Right now, many bicyclists in Chicago are in the middle of celebrating Chicago Bike Week, an annual event that highlights cycling in all of its forms – for pleasure, as transportation, and as exercise, among others. But this year, the celebrations may be bigger than ever before as a major biking project is set to go live by Friday of this week, just in time for the end of Chicago Bike Week.
Dubbed the Wells Street Green Wave, the City of Chicago and the Chicago Department of Transportation have confirmed the project is near completion and is just about ready for daily use. The Wells Street Green Wave consists of a series of traffic lights along Wells Street in downtown Chicago that will control the flow of bicycle traffic only. Nestled between Huron Street and Wacker Drive, the lights will enable a quicker travel time for many who ride and will allow cyclists to reach between six and 12 miles per hour when all the lights are synchronized and green.
This is just the latest in changes to bicycling in downtown Chicago that have emerged in recent decades and as part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s initiatives to make the city a more bike-friendly town. Other recent changes include protected bicycle lanes, shared bike lanes, bicycle-only traffic signals along several popular riding routes, and steps to increase the visibility of these riders.
While the steps to alter the biking landscape of the city have been significant, they have not been enough to prevent bicycle accidents from occurring with regularity. In 2013, there were 3,586 bicycle collisions in the State of Illinois, of which 3,323 accidents caused injuries and another 30 proved to be fatal. Unfortunately, as cycling sees a rise in popularity in Chicago, the number of crashes related to these bicyclists have increased as well.
Though they possess all the same rights and responsibilities when it comes to using the roadways as motorists, bicyclists seem to be ignored with an alarming frequency. Drivers of cars do not look for or notice cyclists and often engage in activities that are dangerous to the safety of bikers. When others act negligently, cyclists may bear the brunt of the suffering and may be injured in a collision.
When motorists and cyclists learn to share the roadways and respect each other’s rights, bicycle accidents will stop happening in Chicago and cyclists will no longer be injured or killed. Until that time, the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. will be standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to take your call if you have been hurt.
We offer all injury victims a no-cost, no-obligation consultation regarding their accident and their legal rights when they call us toll free at (855) 529-2442. If you prefer, you can always reach us locally at (312) 924-7575 and at either number, a licensed attorney will be standing by to take your call.
We believe in fighting for the rights of cyclists and if you have been hurt while riding or if your loved one was injured or killed, we want to fight for you. Call us today so that you can obtain the relief that you need and that you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Car Accident in Kirkland Leaves One Dead, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published June 12, 2015.
Resource:
Gear up: Chicago Bike Week starts Friday, by Leonor Vivanco, RedEye, Chicago Tribune, published June 11, 2015.