a 35-year-old man was riding his bike near 32nd and Halsted, when he was hit by a vehicle.<\/a><\/p>\nPeople familiar with what happened said Riley O’Neil was riding in an unprotected bike lane when someone in a parked car opened their door in front of him, and he fell into the street, where he was hit by another vehicle.<\/p>\n
Police said he was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.<\/p>\n
The Chicago Department of Transportation confirmed O’Neil was an employee who worked for the city’s Complete Streets team \u2013 which aims to make streets safer for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit \u2013 and previously led CDOT’s bike parking program for several years.<\/p>\n
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved colleague, Riley O’Neil. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones,” CDOT said in a Facebook post. “He was a dedicated public servant who devoted his career to making Chicago’s streets safer and more accessible for everyone. His loss is being felt deeply across the department, and he will be greatly missed.”<\/p>\n
Mayor Brandon Johnson also shared his condolences over O’Neil’s death in a post on X.<\/p>\n
“Riley O’Neil was an incredible public servant who contributed deeply to the work of making our city a safer and more sustainable place,” Johnson wrote. “Reilly was a valued colleague and dedicated advocate whose work touched communities across Chicago. This loss is felt across City government. My condolences to Riley’s family, friends, loved ones, and all those at CDOT who worked alongside him over the years. Chicago is grateful for his service.”<\/p>\n
On Saturday, a memorial had been set up on Halsted Street in O’Neil’s honor. A city bike rack was decorated with a green t-shirt featuring the Chicago flag, several flowers, and a sign saying “We love you, Riley.” <\/p>\n
Chris Bouie-Gentry, an organizer with the group Chicago Bike Grid Now, said such incidents highlight the need for more protective infrastructure that better separates cyclists and car traffic.<\/p>\n
“Painted bike lanes have barely any meaningful effect on bike safety, because of exactly this kind of situation,” he said.<\/p>\n
Bouie-Gentry said he laments O’Neil’s death, especially for the work he was doing to improve cycling infrastructure throughout the city.<\/p>\n
“Riley’s death isn’t just someone being lost to the bike community, it’s being lost to the entire city,” he said. “That one of the people that was most fighting for a better city, the kind of city that actually cares about folks that walk and bike to get around was one of the people that got killed was especially devastating.”<\/p>\n
Bike Grid Now will hold a vigil and ride in honor of O’Neil at 7 p.m. on Monday. It will begin at Palmisano Park in Bridgeport and make its way to the spot where he died.<\/p>\n
\n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n
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