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Posted On: May 30, 2010

Illinois Law Passed To Protect Bikers

The Illinois House and Senate have passed a law that would help protect Illinois bicyclists and pedestrians being harassed by motorists. Senate Bill 2951 would make it a crime to ride unnecessarily close to, toward or near a bicyclist, pedestrian or a person riding a horse. If the violation results in great bodily harm, the motorist could be charged with a felony. The legislation awaits the Governor's signature to become law.

The law would be especially relevant in Chicago where some motorists seem to be openly hostile to bicyclists. In recent weeks, Chicago bicyclists have been injured by motorists who appear to have intentionally hit the bicyclists with their cars. This law will address situations where motorists are driving close to bicyclists just to harass them.

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Posted In: Bicycle Accidents

Posted On: May 30, 2010

Chicago Bike to Work Week , June 12-18

Various Chicago organizations are sponsoring Chicago bike to work week from June 12 to June 18, 2010. This is a great opportunity for bike riders to come out in force to show that Chicago bicycle riders have the same rights on the road as automobile drivers. Such high profile events can also encourage the police to enforce the law that states that automobile drivers cannot drive or park in the bike lanes. Many Chicago bicycle accidents are caused by cars driving in bike lanes when cars have stopped in front of them. I have personally had a motorist drive directly in back of me while I rode my bike in the bike lane in Chicago. He even beeped his horn when I refused to surrender the bike lane to his car.

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Posted In: Bicycle Accidents

Posted On: May 4, 2010

Woman Intentionally Runs Over Bicyclist In Chicago

Tuesday afternoon, after a yelling match with a bicyclist regarding lane space, a female motorist in Chicago revved her engine and intentionally tried to run over bicyclist Tim Heath with her car at the corner of Milwaukee and Diversey. Four witnesses back up the story of the bicyclist. The car ran over the Chicago bicyclist's foot and leg causing a laceration to his leg. The bicyclist got the driver's license plate number and turned it over to the police. The police made contact with the driver and made arrangements for her to turn herself in. The police have yet to announce what if any charges will be brought. Hopefully, the police will take the case seriously and charge the driver with aggravated battery like she deserves. With the number of bicyclist injured by cars in Chicago, police should make a special effort to protect bicyclist, for example, ticketing motorists who drive in bike lanes to cut around stopped cars. Maybe that way there will be less Chicago bicycle accidents involving cars.

Posted by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. | | Email This Post

Posted In: Bicycle Accidents

Posted On: May 2, 2010

New Illinois Law Requires Drivers To Stop At Crosswalks When Pedestrians Present.

A new law has just passed the Illinois Senate that would require drivers to come to a complete stop if a pedestrian enters a crosswalk. The old law only required drivers to slow down or stop only when necessary. In 2007, 172 pedestrians were struck in crosswalks in Illinois prompting the Illinois state legislature to act. This is welcome news for Chicago pedestrians who are aware that no one even slows down at cross walks, not even the police. It will be interesting to see if the police actually enforce this law.

Posted by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. | | Email This Post

Posted In: Pedestrian Accidents

Posted On: May 2, 2010

Naperville Driver Gets Jail For Attempting To Hit Bicyclist


Mary A. Rehn, 67, got 42 days in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for running down a teen bicyclist in downtown Naperville, Illinois. The teen was riding his bike on Washington Street when Rehm came up behind the bicyclist in her car and started honking her horn. Rehm then floored it but the teen was able to jump off his bike before the bike was hit. Rehm then drove off, dragging the teen's bicycle under her car. The teen stated that Rehm acted intentionally and that the crash was not an accident.

Posted by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. | | Email This Post

Posted In: Bicycle Accidents

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Peter Zneimer


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