Keating Law Offices Co-Hosts Bike Lane Uprising's Day of Service

Bike Lane Uprising, a volunteer effort among Chicago bicyclists to fight for safer bike lanes, held a "Day of Service" last Sunday. The day was a giant succeess. The "Day of Service" involved Chicago bicyclists volunteering to "adopt" a segment of Chicago's bike lanes. The volunteers then documented the bike lane conditions and then submitting their findings to Bike Lane Uprising. All of this data will be presented to the Chicago Department of Transportation for the purpose of helping them identify which bike lanes need improvement. A remarkable 90% of Chicago's bike lanes were adopted by volunteers.

Keating Law Offices co-hosted the event. The "Day of Service" began at the firm's West Town Office located at 825 North Milwaukee Avenue where volunteers had a meet-up prior to hitting the streets. The firm's West Town Office is in addition to the firm's main office in the Loop. The day ended with an after-party at Logan Square's Rocking Horse where the volunteers met to recap the day and celebrate the success of the "Day of Service."

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Keating Law Offices to Co-Host Bike Lane Uprising’s Day of Service

Bike Lane Uprising Day of Service - 5/19/19

Keating Law Offices is proud to co-host Bike Lane Uprising’s Day of Service. The Day of Service is an effort to document the conditions of bike lanes throughout the city and report the conditions to the City of Chicago. This effort will provide the City of Chicago legal notice as to any dangerous defects or conditions. The effect of the day of service will help the City of Chicago prioritize its efforts in maintaining bike lanes and lead to fewer dangerous conditions in Chicago's bike lanes.

The date for the Bike Lane Uprising Day of Service is May 19, 2019. While the mission is service, the Day of Service will be a fun day. We will meet at Keating Law Offices’ West Town Office for donuts and coffee. We will then head out for a few hours to inspect and document bike lanes. We will then re-group for drinks and eats at a post-event party.

Please help spread the word. You can find more information by visiting Bike Lane Uprising’s website here. And please help promote the Day of Service by using #BLUDayofService on social media.

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm has two locations in Chicago. The Loop office is located on the Washington Street bike lane at 111 West Washington Street. And the West Town office is located right on the Milwaukee Avenue bike lane at 825 North Milwaukee Avenue. The firm is committed to Chicago’s cycling community and advocating for safe cycling.

Obstructed Bike Lanes Plague Chicago Bicyclists

Every bicyclist in the City of Chicago knows the plague that is obstructed bike lanes. NBC 5 Investigates has produced a recent investigative report on all of the issues with obstructed bike lanes in Chicago. Stopping on a bike lanes is a minor convenience for the driver who uses the space of the bike lane to pull to the side of the road. But for the bicyclist this is massively dangerous as having to go around the stopped vehicle takes the bicyclist out of the marked bicycle lane and directly into the lane for motor vehicle traffic. 

It Is Illegal To Drive On The Bike Lane In Chicago

The Chicago Municipal Code is clear: A driver can't park or stand in a bike lane. Here's what the law says:

9-40-060- Driving, standing or parking on bicycle paths or lanes prohibited - 

The driver of a vehicle shall not drive, unless entering or exiting a legal parking space, or stand, or park the vehicle upon any on street path or lane designated by official signs or markings for the use of bicycles, or otherwise drive or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such path or lane. The driver of a vehicle shall not stand or park the vehicle upon any lane designated by pavement markings for the shared use of motor vehicles and bicycles, or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such lane. In addition to the fine provided in Section 9-4-025 of this Code, any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be subject to an immediate tow and removal to a city vehicle pound or authorized garage.

Ubers and Lyfts Are Forbidden From Parking In The Bike Lane 

Part of the issue with vehicles in the bike lane is ride share operators such as Lyft and Uber use the bike lanes as easy spaces to drop off and pick up their passengers. However, these drivers are specifically trained NOT to do this. Section 9-115-150 of the Municipal Code of Chicago requires that all "transportation network drivers" (such as Uber, Lyft, etc.) to successfully complete an online or in-person transportation network driver training program. The program includes guidelines on safely picking-up and dropping-off passengers. Dangerous Driving Behavior No. 6: Safe Pick-Up and Drop-Off gives the following clear rules:

• Passengers and driver cannot open car doors into traffic.
• Drivers can NEVER stop, stand, or park in a bike lane. Passengers cannot be dropped off in a bike lane.
• DOORING is opening a car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist. It is punishable by fines up to $1,000.
• Pull all the way over to the curb when picking up or dropping off a passenger. DO NOT BLOCK travel lane.

Bike Lanes Help Promote Cycling

Chicago needs its bicycle lanes to be free and clear so that they are most effective and safe. The number of bicycle riders across America soared in the past 10 to 15 years. From just 2000 to 2014, bicycle commuting grew 62 percent. The number of bicyclists exploded from 488,000 people in 2000 to 904,463 people in 2014. While the overall percentage of bike commuters remains relatively low – approximately 1.0% of all commuters –this drastic increase is the single largest percentage increase of any transportation mode. 

The increase in bicycle commuting is largely the result of many of the country’s most prominent cities investing heavily in non-motorized travel-based projects like bike lanes. For bicycling to continue to grow, these very bike lanes need to be useful and effective. And that means stepping up enforcement of parking in the bike lane. Community groups like Bike Lane Uprising have done excellent work in putting a spotlight on this serious issue. 

Chicago Bicycle Attorneys

The attorneys at Keating Law Offices have fought for the rights of cyclists and advocated on behalf of bicycle infrastructure for over a decade. The law firm filed the very first lawsuit in Cook County over a driver striking a bicyclists on the Kinzie bike lane, which was one of the first protected bike lanes in the city. The attorneys have handled many cases involving issues with drivers riding on the bike lane or dooring bicyclists in the bike lane. The firm's West Town location is immediately on the Milwaukee Avenue bike lane where these issues are apparent on a daily basis. 

Chicago Bicyclist Dies After Collision With Semi-Truck In Milwaukee Bike Lane

Milwaukee Avenue at Racine

A 20-year old Chicago bicyclist has lost their life as a result of a collision with a semi-truck that took place on the Milwaukee Avenue bike lane. According to reports, the collision took place in the southbound lane of Milwaukee Avenue near its intersection with Racine. The collision occurred at approximately 8:15 a.m., in the middle of rush hour. 

This intersection is in Chicago's River West neighborhood and is passed by thousands of bicyclists every day. This section of the Milwaukee bike lane is not part of the protected Milwaukee bike lane where there are bollards and space between the bike lane and the southbound lane for motor vehicle traffic. At this location both motor vehicle and bicycle traffic run parallel to one another. 

Chicago Bicycle Law Prohibits Driving Motor Vehicles on Bike Lane

However, the bicycle lane is clearly marked in bright green and is clearly marked for bicycle traffic only. Chicago law provides that the operators of motor vehicles may not drive on a bike lane. The purpose of this law is to provide safe and reliable routes of travel for bicyclists. In Chicago, the Milwaukee bike lane is well known and immediately recognized as a key route for bicyclists. Here is the section of the Chicago Municipal Code providing that bike lanes are only for bicyclists: 

9-40-060- Driving, standing or parking on bicycle paths or lanes prohibited -The driver of a vehicle shall not drive, unless entering or exiting a legal parking space, or stand, or park the vehicle upon any on street path or lane designated by official signs or markings for the use of bicycles, or otherwise drive or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such path or lane. The driver of a vehicle shall not stand or park the vehicle upon any lane designated by pavement markings for the shared use of motor vehicles and bicycles, or place the vehicle in such a manner as to impede bicycle traffic on such lane. 

Certain State and Federal Laws Address Duties of Truck Drivers

Since the vehicle involved was a semi-truck, there are specific rules and regulation that apply to the drivers of these vehicles. The drivers of these trucks are expected to be professionals and drive with the utmost care. These rules and regulations exist not just in state and local laws, but also in federal regulations. Here are some of the key laws that apply to a bicycle crash of this nature:

• 49 C.F.R. Section 383.111 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires a professional driver to recognize and avoid potential hazards at all times around a turning tractor truck. 
•  Section 11-1003.1 of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code states that every driver of a vehicle must 1) always exercise care to avoid colliding with pedestrians and bicyclists, and 2) sound their horn to provide warning of an impending impact.

Right Hook Crashes Are Prohibited by Chicago Bicycle Laws

The report from ABC 7 implies that this may have been a "right hook" crash where the driver turned right across the path of the bicyclist. A "right hook" crash occurs when a turning vehicle travels directly across the path of a bicyclist and causes a collision between the turning motor vehicle and the bicycle. Chicago law explicitly prohibits "right hooks" by turning vehicles. Section 9-16-020 of the Municipal Code of Chicago specifically addresses "right hooks." The ordinance states:

“When a motor vehicle and a bicycle are traveling in the same direction on any highway, street, or road, the operator of the motor vehicle overtaking such bicycle traveling on the right side of the roadway shall not turn to the right in front of the bicycle at that intersection or at any alley or driveway until such vehicle has overtaken and is safely clear of the bicycle.” 

According to Alisa Hauser of DNAInfo.com, there are charges pending against the driver of the semi-truck involved in the collision. A witness to the crash relayed to the journalist that the bicyclist and the road bicycle were under the cab of the truck. This would tend to indicate that the bicyclist was run over given the placement of the two vehicles. It is unclear, however, exactly what direction the semi-truck was travelling at the moment of impact. 

In the end, another Chicago bicyclist has lost their life in a crash with a motor vehicle. This is a tragic loss of a young life. Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the cyclist. 

Edit: The victim of the crash, Lisa Kuivinan identified as non-binary and preferred gender-neutral pronouns. This post has been edited. 

League of American Bicyclists Examines Census Data. The result? More Bike Lanes = More Bicycle Commuters

The American League of Bicyclists recently released the latest analysis of United States Census data regarding the cities that are cycling to work the most. The report, complied by Attorney Ken McLeod of the American League of Bicyclists, points to a nationwide increase in the number of Americans opting to bicycle to work rather than use motorized transportation.

Bicycle Infrastructure Is Leading To More Bicyclists

The root of the analysis underscores the following larger point: If you build it, they will come. Meaning, if you build the bike lanes, the cyclists will come to the streets. The League of American Bicyclists analysis is complied from the U.S. Census Bureau’s report and is based on data collected by the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2000 to 2014, gathered from a questionnaire sent to approximately 3.5 million addresses countrywide.

The ACS is conducted annually to provide one of the largest sources of information on bicycle commuting in the country. Here are the details of the Survey:

• The ACS is geared towards workers ages 16 years and older who work outside their home.
• The questionnaire asks what the respondent’s primary method of transportation was for the previous week’s work commute.
• For commuters relying on multiple transportation methods for their daily commute, only the method used for the longest distance of their commute will count.

Bicycle Ridership Continues To Rapidly Increase

Here is the most interesting fact to come from the ACS: The number of bicycle riders across America continues to soar. Nationwide, from 2000 to 2014, bicycle commuting has grown 62 percent. Raw data shows an increase from 488,000 people in the year 2000 to 904,463 people in the year 2014. Even though the overall share of workers commuting by bike remains relatively low – approximately 1.0% of the population –this drastic increase represents the single largest percentage increase of any transportation method in the country.

The increase in bicycle commuting is largely the result of many of the country’s most prominent cities investing heavily in non-motorized travel-based projects. In Chicago and many other municipalities in Illinois there has been a massive increase in the number of bike lanes including Chicago recently completing the 100th mile of marked bike lanes in the city limits. Many of these projects are critical improvements to the infrastructure that can greatly reduce the risk of a bicycle accident or simply provide easier access to bicycling. Examples of these infrastructure improvements are as follows:

• Sidewalk modifications;
• Protected bicycle lanes; and
• Bicycle sharing programs, such as Chicago’s popular Divvy program.

Bicycling In Chicago Is Growing

Each year Chicago continues to increase its percentage of bicycle commuters. In 2014, 1.7 percent of the cities population, which translates to about 21,362 people, used bicycles as their primary method of commuting. This is a vast increase from the 1.3 percent or 16,000 of Chicago workers reporting bicycling as their primary method of commuting from 2008 to 2012.

Finally, the report listed a few notable, nationwide trends among bicyclist commuters that make for interesting bicycle facts. For example:

• Men are twice as likely than women to ride to work;
• Large cities have the highest rate of bicycle commuters;
• Cities where bike commuting is growing the fastest have all begun investing in bike lanes within recent years;
• The top 10 cities with the highest share of bike commuters are mostly college towns; and
• The city with the highest percent of residents biking to work was Davis, California with bike lanes on 95% of its major streets.

An important final takeaway is that bikes are here to stay. Contrary to the assertions of many in the “anti-bike camp,” bicycling is not a fad and a bicycle is not a child's toy. A bicycle is a vehicle. Bicycling is an integral part of the transportation plan in any modern American city and Chicago and many other municipalities throughout Illinois are at the forefront of this movement.

Chicago, Illinois Bicycle Law Attorneys

As bicycle attorneys in Illinois, we are proud to have been a part of the collective effort to support and advocate for bicycling throughout Illinois. We remain steadfast in our commitment to fight for the rights of bicyclist and adhere to our mission of providing legal advice to any bicyclists injured in a bicycle accident anywhere in Illinois at anytime.

SOURCE: "WHERE WE RIDE: Analysis of bicycle commuting in American cities." Report on American Consumer Survey data by the League of American Bicyclists. 

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Active Transportation Alliance's "Bikeways for All Plan" Would Reduce Bicycle Crashes

The Active Transportation Alliance has issued a vision for bikeways in Chicago entitled "Bikeways for All." This plan for bicycling in Chicago is focused on increasing the number of bike routes available to citizens throughout Chicago. The plan also aims to increase the equitable and fair distribution of bikeways in the city to all parts of Chicago. Overall, the plan focuses on maintaining Chicago's rapid increase in bicycling by providing new bike routes that are "low stress" and comfortable for riders of all ability levels. "Low stress" includes bike routes that are consistent and reliable in providing safe routes throughout Chicago.

Active Transportation Alliance's Bikeways For All Plan

In the PDF detailing the plan, ActiveTrans summarizes "Bikeways for All":

"Bikeways for All proposes 180 miles of new low-stress biking routes that prioritize three types of facilities: Protected Bike Lanes, Neighborhood Greenways and Urban Trails. We envision 100 additional miles of these new Protected Bike Lanes and Neighborhood Greenways by 2020 as well as concrete progress on urban trail projects."

The Chicago Tribune also published an excellent article detailing the event and provides a solid summary of the Bikeways for All plan:

"The report urged the Emanuel administration to commit to building 100 miles of the 180 miles by 2020. The 100 miles would consist of physically protected bike lanes; marked bike lanes on low-traffic, low-speed residential streets that connect to stores, parks, schools and public transit; and off-street "urban trails'' along the lakefront, the Chicago River and abandoned rail lines patterned after The 606, which opened this year and runs through Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Humboldt Park."

Bikeways For All Could Help Reduce Bicycle Crashes In Chicago

A direct result of a progressive, forward-thinking plan like "Bikeways or All" will also lead to fewer bicycle crashes in Chicago. As attorneys who focus our practice on representing victims of bicycle accidents, there are certain "common denominators" we see in most cases. Far and away, the failure of the driver to pay attention (keep a proper lookout) and congestion are two common factors in bicycle accidents. A bikeway of any kind serves to mitigate against the potential threat of these two factors.

First, a bikeway serves as a "warning" in the same way a stop sign does. When a driver sees clearly marked and delineated roadway markings for a bike lane and signs indicated the presence of bicyclists this serves as a "warning" to motorists to be aware that bicyclists could be present on the roadway. This awareness fights against the common refrain from motorists that the "bicyclist came out of nowhere." The bicyclist didn't come out of thin air, most likely the motorist simply did not appreciate that bicyclist would be on the roadway and their "surprise" is just from a lack of awareness.

Secondly, bikeways help reduce congestion by getting people out of their cars and onto bicycles. As noted in the report, since 2000 the number of trips by bicycle in Chicago has tripled. More trips on bikes means fewer trips by motorized vehicles. Bikeways also streamline bicycle traffic into prescribed patterns that are more efficient. The net result is that bicycles on bikeways are on a dedicated space where the bicyclist is most safe. Protected bike lanes, in particular, provide a clear area for bicyclists. But overall any type of bikeway will result in a bicyclist being more comfortable on their ride.

This latest plan by the Active Transportation Alliance is another example of the strong leadership this advocacy organization exhibits. We applaud Active Trans on its continued great work.

Chicago Bicycle Attorneys and Advocates

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Bike Lanes Promote Safety For Bicyclists....AND Pedestrians. So is Chicago doing enough with its bike plans?

The Illinois Bicycle Law Shield.

People for Bikes recently posted an excellent blog post from Michael Andersen, a Green Lane Project staff writer, about how bike lanes are just promoting safe bicycling, but also influencing safe conditions for pedestrians. Bike lanes are a part of a city's overall traffic planning that takes into account motor vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.

In Chicago, with its densely populated neighborhoods and street layouts that date back to the rebuilding of the city after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, traffic planning is a critically important issue for all citizens regardless of how they get around.

Nonetheless, traffic planning is especially important for bicyclists and pedestrians because unlike motorists or riders on public transportation, bicyclists and pedestrians are especially vulnerable if they are involved in a bicycle accident. In 2014 alone, 8 bicyclists have died from a bicycle vs. motorist crash in Chicago. This is double the number of deaths in 2013. Also, so far in 2014, 23 pedestrians were killed when struck by a motorist.

These numbers should concern every citizen of Chicago and raises the question: What is being done to reduce these numbers of deaths?

Although Chicagoans need to be aware and alert of their surroundings and of the traffic safety laws, the City of Chicago's Department of Transportation has begun implementing various protected bicycle lanes to create a distinct barrier between pedestrians/bicyclists and motorists. These lanes are located next to the sidewalk curb and have physical barriers, such as parked cars and markers /poles to separate bicyclists from motorists.

In 2011, Chicago installed its first barrier protected bike lane on Kinzie Street that was 1/2 mile long. This protected lane extends from Milwaukee Avenue to Wells Street and has increased bicycle riding by 55%. In 2012, Chicago installed a protected bike lane on Dearborn, which really focused on protecting those individuals who commute into the Loop via bicycle for work or leisure because it provides a direct route in and out of Chicago’s Loop. This Dearborn barrier protected bike lane extends from Polk Street to Kinzie Street. Then in 2013, Chicago installed the Milwaukee barrier protected bike lane, which is used by more than a thousand cyclists each day. This protected bike lane extends from Desplaines Street to Elston Avenue, and it too provides a direct route in and out of Chicago’s Loop. In total, the City of Chicago has 12 miles of barrier protected bike lanes.

So the next question you may be asking yourself: Is that enough? With more than 4,000 miles of streets in the City of Chicago, the answer is no.

Not only do these barrier protected bike lanes make bicyclists feel safer and provide a blockade from passing vehicles, these lanes also protect pedestrians from motorists. The protected bike lanes decrease the amount of roadway a pedestrian has to walk across, which means the pedestrian is walking across fewer lanes of vehicular traffic and has a higher likelihood of getting to the other side of the street safely. Also, protected bike lanes act as a signal to pedestrians as to which way traffic is traveling, that way pedestrians know when a vehicle is approaching and when it is safe to walk across a street. These barrier protected bike lanes also act as an additional walk signal for pedestrians—when bicyclists are given the green light to proceed in their protected bike lane, that gives pedestrians the “green light” to walk across Chicago streets safely. Barrier protected bike lanes also create an additional obstacle for those motorists who are always in a hurry. The protected lanes minimize the amount of swerving motorists are inclined to do to get around a stopped vehicle.

Barrier protected bike lanes, if increased throughout the City of Chicago, could begin reducing the amount of bicyclist vs. motorist and pedestrian vs. motorist collisions and decreasing the number of bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities. The City of Chicago has made great strides in building its bicycle infrastructure, and has great plans, but it is of critical importance for the safety of bicyclists - and pedestrians - that these plans are continued. Lives depend on it.

State of Illinois to Invest Millions in Bicycle Infrastructure. But Who Gets What?

The State of Illinois has announced that it will invest $52.7 million in community transportation projects, including substantial funding for bicycle infrastructure throughout the state. Cook County alone will receive over $10 million in funding for projects that directly relate to constructing and improving bicycle infrastructure within the county. This is a massive public works project with projects throughout the Chicagoland area. 

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices are supporters of public works projects in general and massive supporters of projects that include advancements or improvements to the bicycle infrastructure in Illinois. There are two key reasons why public works projects involving bicycle infrastructure are important. 

The first reason is that "if you build it, they will come." Studies show that outside of hardcore bicyclists, that most recreational bicyclists are most comfortable riding on a bicycle path or on a protected bike lane. The more bike paths and bike lanes Illinois has, the more bicycle ridership will increase. The second reason is that infrastructure specific to bicycles reduces the number of bike accidents. Bicycle attorney Mike Keating explains how bicycle infrastructure reduces the number of bike accidents:

"I call it the separation factor." The more separated bicycle traffic is from motor vehicle traffic the better. Painted bike lanes are good because they provide a clear designation between the lane for bikes and the lane for cars. Signage can also play an important role in this regard. Barrier bike lanes protected with bollards are better because the bollards provide an even clear visual designation and an audible warning if the cars stray into the bike lane. Bike lanes that are truly protected - meaning totally separated from traffic - are best because there is a literal, physical impenetrable barrier between motor vehicle traffic and bicycles."

Below is an itemization of notable bicycle infrastructure projects in Illinois:

Riverdale: Over $2 million to build a 26-mile long, 10-foot wide segment of the Cal-Sag Trail, stretching from Lemont to the Burnham Greenway Trail at the Illinois/Indiana border.

Evanston: Almost $1.4 million to build two-way bike paths off of Sheridan Road from Lincoln Street to Chicago Avenue, and on Chicago between Sheridan and the Central Business District. The goal is to connect these two-way paths with existing protected bike paths.

Des Plaines: Over $1.2 million to build a path for bicycles and pedestrians along the south side of US Route 12, from Central Road to Elk Boulevard. This will close a major gap in the sidewalk network and create a continuous bicycle corridor throughout Des Plaines, which should greatly reduce bicycle accidents.

Glenview: Over $1 million to build a 2-mile, off-road path segment as a new addition to bike trail systems within Glenview.

Countryside: Almost $1 million to build a multi-use bike path on the east side of Brainard Avenue from Joliet Road to 55th Street.

Hillside: Over $800,000 to build a multi-use pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists on Mannheim Road, over the Interstate 290 interchange. This change will increase bicycle safety and reduce bicycle accidents in a high-traffic area.

Rolling Meadows: Almost $700,000 to build a 10-ft wide asphalt path along Euclid Avenue, running from Rohlwing Road until it connects with the bike path on Salt Creek Trail.

Skokie: Over $600,000 to build an asphalt, bituminous bike path as a part of the Village Corridor Plan to link all of the pedestrian-heavy areas in the heart of Skokie.

Itasca: Over $500,000 to build 0.67 miles of bike paths and sidewalks throughout the Hamilton Lakes Business Park.

Olympia Fields: Almost $500,000 to build a 1.25 mile-long, multi-use trail and bike path on Vollmer Road. It will connect to existing trails in the area.

University Park: Almost $500,000 to build a 2-mile long, 10 foot wide, asphalt bike path and trail to link residential neighborhoods with a retail district at Western Avenue and Exchange Street.

Western Springs: Almost $500,000 is to build a bike path to connect with the Salt Creek Trail system, affording bicyclists and pedestrians from La Grange, Western Springs, and Hinsdale easy access to the trail system and the pedestrian bridge over I-294 on Maple Street.

Carol Stream: Almost $300,000 to build additions to the Bloomingdale Trail, including a 0.71-mile, off-street bikeway along Kuhn Road from Army Trail Road to Lies Road, and a 1.01-mile, off-street bikeway along Lies from Gary Avenue to Schmale Road.

Calumet City: Almost $200,000 to build a 0.78 mile-long trail and bike path on Torrence Avenue, which will connect at the intersection of Torrence and 159th Street with another bike path in the works.

Berwyn: Almost $100,000 to build sidewalks and install bike route signage throughout the city, which should help tremendously in reducing bicycle accidents in Berwyn. Signage plays a key role in "human factors" by alerting motorists of the presence of bicyclists and giving direction to bicyclists.

Northbrook: Over $50,000 to install pavement markings and street signs for bicycle routes, which will make the suburb safer for bicyclists and reduce bicycle accidents.

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers are excited about these extensive improvements because we strongly believe that the new infrastructure will substantially reduce bicycle accidents throughout Cook County and make streets safer for Illinois bicyclists.
 
If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Village of Glenview to Install 3 New Bike Paths

The Village of Glenview has announced the construction of three new bicycle and pedestrian paths in the northern suburb. The largest of the projects is a 2-mile, off-road bicycle and pedestrian path not set to be completed until 2016. However, residents of Glenview can look forward to the construction of two smaller trails this calendar year. The first project, which starts in the summer, is a trail stretching roughly 0.75 miles to connect Glenbrook South High School with The Glen. The second project starts in the fall, and will include about 0.50 miles of new pathway to connect two existing trails in the Village.

Construction on these new trails is funded by over $1 million in grants awarded to Glenview by the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. The trails will be a key part of Bike Glenview, a village-wide initiative launched last spring to promote bicycling in the village. The bike trails will also be a major factor in the implementation of Glenview’s comprehensive Bike and Sidewalk master plan, which was initially passed in 2007 and pledges to add 50 miles of bike and sidewalk paths in and around the village by the year 2030.

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices fully support the development of bicycle trails and bicycle paths throughout the Chicagoland area. Separate, designated bike trails and paths provide a safe and convenient alternative to street transportation, which will reduce the risk factors that lead to bicycle accidents in Glenview. It is also a particularly positive development that Glenview, an area that has faced criticism for being designed around the use of automobiles, to take ownership of the planning and include infrastructure developments specific to bicycles and pedestrians. Glenview's commitment to active transportation demonstrates that an overall commitment to the health and safety of its residents can lead to not only safer streets, but areas that are more attractive to area residents and visitors.

Can the Illinois Bike Transportation Plan Reduce the Number of Bicycle Accidents in Illinois?

This month the Illinois Department of Transportation has released the Illinois Bike Transportation Plan, a statewide initiative meant to improve bicycling in Illinois and make bicycling more accessible to residents in all areas of the state. It is the first statewide bike plan in Illinois history. Most notably, the Illinois Department of Transportation reached out to over 4,000 members of the general public for their opinions on how to improve conditions for bikers in Illinois and what areas to specifically target with their efforts.

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s research indicated that concern about traffic safety is the single most prominent barrier to bicycling. Participants indicated that they would be more comfortable bicycling if Illinois increased the construction of the bicycle infrastructure to include more separated and visible bicycle facilities, incorporating improvements such as protected bike lanes, paved shoulders and green-painted pavement that designates part of a roadway as "bikes only."

As a state, Illinois has been making efforts to become more bicycle-friendly. In fact, the League of American Bicyclists ranked Illinois as the ninth most bicycle-friendly state in the country in their last poll. This is a big jump indicating a steady increase; Illinois was ranked just 22nd in 2010, and then jumped to 11th in 2011 and 2012 before landing at 9th in 2013.

Among the goals listed for the Illinois Bike Transportation Plan are increased safety for Illinois bicyclists by building separate and visible bicycle facilities, including bicycling in driver’s education programs and state driver’s tests, and developing programs to educate all roadway users on the rules of the road and bicycle safety; a more efficient transportation system that seamlessly connects bicycling with other common modes of transportation like trains, buses and the state transportation system; and greater community interest in bicycling as a commonplace option for daily errands, school and work commutes, and recreational use.

As attorneys that concentrate our practice in representing bicyclists injured in bicycle accidents, we have strong opinions as to what can make bicycling safer. Without a doubt, from a physical standpoint protected bike lanes and even dedicated "bikes only" roadways that literally separate bicycle traffic from motor vehicle traffic are the most safe for bicyclists. The vast majority of bicycle accidents that lead to serious injury involve a collision with a motor vehicle. If the bicyclists and motorists are separated then the risk for bicycle accidents immediately decreases.

From a non-physical standpoint the State of Illinois through the Illinois Secretary of State can continue to do more to incorporate the legal rights and responsibilities of bicyclists into the education and training that motorists receive when going through drivers' education and when they are re-tested for their drivers' licenses. Education itself can help increase awareness of bicyclists, the fact that bicyclists are legally entitled to all the rights and responsibilities as any user of the roadway, and serve as a chance to remind motorists to "share the road" and to "look" for bicycles.

The Illinois Bike Transportation Plan is a promising program that looks to bring a lot of improvements to our state for bicyclists. The program is a step in the right direction and, if all of the goals are implemented, bicycling should be safer and we can hopefully see the number of bicycle accidents decrease. But there is always room for improvement when protecting bicyclists who are some of the most vulnerable users of the roadways. As a state we can always strive to do more and to be better users of our roadways.

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers of Keating Law Offices, P.C. may be found on the internet at www.KeatingLegal.com. The firm is located at 79 West Monroe Street, Suite 1024, in Chicago, Illinois. Phone: (312) 239-6787. Email: Info@KeatingLegal.com.

Kankakee Considering Adding Dedicated Bike Routes

The Daily Journal is reporting that Kankakee County, Illinois has plans to change the way bicyclists get around town. The Kankakee City Council and the League of Illinois Bicyclists have agreed on a $10,090.00 contract that will develop a bikeway network in Kankakee. Ed Barsotti, League of Illinois Bicyclist's executive director, said that the plan should be adopted by the fall of 2014.

These trails will act as a way for serious bicyclists to enjoy a leisurely ride, but especially as an alternative way to commute to and from work. Ed Barsotti said, "This is about establishing a 'bikeway' network. This is about getting from 'any-point A' to 'any-point B.'" Bicyclists will be able to navigate through the city on their own turf without having to worry about the complications of major public roads. 

"I say if you give this a chance it can catch on. We need to make it so people are not tied to their cars," he said. "I know there will be those who say this a waste of money, but many people said the same thing about the Metro Bus. They're ready to break the million-ride mark,” Steve Linneman, Kankakee alderman and owner of the Bradley Bike Shop, said.

Choosing to commute via bicycle greatly benefits a person’s financial and physical health. According to the Huffington Post, the average American spends over $2,000 a year on gas for their car. Much of this money is wasted on the hours spent sitting in traffic each morning on their way to work.  By choosing to utilize the new bike trails being created, residents of Kankakee County could leave more money in their bank accounts and reach their destination in a shorter period of time, all while receiving the health benefits of riding.

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers of Keating Law Offices highly encourage the residents of Kankakee County to utilize this new development. Not only are there the health benefits or exercise, but traffic planning that includes dedicated bike routes lead to safer bicycling as fewer bicycle accidents occur when there is a clearly delineated division between bicyclists and motorists. Dedicated Bicycling = Safe Bicycling.

U of I to Receive State Grant to Fund Road Word That Includes Additional Bike Lanes in Champaign-Urbana

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Last week Governor Pat Quinn’s office announced that the University of Illinois will be undergoing substantial changes at the Urbana-Champaign campus that will include additional bike lanes on busy parts of the campus. The University will receive $748,000 in state capital funds which will be used to develop improved pavements on Sixth Street between Armory Avenue and Gregory Drive, and Stadium Drive at South Neil Street (pictured above), as well as installing new traffic signals in said areas.
The bicycle lanes on Sixth Street and Stadium Drive will be a much needed addition. “We are grateful for this assistance from the state in completing these projects to improve streets and bike lanes for our students, faculty, staff and visitors,” said University Chancellor, Phyllis Wise. According to Wise, these new bicycle lanes will be placed in busy areas of the campus, so the impact will be great. Governor Pat Quinn said, “Our investment will make a key area of campus safer and easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to use”.
This will be the latest project in Governor Pat Quinn’s “commitment to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward”. On January 30, 2013, Governor Pat Quinn, along with Transportation Secretary, Ann Schneider, announced that about $50 million would soon be spent on improving the transportation system in the state of Illinois. Adding bicycle lanes to the streets was one way they planned to create safe, alternative transportation options to the people of Illinois.
The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers of Keating Law Offices are strong advocates of bicycling in Illinois and are pleased to hear of these latest additions to the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign campus. Keating Law Offices has represented bicyclists in Champaign and Urbana who have been seriously injured while riding on or near public streets. Many of these injuries from bicycle accidents could have been avoided had the bicyclist had the option of riding in a bicycle lane. Bike lanes, especially protected bike lanes, serve as traffic calming measures in that the bike lane provides the bicyclist with a clear, distinct path of travel and also serves as a warning and indicator to motorists that bicycles are present. These factors contribute to a less dangerous cycling environment for bicyclists.
 
As bicycling continues to grow in Illinois, it is a positive signal that the state's largest public institution of higher learning and the State of Illinois itself are working to include bicycles in public service projects.

Plans for Winnetka Bike Lanes Hit Speed Bump

In response to Mayor Emanuel's concerted efforts to improve the bicycling infrastructure of Chicago roads, other cities in Illinois have visibly demonstrated their desire to follow suit: Champaign, Springfield, Hoffman Estates, and Des Plaines are just a few. However, in the affluent suburb of Winnetka, plans to install bike lanes spanning across the village have been stalled by concerns voiced from the village council.

Spearheaded by the Village Park District, the Winnetka bikeway plan hopes to install numerous bike lanes through residential neighborhoods to connect parks, schools, and trails in the North Shore suburb. Most notably, a safer connection from the Green Bay Trail to the forest preserve was cited as a priority of the park district director. Other items on the Winnetka agenda include a joint project with the Illinois Department of Transportation installing a shared bike lane on the state-owned Sheridan Road.

Illinois Bicycle Lawyer Mike Keating lives in neighboring Evanston and is a regular bicyclist and runner on the Green Bay trail through Winnetka. He is fully aware of some of the problem areas cited in the Tribune article that pose potentially hazardous situations for cyclists on Willow and Tower Road. He and the rest of the Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices fully support the park district's goals to make cycling more accessible for area residents. Bike lanes like the ones discussed in Winnetka, have been proven to dramatically reduce the risk for bicycle accidents and crashes due to the division between bicyclists and motorists. Bike lanes, even just painted ones, not only provide a "bright line" between where motor vehicles should be and bicycles should be, the lanes also serve as a "warning" to motorists that bicyclists may be present. This phenomena is why bike lanes are part of what planners call "traffic calming" measures. . 

Bicyclist Doored By Passenger Exiting Taxi Cab on Lincoln

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices have been retained by a Chicago cyclist who was injured in a motor vehicle vs. bicycle "dooring" collision near the intersection of Lincoln and Armitage. The unique fact in this case is the the dooring was with the passenger door of the cab as a passenger exited the cab while stopped in traffic and opened the door into the path of the bicyclist who was riding to the right of the cab.

The dooring occurred just this past week, on Wednesday, April 3. The bicyclist was taken from the scene by ambulance to the ER at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Ironically, the passenger who opened the cab door into the path of the bicyclist identified herself as a doctor at the scene.

This type of dooring is less common than driver-side doorings, but it may potentially become increasingly prevalent as more bike lanes are painted on the far right side of the road. This could create a situation where a cab driver doesn't block the bike lane with the cab, but still causes a major problem by letting the passenger exit right onto the bike lane.

This is also why in situations like this the cab driver and cab company can be liable for the doored bicyclist's injuries. This is because Illinois law considers taxi cabs and limousines to be "common carriers." Under the law "common carriers," which also include buses and trains, are expected to operated with the highest level of care possible since they are holding themselves out as "professional" operators who are responsible for their passengers' safety. Consistent with their passengers safety is to not let their passengers out in a place that is dangerous to the passenger. Clearly if the cab driver doesn't let their passenger out into moving traffic, there is no risk of causing the dooring of bicyclist in the bike lane.

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

U of I to Update Its Award Winning Network of Bike Lanes

The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana is the only university campus in Illinois that is recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a bike friendly campus. Even with this great distinction, the University of Illinois is not content with just maintaining the status quo. The University of Illinois has recently revealed its plans to update its network of bike lanes to integrate with the cities of Champaign and Urbana. Both Champaign and Urbana are both in the midst of updating their respective bike initiatives. Termed the 2013 Campus Bike Plan, the University of Illinois estimates that the cost of improving the biking infrastructure on campus will be roughly $4 million.

The University of Illinois has reached out to the student population to survey the opinions, queries, and issues voiced by the growing number of cyclists. The Facilities and Services department is spearheading the planned changes and although the funding for the project is still unknown, the Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices are optimistic that improvements to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana's biking infrastructure will be implemented in the very near future.

If you have any questions about this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please do not hesitate to contact Illinois Bicycle Lawyer, Mike Keating, by calling him at (312) 208-7702 or emailing him at MKeating@KeatingLegal.com. The attorneys at Keating Law Offices also have extensive experience representing clients from all over the State of Illinois. The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices recently successfully settled a case for a Champaign bicyclist who was injured in a bicycle crash.  

"All Politics Is Local" - The Battle Over Protected Bike Lanes

The famous Bostonian Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill, once famously wrote, "All politics is local." The idea of this political principle is that for a politician to succeed, they must be able to meet their constituents' basic needs. To fail at meeting one's constituents' needs is to fail poltically. This is why the issue of protected bike lanes will be at the heart of a battle between the "locals" (Mayor Rahm and City Hall) and the "outsiders" (the Springfield-based Illinois Dept. of Transportation).

Mayor Emanuel's Bike 2015 Plan for the city of Chicago and his ambitious goal of installing 100 miles of protected bike lanes. However, the Tribune has recently reported that IDOT, has decided to exercise its authority over state-designated routes that fall within its jurisdiction. A direct result of IDOT's intervention in the city's bike route planning is that any protected bike lane proposed for installation on a state-designated route will be stalled while IDOT compiles and analyzes data. Their stated justification is that the current statistical information available is insufficient to satisfy the state's safety requirements.

With the IDOT superseding the Chicago Department of Transportation over these state-designated areas, plans for installing protected bike lanes--lanes that have actual physical barriers separating cyclists from motorists--may be compromised with outcomes that could fall short of expectations.

For example, the strip of road on Jackson Street between Western Avenue and Ogden Avenue has a protected bike lane, complete with physical barriers, installed for cyclist use. However, the route between Ogden and Lake Shore Drive has only a buffered lane painted since that area falls under the State of Illinois's jurisdiction.

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices have been firm supporters of the Mayor's ambitious plan to improve the city's infrastructure for not only its cyclists but for its motorists and pedestrians alike. While news, like that mentioned in today's Tribune, may signal that progress may be stalled for the short-term future, we remain hopeful that the momentum for better cycling conditions will ultimately roll forward unhindered for Chicago. Tip O'Neill was right, all politics is local. And if the City of Chicago wants to move forward with the protected bike lanes, then Springfield shouldn't stand in the way.

The "RedEye's" Tips on How to "Bike to Work Without Dying"

With Bike to Work Week upon us, it is important to remember that the summer months are the most dangerous biking months in the City of Chicago. Summer is when the most number of Chicagoans take to their bikes to avoid congested city streets and packed, smelly CTA buses and trains during their commute to work. With these facts in mind, the Red Eye recently published an article with a number of important safety recommendations for bicyclists.

The Red Eye article is full of safety tips (if not a safe title), from advising bicyclists to stay away from the lakefront due to the potential of dazed tourists wandering into your path to lubricating your bike’s gears to reduce the risk of catastrophic break down. The article also includes tricks to arrive at work presentable after a long bike commute on a hot summer day. Thanks again to the Red Eye for its continued interest in Chicago's bicycling community.

Always remember that the best safety tip of all is to "keep your head on a swivel" and be mindful of everyone and everything around you. The old cliche is true: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Chicago, Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are always confidential and free.

Chicago to Install Protected Bike Lane on Kinzie

View Larger MapThe City of Chicago has plans to install a cycle track on Kinzie between Milwaukee Avenue and Wells Street. A "Cycle Track" is essentially a dedicated bike lane that is separated from the main roadway and motor vehicles by a curb, a sidewalk, planter boxes or other kinds of physical dividers. The purpose of a "Cycle Track" is to allow bicycles to safely travel and to allow for all kinds of traffic to travel more fluidly.

Example of a cycle track:

This stretch on Kinzie between Milwaukee and Wells is mostly north of the Chicago River and will create a conduit between Milwaukee Avenue and the Loop. Milwaukee Avenue has a dedicated bike lane that sees considerable bicycle traffic on a daily basis. This cycle track will allow for the bicycle traffic off of Milwaukee to flow towards Wells Street which, in turn, goes into the Loop.

Interestingly, this cycle track is being built with federal funds that were originally granted to the Chicago Department of Transportation to build a cycle track on South Stony Island. Apparently, the change in location was made because of concerns that the cycle track on the South Side would not see enough bicycle traffic to justify the funds used. I previously put a post on the Stony Island bike lane on www.IllinoisBicycleLaw.com that you can find by clicking here.

However, regardless of the location of the cycle track, I am very pleased to see the City of Chicago once again being progressive in encouraging bicycle use and developing the infrastructure to make bicycle commuting more conducive. I am also encourage that these kinds of protected bike lanes will make bicycling safer in Chicago. As I've written about extensively on this blog, the number of incidents of "doorings" in Chicago have reached almost epidemic numbers as the number of bicyclists increase in the congested Loop and nearby neighborhoods.

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com . All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Mayoral Candidate Rahm Emanuel Details Big Plans for Bicycling in Chicago

The Chicago Sun-Times wrote a short story on Rahm Emanuel's plans to expand Chicago's bicycling network. Legendary Chicagoan Daniel Burnham famously said, "Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized."Candidate Emanuel has, in the words of Burnham, "made no small plans" when it comes to the future of bicycling in Chicago. The proposed plans fall into 3 categories:

1. Make Chicago's bike lanes the most complete in America including adding protected bike lanes;
2. Complete the 2.65 mile Bloomingdale Trail on the NorthWest Side;
3. Change the City of Chicago Code so that secure bike parking is required in certain buildings.

Click here for the details on Rahm's plans. If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com . All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Evanston Adds Bike Lanes to Central Street

My morning commute involves riding my bike from my house in Northwest Evanston down Central Street to the Metra station. It was a pleasant surprise to see freshly painted bike lanes appear this week.

This is an excellent example of a municipality adding a bike lane without compromising the accessibility for any other traffic. Bike lanes, as a traffic control measure, serve as a clear warning to motorist of the presence of bicyclists and provide bicyclists clear "ground" on which to ride.

Thanks, E-town.