CHICAGO — Riley O’Neil was not just a cyclist; he was a catalyst for change in his community.
O’Neil dedicated himself to advocating for safer streets, and on Monday night, his community gathered to honor his memory with a poignant ride.
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“Riley had a unique ability to light up a room with his presence,” remarked David Powe, a friend of O’Neil and Assistant Commissioner at the Chicago Department of Transportation.
In his role at CDOT, O’Neil was instrumental in leading Chicago’s bike parking program. For him, the mission of creating safer streets went beyond a professional commitment—it was his passion.
Powe reflected on O’Neil’s lasting impact, saying, “Chicago is undeniably better because of Riley. His contributions are evident in the bike racks used daily and the enhanced safety measures near schools.”
Tragically, on Friday, the 35-year-old was cycling along Halsted in the Bridgeport area when a car door was suddenly opened in his path. This caused him to fall into traffic, where he was struck by a semi-truck.
“While the circumstances around Riley’s death are tragic, the situation is made all the more painful because his death, like so many others, did not need to happen,” said Bridgeport resident Andrew Mack.
Advocates and dozens of cyclists rang their bells in Bridgeport on Monday night, riding to 32nd and Halsted, where O’Neil died.
A sea of people laid down across multiple blocks in protest for safer streets and to show where Riley’s ride ended, a movement still continues.
“Riley was too young to die, but his death isn’t the end of his story,” Mack said.
Mack saw the aftermath of the crash that took O’Neil’s life. He and the others at Monday’s vigil at Palmisano Park offered a vow.
“This is a public health crisis. When you have thousands of people every year, just in the city, who are injured and killed by drivers, it’s a crisis, and we need to do something about it,” Mack said.
Police cited the driver for improperly opening his car door, along with parking and license violations.
Advocates say Riley O’Neil is at least the third person killed while biking in Chicago this year.
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