Attacks on cyclists on Lake Street

Picked up on OPCC listserv per Bill W; presumably posted today.

I don't know why Active Trans didn't put a warning out about the previous incident mentioned here.

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Authored by Tom McGee and posted on the Oak Park Cycle Club facebook page. :

LAKE STREET WARNING: With the warm weather, and newly added bike lanes on Lake Street, there have been more bike commuters heading into the city...unfortunately, there are some rough neighborhoods people need to cycle through and area street punks see the increase in riders as well.

On my way home from the city to Oak Park last night I was jumped by 2 male teens in an attempt to steal my bike. This occured at Lake & Lavergne. One guy was on the sidewalk, the other hidden behind an L pillar. As I was approaching, I sensed it was bad, but it was too late to react. They came at me from the left and right and pushed me off the bike. I was clipped in and went head first over the handlebars, landing on the right side of my face and shoulder. They did not go for anything but the bike, so when I realized that, I wrestled with them and kept my bike. A motorist stopped to help me, and seeing this they ran.

A number of good samaritans stopped to help me, called 911, and paramedics were on the scene within 10 minutes to get me to the ER. I'm stitched and bumped and bruised, but it could have been a lot worse.

I strongly suggest that riders get the word out to friends who commute, try to ride w/others (there are a number of group rides to/from the loop from what I've heard), and try not to ride too early or too late when other people may not be around to help.

I've already spoken with John Lankford, Bikeways Campaign Coordinator w/Active Transporation Alliance. He said there was a similar incident on Lake the morning of Bike The Drive. So they are aware of the problem, and will be approaching people @ CDOT and the city to try and address it.

Ride safe,
Tom McGee

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by globalguy on June 29, 2012 at 1:02pm

I wonder if it is a problem that mostly OPies are affected in Chicago wards so the incidents don't get reported to the relevant, local authorities ...

h' said:

Typically they would communicate with the Alderman's office and the district police commander to see about setting up a "special attention." Or attempt to, at least-- whether there's follow-through on the part of the ald/police is a coin-toss, at best.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

The question is, Address it how?

So they [the Active Trans] are aware of the problem, and will be approaching people @ CDOT and the city to try and address it.

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Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on June 29, 2012 at 6:05pm

Dunno . . . I can't really imagine the victim not calling 911 if they were injured. There's not really any other reporting mechanism in Chicago, is there?

I think if there is anything like one main cause of recurring incidents like this, it's that police resources in this city are concentrated where they're least necessary.

da' Square Wheelman (aka garth) said:

I wonder if it is a problem that mostly OPies are affected in Chicago wards so the incidents don't get reported to the relevant, local authorities ...

h' said:

Typically they would communicate with the Alderman's office and the district police commander to see about setting up a "special attention." Or attempt to, at least-- whether there's follow-through on the part of the ald/police is a coin-toss, at best.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

The question is, Address it how?

So they [the Active Trans] are aware of the problem, and will be approaching people @ CDOT and the city to try and address it.