Hundreds Join Ride To Honor Cyclist Riley O’Neil

Key Points:

• Hundreds of cyclists in Bridgeport held a vigil and protest to honor Riley O’Neil, a city transportation planner and cycling advocate who was killed last week after being struck by a semi-truck following a car dooring incident.
• O’Neil was instrumental in expanding bike parking in Chicago through the Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets program, and colleagues are calling for bike racks to be renamed “Riley Racks” in his memory.
• Advocates are demanding increased bicycle safety measures on the South Side of Chicago, where most bike-related deaths in 2026 have occurred, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure to match rising cycling rates.
• Despite some efforts by local officials like Ald. Nicole Lee to improve bike lanes, critics argue that promised safety enhancements have been slow or insufficient, with activists planning protests to push for more immediate action.
• The incident and ongoing safety concerns have sparked calls to rethink street design and prioritize protecting cyclists and pedestrians over automobiles in Chicago’s urban planning.