me, and less traffic chaos overall. On the north side, I've often encountered a palpable feeling of entitlement that I haven't found in south-side working class neighborhoods, either. Sure, drivers in B/C/P might still door you because they don't know to check their mirrors, but at least they'll apologize instead of yelling at you for dinging their Jetta and interrupting their iPhone conversation... aah, stereotypes :)

 

I take issue with the comment that the B/C/P areas are somehow ill-equipped for bike traffic, however. 26th, Archer, Canal, and Wabash make bike travel easy in Chinatown; Pilsen has 18th, 21st, Blue Island, Loomis, Damen, and Halsted specifically marked for cycling, not to mention hidden gems like Racine, 16th, and Canalport. Travel through and out of Bridgeport is facilitated with the Lyman/Loomis pass, Racine, Archer (for the brave), Halsted, 29th, and 33rd. The streets just east of Halsted (Emerald and Union) are great options for anyone squeamish about traffic on Halsted.

 

With a solid infrastructure in place, I can only assume you mean motorists are underinformed when you hint that the Bridgeport, Canaryville, and Pilsen communities are unprepared for cyclists. Sure, there are plenty of drivers who don't know how to safely share the road with cyclists, but I think it's obvious that this problem is not specific to the south side. Across the city (and state and country), improved education and enforcement would do wonders to improve the safety of vulnerable road users, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

The cyclist was found in Bronzeville, however, a neighborhood with even fewer cycling amenities than the near south side ones you mentioned. I try not to travel on Pershing; 43rd to the south is much calmer, and 33rd to the north has marked sharrows. The bike lanes on King Drive and Oakwood are nice, but they're the only ones in Bronzeville. I've encountered more than my share of ignorant drivers on both of these streets, too, including one fine gentleman who invited me to do something I won't reiterate in a public forum. In spite the IIT cycling team and easy access to the LFP, the Bronzeville zeitgeist doesn't seem to have a place for cyclists, and we should not ignore race or infrastructure when we ask why. And should we laugh or cry at the irony of being killed in Bronzeville on MLK day? It's almost as sad as Tyler Fabeck being hit and killed by a Prius on Earth Day.

 

Katie, I have no idea who it was, but I'll keep my ear to the ground in Bridgeport. I was initially horrified that it could have been my thesis advisor, who commutes between Bronzeville and Hyde Park, but I received an e-mail from him this morning.

 

This is terrible news indeed, and my thoughts are with the rider's loved ones.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 18, 2011 at 8:12pm

Hmmm . . . I thought Pilsen was one of the most densely populated neighborhoods after Little Village.

 

This page calls the density "very high":

http://www.city-data.com/zips/60608.html

 

But it seems to have about half of Lakeview's density. I think some of that may be due to at least half of 60608 being industrial-- very hard to compare. I don't see a way to look up by community area.

 

I would argue strongly though that lower population density does not increase cyclist safety-- if anything it goes along with homes being farther apart, less services that can be walked to, and a greater percentage of wider (faster) streets.


 

 



Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 19, 2011 at 12:30pm

I do so love dealing with members of the Cook County bureaucracy...

It took being transfered to 4 different people to "learn" that information is released to the family first;

They could not confirm or deny that the victim has been positively identified;

I can call back at 5:30 pm every day beginning tonight, and eventually the information, if known, is disclosed. (It's 12:20 pm on Wednesday 1/19/11).

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 19, 2011 at 12:31pm

Thanks. Same lines I got from police . . .
The media seems to be our best avenue of getting info. I'm frustrated that there doesn't seem to be a way to send a message upstream that the bike community is watching and waiting.


Kevin Conway said:

I do so love dealing with members of the Cook County bureaucracy...

It took being transfered to 4 different people to "learn" that information is released to the family first;

They could not confirm or deny that the victim has been positively identified;

I can call back at 5:30 pm every day beginning tonight, and eventually the information, if known, is disclosed. (It's 12:20 pm on Wednesday 1/19/11).

Permalink Reply by S on January 19, 2011 at 3:00pm


H3N3 said:

Thanks. Same lines I got from police . . .
The media seems to be our best avenue of getting info. I'm frustrated that there doesn't seem to be a way to send a message upstream that the bike community is watching and waiting.



I'm pretty sure that it's standard procedure not to release names of the dead until the family has been informed.  If only to make sure a close family member doesn't find out about the death from the tv and probably to confirm the identity of the deceased as well.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 19, 2011 at 3:10pm
Thanks. I think the point was that was obvious to both of us, and was sort of non-sequitur in the context of what we were specifically asking. Even a "we can not yet release that information because the family has not been identified/informed" would have been useful.

S said:


H3N3 said:

Thanks. Same lines I got from police . . .
The media seems to be our best avenue of getting info. I'm frustrated that there doesn't seem to be a way to send a message upstream that the bike community is watching and waiting.



I'm pretty sure that it's standard procedure not to release names of the dead until the family has been informed.  If only to make sure a close family member doesn't find out about the death from the tv and probably to confirm the identity of the deceased as well.

Permalink Reply by Jason W on January 19, 2011 at 4:03pm
People are barbarians :(

Katie Paffhouse said:
Permalink Reply by lauren sailor on January 19, 2011 at 4:58pm

i had to go to campus today, so i altered my route a little. i'm usually on King Drive (400 East) at Pershing, and had a vague mental image of Pershing to the west (i.e., the 300 East block where the rider was found) but wanted to get a better picture.

that part of the road had two freshly paved, rather narrow lanes in each direction, and the outer lane had cars parked in it intermittently. there's a fair amount of open/undeveloped space, but some strips of shops on both sides of the road, only some of which looked boarded up. the pavement was remarkably clear, and not even the door zone of the few parked cars had encrusted ice. there's a school, didn't catch what grades but from the kids outside i'd guess high school. both times i passed (noon and 2:30) there were at least a dozen people on the sidewalks, either passing through or hanging out.

it seems like there's plenty going on in that stretch of Pershing. yet even with no school on Monday, i cannot believe the snow plow driver was the first to call 911. i'm really hoping the plow came almost immediately after the collision, and not that the fallen bicyclist was ignored.

i did not stop and did not wish to, given all the activity. not the sort of place i'd want to change a flat.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 19, 2011 at 8:50pm
Or is it possible that the snow plow took out the cyclist?
It could explain why  no further info seems to be forthcoming.

lauren sailor said:

i had to go to campus today, so i altered my route a little. i'm usually on King Drive (400 East) at Pershing, and had a vague mental image of Pershing to the west (i.e., the 300 East block where the rider was found) but wanted to get a better picture.

that part of the road had two freshly paved, rather narrow lanes in each direction, and the outer lane had cars parked in it intermittently. there's a fair amount of open/undeveloped space, but some strips of shops on both sides of the road, only some of which looked boarded up. the pavement was remarkably clear, and not even the door zone of the few parked cars had encrusted ice. there's a school, didn't catch what grades but from the kids outside i'd guess high school. both times i passed (noon and 2:30) there were at least a dozen people on the sidewalks, either passing through or hanging out.

it seems like there's plenty going on in that stretch of Pershing. yet even with no school on Monday, i cannot believe the snow plow driver was the first to call 911. i'm really hoping the plow came almost immediately after the collision, and not that the fallen bicyclist was ignored.

i did not stop and did not wish to, given all the activity. not the sort of place i'd want to change a flat.

Permalink Reply by S on January 19, 2011 at 9:19pm
Permalink Reply by Adam Torres on January 20, 2011 at 2:08am
Yeah, there is a lot of industrial traffic on Pershing. Very sad.

When I lived in Kansas City 6 years ago, a truck struck and killed a cyclist and didn't even know it because of it's height and visibility. It was the most sad story. Be careful everyone!

S said:

It looks like it's a truck that did it.  

 

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/news/local/chibrknews-tanker-tru...

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