Driver Attacks Cyclist in Chicago After Driving in Bike Lane

This happened on the Madison Street bike land and luckily, the incident was captured by the cyclist's Go-Pro. Looks like they have the license plate and the driver.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/03/02/bicyclist-attacked-after-cal...

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Permalink Reply by V W on March 3, 2016 at 1:48pm
Here's an idea with regard to lack of enforcement by police in these situations- just throwing this out there and I'd love for my fellow lawyers to chime in:

What if someone files a FOIA request for the police files in this case, the one with the bearded guy on Lincoln street with the green Mercedes, and every other such case we can think of. Either the police produce the files and face public embarrassment over their obvious inaction - while the perpetrators' names get outed...

...or- more likely- the requests are all denied on the basis that it would interfere with a pending investigation- in which case- we sue under the FOIA statute and force the police to prove that the investigation is actually active and pending and/or that any or all disclosure would actually interfere (which if our suspicion is correct- they won't be able to do).

In my experience the police routinely deny FOIA requests assuming that most of the time no one will challenge the denial in court. But often their asserted basis for denial falls apart once challenged in court (or at least their justification for blanket denial of any disclosure falls apart).

Either way it could result in more public pressure to actively investigate and prosecute these incidents.

Of course we would have to raise legal fees. Maybe some bike advocacy attorney or organization could take up the cause and raise the necessary funds.
Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 3, 2016 at 1:59pm

The lack of enforcement with regards to cars and other vehicles in the bike lanes, lack of follow through on assaults on cyclists, and the lack of enforcement over doorings, etc. this all makes cyclists less safe. Cyclist safety isn't just about building bike lanes if the bike lanes become a great place to double-park for everyone (including police cars and buses). Over 150 posts on a two-month old thread, "What's this doing in the bike lane" is very telling. Feeling very worked up about this.

Permalink Reply by V W on March 3, 2016 at 2:55pm
Same here- thus my suggestion- a lot of times there's power in just shining a light on something. As much as the police act like it's treason to hold them to any kind of accountability- they are government employees and are a government agency and technically the law allows for a certain amount of transparency. But - look at the Laquan case- it took a FOIA request, denial, and lawsuit to release a video that the public had a right to access. That resulted in a public embarrassment which at a minimum is bringing more pressure for change... So I wonder if there's something similar that could shine a light on this whole problem.
Permalink Reply by Cheryl on March 4, 2016 at 5:51am

AMEN! While I originally supported the creation of bike lanes, I now wish the city would stop throwing paint on the road until some real efforts to increase cyclist safety are made. And by that I mean police actually responding to crashes involving cyclists, writing reports on those crashes, prosecution drivers causing crashes, ticketing for using bike lanes, and education efforts.

Permalink Reply by LG on March 3, 2016 at 10:09am

I was speaking in haste.  I don't condone violence.  Just frustrated at the recurring theme.

Permalink Reply by Raoul Duke on March 3, 2016 at 10:15am

It's like diffusing land mines. Someone's got to do it.

Pro Tip: Rest! Cyclist's can maintain HR much better than your average cager. Try to avoid confrontation by dodging them for a block or two. They'll think you're scared but really your just letting your HR back down to a normal starting point. Once live wear them out a bit by not falling at their first strike. Once they're good and tired get them into a submission and tell them a tale about healthy hearts and your generally kind nature.

Permalink Reply by Beans on March 3, 2016 at 10:56am
Permalink Reply by Jive Ace Tofurkey on March 3, 2016 at 11:33am

I live in Humboldt Park and use Madison to get to a friend’s house in about once a month.  This stretch of Madison is replete with drivers who think the bike lane is simply short term parking.  Blocking open legitimate parking spots because it's somehow an inconvenience.

I fail to understand why ticketable offenses never get attention when the city's budget is in shambles.

Permalink Reply by yaj 7.4 on March 3, 2016 at 11:41am

Often when I'm riding I call out - "Hello, you're in the bike lane".  It seemed to me a pretty non-confrontational way to remind folks that they're doing something illegal.  Now it seems rather risky.

And I rode that bike lane last weekend.   

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 3, 2016 at 12:06pm

I have also said this many times. 

Permalink Reply by S on March 3, 2016 at 2:17pm

Well, the cyclist did escalate things a bit after being chased down.  Telling someone that you dare them to fuck with you is not the best way to deal with an enraged, irrational person.  

I think you'll be okay as long as you don't escalate for the rare person that gets offended.

Permalink Reply by V W on March 3, 2016 at 2:21pm
Isn't that essentially victim blaming though? Maybe he was just putting on a brave face in a knee jerk reaction to being chased by a guy in an SUV.

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