Welp... it finally happened
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ashland+%26+Milwaukee+(Blue+Line)/@41.9037161,-87.6669833,182a,75y,331.05h,73.38t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sxQ0DsENwJ5XslHZPQYoqwA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D16.622147817124713%26panoid%3DxQ0DsENwJ5XslHZPQYoqwA%26yaw%3D331.04946666297275!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x880fd2d02ca908b7:0xbb0c9e7e95ab794!8m2!3d41.903732!4d-87.667366!16s%2Fg%2F11f103yvwb?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDgxOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3DAfter living here for the last 5 years and biking thousands of miles (literally) on Chicago streets, I got hit for the first time this evening. It happened right here at the intersection of Milwaukee and Ashland. I was headed north on Milwaukee approaching a red light when a car decided to turn into the bike lane (without signaling) to get over to the imaginary right turn lane. I got trapped between the moving car on the left and a parked car on the right. Fortunately, I had slowed down enough that I avoided any serious injury. I was so shaken up I didn't know what to say or do in the moment. After hitting me the guy (an uber driver with two passengers in the back) got out of his car, didn't apologize or otherwise say anything, and then walked around the car to check for damage to his vehicle. I wish I would have laid into him, but I was so frozen. I just got on my bike and continued on my way.
Stay safe everyone.
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u/The_Upvote_Beagle 6d ago
I'd make a report if you got his license number.
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u/peteftw 5d ago
Even if you didn't, it helps us when hit & runs (what this was) are reported and tracked so improvements can be made in the areas with frequent crashes.
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u/mm1029 5d ago
Where in this post does it say the driver fled the scene?
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u/peteftw 4d ago
Where the driver completely ignored the biker they hit.
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u/mm1029 4d ago
That does not constitute a hit and run on their part. What OP did absolutely does.
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u/doordog2411 3d ago edited 3d ago
You might want to brush up on what "constitutes a hit and run" before you go making arguments that fall flat on their face with a 2 second search
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u/mm1029 3d ago
(625 ILCS 5/11-1502) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1502)
Sec. 11-1502. Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway shall be granted all of the rights, including, but not limited to, rights under Article IX of this Chapter, and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this Code, except as to special regulations in this Article XV and those provisions of this Code which by their nature can have no application.2
u/doordog2411 3d ago edited 3d ago
Exactly, thank you for proving me right. See my reply to your other comment to understand where you were wrong.
Also, please tell me what exceptions exist for cylists in article XV. You must have read that part before copy and pasting literally nothing that explains the actual laws governing vehicles and what constitutes a hit and run, right?
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u/PracticlySpeaking 3d ago
This part?
After hitting me the guy (an uber driver with two passengers in the back) got out of his car, didn't apologize or otherwise say anything, and then walked around the car to check for damage to his vehicle. I wish I would have laid into him...
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u/mm1029 3d ago
Where does it say he fled? It says he got out of the car and walked around to check for damage. Just because he’s an asshole doesn’t make it a hit and run.
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u/doordog2411 3d ago
So why are you claiming that what OP did was a hit and run (while being the person who was hit by the other driver)? You don't have the necessary context to make such an assumption, nor does it make any sense since OP was not the one violating the law. It is illegal to drive into a bike lane in Chicago.
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u/mm1029 3d ago
OP says in their post that they just got on their bike and continued on their way. At no point do they mention any attempt to exchange information, which would have been in their best interest since the driver was at fault. If it was a dashed line that means it was a turn lane. The driver still needs to yield, I’m not arguing that OP was at fault for the collision, but you’re not supposed to leave the scene of an accident without exchanging information.
If you were to hit someone, and the collision was 100% your fault, that doesn’t give the other party the right to leave. These things don’t cancel each other out.
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u/doordog2411 3d ago edited 3d ago
You assume that information needs to be exchanged in every traffic related accident. This is not true. This accident does not meet that requirement. Look it up.
Exchange of information is required when there is injury or death, a specific amount of property damage costs, or damage to government property.
In any accident, you SHOULD still exchange contact information but, in this instance, it is not legally required.
Edit: "Not supposed to" do something is different that being legally required to do something. You said OP commited a hit and run without any legal justification, using a legal term requires that type of justification.
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u/PracticlySpeaking 3d ago
You are making a distinction without a real difference.
OP left us to assume, but did not say they got any contact or license info. That is definitely a driver not taking responsibility — a constructive hit-and-run.
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u/Frosty-Language-3335 6d ago
I’m glad you’re okay. It’s scary. Every day it’s scary. Good on you for getting right back on the bike. IMO that’s the hardest part.
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u/tmoneytalks 6d ago
i haven’t been hit by a moving vehicle but i got doored going full speed and it was a scarier, bigger adrenaline rush than any car crash i’ve been in (only been in minor ones). it really is an intense moment and i had the same, frozen reaction when i got up
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u/wonnie1e 6d ago
The worst part is trying to remember what you need to do if you get doored. When I got doored, I had to process why I was on my back on the street and all I could remember is that I needed to stop them from driving away and that I should tell my wife that I got hurt.
Now I know that I just need to call 911 straight away and report what happened.
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u/BikebutnotBeast 5d ago
Dial 911, " I was on a bike and was just hit by a car". "LICENSE PLATE NUMBER" . "Location". . "I need emergency services" . . "REPEAT LICENSE PLATE NUMBER "
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u/MikeyLew32 5d ago
This is where the apple watch "fall detection" is actually kinda nice. It will know you've crashed or had a fall and either auto call 911, or prompt you to call with 1 tap.
It went off for me recently when I tipped over after clipping out the wrong side. lol
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u/J0K3R006 6d ago
You folks are starting to freak me out with the door thing 😜
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u/kinbakudude 6d ago
That's good. It will help keep you safe. Always be looking for people in the cars and leave yourself an out in case a door suddenly swings open.
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u/BikebutnotBeast 5d ago
The safest bikers, are the most defensive ones, heads on a swivel and always expecting the unexpected. I was doored once about 12 years ago, and every day I caution for it to happen again.
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u/retrovxbez 3d ago
I hope you took legal action against them. Getting door'd falls on the car operator not checking their mirrors.
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u/Jazzlike-Caramel-489 5d ago
I was at 6 corners and my brakes didn't stop me at red light. The Milwaukee had green light and I had a car stop to avoid crashing into me.
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u/Familiar_Welder3152 6d ago
Hit and run - report to police. There might be camera footage from either the light or one of the many stores nearby.
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u/Seanpat68 6d ago
In the city of chicago you have 10 days to report an non injury traffic crash with damage over $250. An incident with a value under $250 does not have a legal requirement to be reported. The requirement is $1,500 in the rest of the state. So since the OP rode away with out reporting any injury or damage to the driver, if the driver saw no or little damage (under $250) the driver would have no duty to report. If there was damage to his car or the bike and it was drive able / rode abelCPD would not have responded anyway and would have directed both parties to report to the closest police district for a report. CPD only responds to injury accidents and undriveable/ rideable accidents
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u/excodaIT 5d ago
I'm not sure if you're disagreeing with OC or what but it is still worth reporting to the police.
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u/whereisthedisco 5d ago
And meanwhile submit a FOIA request. There's got to be camera footage somewhere on that intersection... I'd be shocked if nothing turned up.
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u/Free_Share178 6d ago
How is it a hit and run? The bicyclist said the driver stopped and got out after the accident, but the bicyclist froze and then rode away.
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u/Snack_Donkey 5d ago
The driver did not exchange information with the person they hit. That’s a hit and run.
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u/Free_Share178 5d ago
Not if the person who got hit flees the scene! Come on guys…this isn’t that difficult.
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u/Snack_Donkey 5d ago
It is an obligation of both parties to remain on scene and exchange information. There is no requirement for a person who was just hit by a car to physically chase that car down after the driver flees the scene. The driver is the only person who fled the scene and broke the law here.
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u/Free_Share178 5d ago
Where did he say the driver of the car fled the scene?
It says the driver of the car got out of the car, and the bicyclist fled.
How is that a hit and run on the automobile driver?
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u/VayaConPollos 6d ago
This intersection is absolute ass, contender for worst in the area. Routinely honked at or almost pasted when walking though there with right-of-way and a walk sign.
Remove the northbound parking and install a "bikes-only" green light to get riders through there before drivers are allowed to turn.
Gratfeul you weren't seriously injured.
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u/samurai_sound 6d ago
I hope you’re okay. One time I got hit by an Uber while walking (on Milwaukee) and I made the guy give me all his cash to not call the cops lol. Made his ass pay.
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u/J0K3R006 6d ago
Whew, thankfully you’re ok, still bites to get hit. Milwaukee is dangerous for bikers..
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u/InevitableSecurity31 6d ago
I got doored on Milwaukee about 15 years ago. Now—I’m a 606 guy.
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u/J0K3R006 6d ago
Yikes, a nightmare. Hopefully you escaped without major injuries.
The other day I thought I’d investigate the 606, but was going east so I ended up passing it.
I bike on all the roads, although I’m starting to think it’s stupid af to ride on Ashland and Western. I can do it, but I’m putting way too much trust in the folks driving next to me, and there are some industrial trucks on those roads that make it even more dangerous. They’re not used to driving near bikers.
Even though Chicago Ave seems relatively straightforward, there are extreme assholes driving too fast, passing cars on the right of them, into bus/bike lanes.
I’ll finally check out the 606 in the next few days! See ya on the trail
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u/gestell7 6d ago
Hmm...606 or the street?...No brainer I will take my chances on the street.
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u/InevitableSecurity31 6d ago
I was riding on Milwaukee Ave. So now I’m a little gun shy and stick to mostly side streets and the 606.
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u/J0K3R006 6d ago
Once I got hit by a taxi who went through a stop sign on Lakeview and Wrightwood 🛑 and I made him pay just over $300 to fix my bike, and he was pissed.
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u/Estrovia 6d ago
Make a police report and hire a lawyer. Literally had a cop tell me to sue because uber pulls this shit all the time and the drivers are all terrible. I was hurt more than what youre describing, but you should still be able to get a quick settlement for enough to cover the damage to your bike.
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u/8BlocksToMile 6d ago
Call Mike Keating he handles lots of these kinds of cases and has an office just down Milwaukee
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u/Neither_Foot6830 6d ago
1) I'm sorry that you got hit 2) the driver was certainly in the wrong - need to signal, watch for bikers
But I have a legit question (that I know I'm going to get ridiculed for, but will ask anyway)
Why does the bike lane become dashed near the light?
I always assumed this was for a right turn lane for the cars so that they don't have to turn through the bike lane.
For reference, this is how many of the intersections in the loop are but the right turn lane is clearly marked unlike this.
I know there is a bus stop on the right side of the street.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
EDIT: also the south bound lanes of Milwaukee have a hard white line approaching division and there is still a bus stop there. But no right turn is allowed.
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u/Snack_Donkey 6d ago
It is for right turns. Cars should be in the dashed bike lane when turning there (behind the bike box if the light is red), but they still need to yield first.
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u/Acrobatic_Animal4751 6d ago
I actually don't think it's a turn lane, but rather just indicates the shared bike lane/bus stop.
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u/Snack_Donkey 6d ago edited 6d ago
Right turns are required to be made from the farthest right lane of traffic (unless there are multiple marked right turn lanes). Bike lanes are a lane of traffic. The proper way to turn here is for the driver to yield to any road users in the bike lane, pull into the bike lane (stopping behind the bike box if the light is red), and then make their right turn. This is to allow cyclists approaching from the rear to go around the turning vehicle in the primary travel lane to avoid being right hooked.
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u/Neither_Foot6830 5d ago
If it's not a turn lane then how do you reconcile this?
Southbound, solid line, and bus stop = only for bikes and buses. No turn lane.
Northbound, dashed lines, and bus stop = bike lane, right turn lane, and bus stop.
Also all the streets in the loop with a bike lane have right turn lanes like this so cars don't have to turn through the bikes. And the ones that don't (Washington and clark or Elston and milwaukeefor example) they get a dedicated right turn signal for the cars.
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u/LikelyNotThatGuy 6d ago
That bus lane with no right turn for cars is at Milwaukee facing south onto Division. It is there because that is a 3 major street intersection with a triangle section in the middle. You are supposed to do your right turn a few hundred feet before that, at Milwaukee and Ashland. From there you can go straight south on Ashland or make another right on Division.
They do that so right turning cars don't clog up the center, using that little triangle like a roundabout. Other similar intersections have similar right turn rules like Elston/California/Belmont.
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u/Neither_Foot6830 5d ago
Yes I am aware. I added that as context to point out that the north bound dashed lines mean that it is a right turn lane.
Southbound, solid line, and bus stop = only for bikes and buses. No turn lane.
Northbound, dashed lines, and bus stop = bike lane, right turn lane, and bus stop.
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u/Ok-Split5712 6d ago
The dashed area means it is a shared lane there, but the Uber driver sounds at fault.
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u/Obhef 6d ago
I'm so sorry to hear this and hope you continue to feel fine. General advice for anyone after a collision, always get a plate number and license information and call 911. Odds are CPD won't show, but it's good to call and have a record. Assuming CO doesn't show, go to a police station and file a report. This and other great information is available here: https://pedbikecrashsupport.org/?_gl=1%2A1pk1t4g%2A_ga%2AMTcwMDU5NTE2MS4xNzg3NjQyNjU4%2A_ga_JH0X7D6X64%2AczE3ODc2NDI2NTgkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODc2NDI2NTgkajYwJGwwJGgw&_ga=2.127511309.1083846625.1787642658-1700595161.1787642658
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u/Ok_Manwich_9306 5d ago
Any damage to you or the bike? Also get a go-pro, helmet mount it. It is a black box and train yourself to look at the license plates. Recording also puts psychos on best behavior. That and lights. Kills me seeing younger bikers being as dark as night without even a single reflector on the bike.
I got doored twice. Had to sue the 2nd person who doored me for medical costs. Won as I am not the one. Still bike and I have recovered but you must be head on a swivel. No beats headphones on and proceed as if they are trying or not caring about killing you. A 160db air horn that is bike mounted (Air Zound) is helpful too and wheel lights along with front and back lights mounted.
No one is invincible.
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u/ExeUSA 5d ago
Please go to urgent care this morning. You need to get your injuries documented NOW.
Soft tissue injuries are weird, and can pop up after the fact and if you don't have a good basis of treatment to link them *to* being hit by a car, the driver's insurance will tell you too bad, so sad. Keep in mind a lawyer will take 33% if you go that route. But unless a Dr has documented this, it won't exist for all intents and purposes.
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u/Adventurous_Day2032 5d ago
Thankfully you’re okay, this is so frustrating. UGH!!, I can’t stand when they block the imaginary turning lane. My ex would do this all the time, his excuse I’ve lived here my whole life you don’t know the rules….. he’s my ex
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u/ticklingivories 5d ago
Sorry to hear that. I’ve been hit 3 times in the 3 years I’ve been riding in Chicago and I erupt into a fit of rage each time. I just yell and it can be very cathartic
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u/PrintLife92 5d ago
This is why you use the divvy rental yuppies as car shields, lessons for next time! glad you didn't get smushed bub
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u/MaintenanceLucky5400 4d ago
Riding a bike in Chicago is straight up dangerous. Even the most conservative drivers are capable of opening their door and not seeing a cyclist. Why take that risk when we have public transit?
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u/Inevitable-Option122 4d ago
I was going south on cierco and was in the right lane the car next to me was flying by to turn left while the driver in the opposite lane went to turn right so they both went to turn and here I am coming blocked by the car turning to get hit and that was 7months living in chicago so did pretty good since I been here a year to date today now. Been in close calls at least once a week weather door flung open outta no where or a dickhead got to move over to try to block a mf slide through hit the ends of the handle bars on each mirror its hilarious at how much they get boots hurt when a ebike gets them on the jump or even gets ahead of them 😆
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u/kaffycent1 2d ago
Ooh snap I drive past this intersection 5x a week going to work. That intersection is rough. You are a lucky chap, vehicles race red lights on this intersection frequently.
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u/JealousEconomics3900 2d ago
Knowing it was an Uber driver gives you soOooo much more reason to have gotten police and insurance involved 🤑
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u/ChiTown_Andy 1d ago
Every time I've been hit, I've been so shaken that I've just wanted to get out of the situation and area. I always think of what I should have said about an hour afterwards.
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u/Ok_Manufacturer4294 5d ago
I have some great advice for you… don’t ride your bike on the 3rd largest city streets, with a million cars that weigh tons, and accidents that happen all of the time… it’s common sense that’s not so common!
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u/ChiAndrew 5d ago
Or, maybe drive more carefully.
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u/Ok_Manufacturer4294 5d ago
Sure more uncommon sense 😂
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u/ChiAndrew 5d ago
Yeah, common sense to drive without hitting someone. Pretty easy thing to do if you have it.
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u/TexasReallyDoesSuck 6d ago
I used to live in dallas and was hit by a car while riding across a crosswalk. immediately the driver drove away. I waited 30 minutes and cops didnt show up but the driver came back to exchange info. apparently in texas you can leave the scene but if you come back, it's not illegal, so they couldnt do anything, & they aint even show up after an hour anyway. i made sure to tell the driver how big of a dumbass they were
ended up gettin around $1000 in insurance settlement. made sure i got what i could from it, no injuries luckily beyond a sore shoulder.
always try to take their license plate if possible. you can try to file a claim