The Chainlink

bike/ automobile collision... central and addison

My wife works at the hospital next door and heard the crash from the 3rd floor.  She thought it was two cars in a horrible accident and it turned out it was A BICYCLIST.  He was apparently in bad condition and unconscious.  I'm not interested in any nasty posts about drivers, just want to see if anyone has any info to pass along.  

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Permalink Reply by Rich S on July 24, 2013 at 1:03pm

I think I pulled up this morning right after it happened. If it was the 36 bus on Clark just north of Fullerton. She was visibly shook up and her face was bleeding. Another biker witnessed it and left her info. I gave her a rag for the bleeding. I believe it was Ethan from Active Trans that pulled up a few minutes later and stayed with her. 

Jason W said:

Too much of this shit happens. My friends sister got hit by a CTA bus this morning. She is ok though. Stay safe out there guys.

Permalink Reply by Russ Hume on July 25, 2013 at 11:17am

One thing that I have learned is to use criticism wisely, if ever.  Often, the critic is really on their own "trip".  Often, the criticized person becomes argumentative.

However, regarding this current topic, I feel compelled to speak out.  I was going to my doctor’s office -more on this later- in the corner building Monday afternoon.  Though the cyclist was gone everything else was still there.  The bicycle was totally smashed and the cars windshield had about a 8 inch across deep round dent dead center.

Now as to my being there; it was a follow up visit, required as a result of my being hit by a car in early July, and spending 2 days in Illinois Masonic, which by the way is an excellent hospital, that does get a lot of bicycle related injuries.

I’m physically messed up, but thanks to my now smashed up helmet my head injuries are not major, and I hope to be back on my bike eventually.

My point is: Helmet or not, it’s your choice.  But, just because I don’t call you an idiot, to your face, doesn’t mean I don’t think you are one.

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on July 25, 2013 at 2:51pm

Yes, Rich, I did stop yesterday, I'm so glad that she was OK (mostly). Someone (maybe you) had handed her Crash Support Hotline info and I'm glad we talked her into calling.  

Several people on bikes had stopped and one saw the crash and offered her info as a witness. I'm glad that people wanted to help.

I'm also glad that she took the most important steps that our Hotline outlines:

1. Call 911, file a police report so there's a record.

2. Get witnesses and their information.

2. Get medical treatment no matter what, you don't know if there is damage that will show up later and getting treatment right away keeps it part of the record.

3. Call crash support hotline. Our staff and volunteers are there to to help guide you through reporting, legal and insurance q's and referrals and more.

And I was saddened to hear about Rafael's tragic death. Another death, another statistic. Another person who won't be going home to family and friends.

Univision contacted us to do a story about Rafael and bike safety. 

Active Trans certainly agrees with the direction of comments in this thread about helmet references and inequitable thoughts/treatment of people of color, so I wanted to share some background about our approach and preparation for interviews like this.

We didn't want this to be a story about "bikers" making mistakes and it's their fault they die.

1. Talked to reporter and educated her on challenging culture of crash reporting (both police and news media), including pushing her to appropriately say crash (preventable by choices people make) instead of accident (no one is at fault, these things just happen), that referencing helmet has no barring on story or tragic result, that a person (someone with family and friends) won't be going home, that there are other unreported or unwitnessed factors that could come into play (speeding, distracted driving, etc.), that people who are driving can also make choices to keep people safe and that with the disproportionate gap in people biking vs driving that people driving bear great responsibility to respect/yield/keep safe the more vulnerable people on the street (those walking and biking). 

2. Reviewed intersection with our planning team to determine if there were any facility/intersection challenges that we could point to. Fairly standard, nothing of note in this area for this situation.

3. Reviewed/practiced our crash and safety messages with education team.

4. Educated/pushed reporter again onsite and executed interview.

I don't speak spanish but the final result seems to be in line with what we hoped. My quotes reference both driving and biking for safety tips.

http://univisionchicago.univision.com/videos/video/2013-07-24/se-es...

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Jason W on July 25, 2013 at 5:11pm

Thank you so much to Rich and Ethan for stopping and helping. This was indeed her. It really makes me feel good about the cycling community that someone was there to help her. Thanks guys.

Active Transportation Alliance said:

Yes, Rich, I did stop yesterday, I'm so glad that she was OK (mostly). Someone (maybe you) had handed her Crash Support Hotline info and I'm glad we talked her into calling.  

Several people on bikes had stopped and one saw the crash and offered her info as a witness. I'm glad that people wanted to help.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on July 25, 2013 at 5:55pm



Active Transportation Alliance said:

Active Trans certainly agrees with the direction of comments in this thread about helmet references and inequitable thoughts/treatment of people of color, so I wanted to share some background about our approach and preparation for interviews like this.

We didn't want this to be a story about "bikers" making mistakes and it's their fault they die.

1. Talked to reporter and educated her on challenging culture of crash reporting (both police and news media), including pushing her to appropriately say crash (preventable by choices people make) instead of accident (no one is at fault, these things just happen), that referencing helmet has no barring on story or tragic result, that a person (someone with family and friends) won't be going home, that there are other unreported or unwitnessed factors that could come into play (speeding, distracted driving, etc.), that people who are driving can also make choices to keep people safe and that with the disproportionate gap in people biking vs driving that people driving bear great responsibility to respect/yield/keep safe the more vulnerable people on the street (those walking and biking). 

2. Reviewed intersection with our planning team to determine if there were any facility/intersection challenges that we could point to. Fairly standard, nothing of note in this area for this situation.

3. Reviewed/practiced our crash and safety messages with education team.

4. Educated/pushed reporter again onsite and executed interview.

I don't speak spanish but the final result seems to be in line with what we hoped. My quotes reference both driving and biking for safety tips.

http://univisionchicago.univision.com/videos/video/2013-07-24/se-es...

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on July 25, 2013 at 6:25pm

Thanks, Ethan and ATA.

Active Transportation Alliance said:

Yes, Rich, I did stop yesterday, I'm so glad that she was OK (mostly). Someone (maybe you) had handed her Crash Support Hotline info and I'm glad we talked her into calling.  

Several people on bikes had stopped and one saw the crash and offered her info as a witness. I'm glad that people wanted to help.

I'm also glad that she took the most important steps that our Hotline outlines:

1. Call 911, file a police report so there's a record.

2. Get witnesses and their information.

2. Get medical treatment no matter what, you don't know if there is damage that will show up later and getting treatment right away keeps it part of the record.

3. Call crash support hotline. Our staff and volunteers are there to to help guide you through reporting, legal and insurance q's and referrals and more.

And I was saddened to hear about Rafael's tragic death. Another death, another statistic. Another person who won't be going home to family and friends.

Univision contacted us to do a story about Rafael and bike safety. 

Active Trans certainly agrees with the direction of comments in this thread about helmet references and inequitable thoughts/treatment of people of color, so I wanted to share some background about our approach and preparation for interviews like this.

We didn't want this to be a story about "bikers" making mistakes and it's their fault they die.

1. Talked to reporter and educated her on challenging culture of crash reporting (both police and news media), including pushing her to appropriately say crash (preventable by choices people make) instead of accident (no one is at fault, these things just happen), that referencing helmet has no barring on story or tragic result, that a person (someone with family and friends) won't be going home, that there are other unreported or unwitnessed factors that could come into play (speeding, distracted driving, etc.), that people who are driving can also make choices to keep people safe and that with the disproportionate gap in people biking vs driving that people driving bear great responsibility to respect/yield/keep safe the more vulnerable people on the street (those walking and biking). 

2. Reviewed intersection with our planning team to determine if there were any facility/intersection challenges that we could point to. Fairly standard, nothing of note in this area for this situation.

3. Reviewed/practiced our crash and safety messages with education team.

4. Educated/pushed reporter again onsite and executed interview.

I don't speak spanish but the final result seems to be in line with what we hoped. My quotes reference both driving and biking for safety tips.

http://univisionchicago.univision.com/videos/video/2013-07-24/se-es...

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Rich S on July 25, 2013 at 7:03pm

I rode up about a minute or two after it happened so I didn't see. But to be honest if I had I wouldn't put the details online just in case she wanted to pursue legal action CTA. I'd hate to say something that could be used against her in court. 

Nikul Shah said:

Not to be gratuitious or inappropriate, but any details on how this crash occurred? I want to make sure I'm not doing anything that could result in a similar situation. 

Glad to hear that she is ok.

Rich S said:

I think I pulled up this morning right after it happened. If it was the 36 bus on Clark just north of Fullerton. She was visibly shook up and her face was bleeding. Another biker witnessed it and left her info. I gave her a rag for the bleeding. I believe it was Ethan from Active Trans that pulled up a few minutes later and stayed with her. 

Permalink Reply by Jason W on July 26, 2013 at 11:51am

Hi Nikul. Rich is correct, it is best to not talk of details online. If you are nervous riding in the city, have you checked out http://bicyclesafe.com/ ? Some great tips in there for getting used to riding in the city. Other than that, I will note that bus drivers are supposedly trained for riding around bikes. I'm more worried about the cabs and BMWs :)

Permalink Reply by physis 8.2 on July 26, 2013 at 2:20pm

I take southbound Clark daily but my strategy with buses is the same regardless of route.

I stay visible to the driver to the detriment of speed or racing through an intersection.  I keep in mind I have to stay farther back so the driver can see me in their side view mirrors.  People say they try to ride like they're invisible to cars - I definitely take that mindset 100% around buses.

I like to ride fast, I like to get my heart rate pumping while riding, but I will always defer to the steel brutes that are our CTA bus overlords.


Nikul Shah said:

Good point.  Just trying to figure out best practices since I ride on Clark daily.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on July 26, 2013 at 2:27pm

On Clark I'll move over to the left side once the bike lane is gone and Clark is one way south at Walton. That lets me avoid the buses and I turn left on Illinois anyway. Some days I've been taking Wells to avoid the buses mainly because of all the dust they kick up. I hate when that gets in my eyes. Don't have to deal with that on Wells. 

Nikul Shah said:

Good point.  Just trying to figure out best practices since I ride on Clark daily.

Permalink Reply by David P. on July 26, 2013 at 2:38pm

If I am near a bus in a conflict zone (intersection, bust stop, etc.) I try to always keep myself visible in one of the driver' mirrors. If I'm stopped at a light behind a bus, I will often stop off one of his rear corners so that I can sight down the side to one mirror or another. In some situations, it is safer to filter through and stop in front of the bus, so that I can leave the light ahead of him (e.g. there is a stop on the other side of the intersection with people waiting.) If I'm moving and there is a bus near me, moving or stopped, I pay attention to our relative positions and speeds and details such as where the next stop ism whether there are people waiting at an upcoming stop, how many people are loading, whether the bus is kneeling to load passengers or reinflating the bags prior to pulling away, etc. so that I can avoid or minimize conflicts in positioning. In short, this just describes good situational awareness.

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