CDOT Planner Riley O'Neil, 35, Dies After Dooring Crash in Chicago as Advocates Demand Protected Lanes
Updated
Updated · chi.streetsblog.org · Jun 6
CDOT Planner Riley O'Neil, 35, Dies After Dooring Crash in Chicago as Advocates Demand Protected Lanes
3 articles · Updated · chi.streetsblog.org · Jun 6
Summary
Riley O'Neil, 35, a Chicago Department of Transportation planner, was killed after a driver opened a car door into his bike lane on South Halsted Street in Bridgeport around 4:40 p.m. June 5.
Police said the northbound cyclist clipped the door, was thrown into traffic and was run over by a semi-truck; the 31-year-old motorist was cited for unsafe dooring, prohibited parking, driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured vehicle.
CDOT said O'Neil worked on the Complete Streets team and had led the city's bike parking program, while colleagues said he had also worked on school-zone safety and bus-priority projects.
Bike advocates and local officials said the death was preventable because the stretch had only a paint-only bike lane, renewing calls for curbside protected lanes and broader street-safety changes; a vigil is set for June 8.
A city planner died in a painted bike lane. Will his death finally force Chicago to build the protected infrastructure he advocated for?
The driver had a suspended license. Could a proposed law allowing restricted driving for such offenders actually improve street safety?
Chicago’s 2026 Traffic Violence Crisis: The Fatal Dooring of Riley O’Neil and the Fight for Safer Streets
Overview
On June 5, 2026, Chicago city planner Riley O’Neil was killed in a dooring crash on Halsted Street, where bike lanes are only painted and lack physical barriers. This tragedy, the third cyclist fatality that year, highlighted how painted bike lanes are not enough to keep cyclists safe. The incident sparked grief and renewed activism, as cycling advocates expressed frustration that parking spaces are often prioritized over street safety. O’Neil’s death intensified calls for protected bike lanes and stronger safety measures, showing the urgent need for better infrastructure to prevent further tragedies.