In the vibrant city of Chicago, the community is grappling with the shocking loss of Riley O’Neil, remembered fondly as a passionate advocate for bicycle safety. O’Neil’s tragic death has left a void among those who were fortunate enough to know him and benefit from his dedication to improving cycling conditions in the city.
On a somber Saturday, friends and admirers gathered for a vigil at the site where tributes in his honor have started to appear. Just a day prior, O’Neil, a respected employee of the City of Chicago, lost his life in a cycling accident in the Bridgeport neighborhood, a place he was all too familiar with.
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The tragic incident unfolded on Friday afternoon around 3 p.m. as O’Neil was riding his bike along Halsted Street, making use of the designated bike lane designed for safety. As he approached 32nd Street, a sudden and careless action led to his untimely demise.
According to eyewitness accounts provided to the police, the fatal accident occurred when the driver of a parked car swung open a door without checking for oncoming cyclists. This action caused O’Neil, 35, to lose his balance and tragically fall into the path of a semi-truck that was following behind.
The driver of the parked vehicle has since been cited by police for multiple infractions, including the unsafe opening of a car door, parking in a no-parking zone, driving with a suspended license, and operating an uninsured vehicle. These violations highlight the broader issues of road safety and the responsibilities of drivers towards cyclists sharing the road.
Tributes to O’Neil poured in on social media. In a lengthy post, 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee said, in part, that he was “by all accounts a great public servant who was passionate about bike accessibility.”
A spokesperson for CDOT added, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved colleague, Riley. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also issued a statement, calling O’Neil “a valued colleague and dedicated advocate whose work touched communities across Chicago.”
City officials say O’Neil was a member of the department’s Complete Streets Team and previously led Chicago’s Bike Parking Program.
To honor his memory, CDOT says certain bike racks will now be referred to as Riley Racks.
Meanwhile, biking safety advocates say more needs to be done to make biking safe for city riders.
“We often ask for protected bike lanes. The benefit, they’re being both a physical separation, and where we often see the need to be protected with the bike lane on the right of the car, not the left,” said Nik Hunder with Bike Grid Now.
The bike lane along Halsted, where the crash happened, is only marked by a white line and is not protected.
Advocates say O’Neil was at least the third person struck and killed by a driver while biking in Chicago this year.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
The biking community plans to hold a vigil on Monday, where they will not only advocate for safer conditions for bike riders but also remember their dear friend.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
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