Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog
Concrete islands, curb extensions and so-called “bump-outs” are often installed on Chicago streets in an effort to slow traffic, shorten pedestrian crossings or organize parking and traffic lanes. When properly designed and clearly marked, these improvements may serve an important safety purpose.
But when a concrete bump-out suddenly extends into the path of a bicyclist or e-scooter rider, particularly when it is difficult to see , the supposed safety improvement can itself become a serious hazard.
A recent tragic e-scooter death in Chicago demonstrates just how serious this problem can be.
16-Year-Old E-Scooter Rider Killed on Western Avenue
As reported by Block Club Chicago, 16-year-old Alex Blacio was killed while riding an e-scooter on Western Avenue in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood in August 2026. He was the third Chicago teenager killed while riding an e-scooter this year.
Other reporting concerning the crash indicates that Blacio was riding north near the curb when he encountered a curb or concrete obstruction in his path. According to a report discussing the police crash report, the truck driver stated that the teenager was attempting to avoid a curb when he lost control of the scooter and collided with a semi-truck.
The circumstances remain subject to investigation, and no conclusion should be drawn about legal responsibility merely from initial reports. But the tragedy illustrates an important street-design problem: a rider who unexpectedly encounters a concrete island or bump-out may have only a fraction of a second to decide what to do.
Bump-Outs Can Force Riders Directly Into Moving Traffic
A bicycle or e-scooter rider traveling close to the curb generally expects that portion of the roadway to continue in a reasonably predictable line.
A bump-out changes that.
Instead of continuing straight, the curb suddenly projects farther into the roadway. A rider may be forced to move left to avoid striking the concrete. On a street such as Western Avenue, that maneuver can put the rider directly into a lane occupied by cars, buses or large trucks.
Motorists may not expect a bicyclist or scooter rider to suddenly move into their lane. At the same time, the rider may have nowhere else to go.
The danger becomes particularly severe when the rider is traveling next to a truck. Large trucks have significant blind spots, and a bicyclist or scooter rider who must unexpectedly move several feet to the left can suddenly find himself or herself in an extremely dangerous position.
A Concrete Island That Is Difficult to See Can Be a Trap
Visibility matters.
A concrete bump-out that blends into the pavement can be very difficult for someone riding a bicycle or scooter to recognize until the rider is almost on top of it.
This can be especially dangerous:
- At night or in poor lighting;
- During rain or other bad weather;
- When parked vehicles partially hide the bump-out;
- When paint or reflective markings have faded;
- When the concrete is approximately the same color as the roadway;
- When there are no reflective signs, bollards or other warnings showing that the travel path suddenly narrows.
A driver sitting several feet above the roadway may easily see a concrete island that is far less obvious to someone standing on a small e-scooter.
And e-scooters have small wheels. Striking a curb or raised concrete obstruction can instantly cause a rider to lose control.
Street Design Should Not Create a Last-Second Choice Between Concrete and Traffic
There is an obvious safety principle involved: If a city is going to place a concrete obstruction in an area regularly used by bicycles and e-scooters, the obstruction should be obvious well before a rider reaches it.
Riders should not suddenly be confronted with two bad choices — hit the concrete or swerve into automobile traffic.
Concrete islands and curb extensions should be designed so that bicyclists and scooter riders can clearly identify them from a reasonable distance. Depending upon the location, safety measures could include reflective markings, contrasting pavement colors, flexible delineator posts, warning signs, adequate lighting and roadway designs that provide riders with a continuous and predictable path around the obstruction.
A street feature intended to improve safety should not become virtually invisible to some of the most vulnerable people using the roadway.
Chicago Is Seeing More Serious E-Scooter Crashes
The death on Western Avenue was not an isolated incident.
Chicago experienced three teenage e-scooter deaths during 2026 by early August. Reporting also shows that Chicago Fire Department responses to e-scooter incidents increased dramatically between 2022 and 2025. Six people riding bicycles or scooters were killed by motor vehicles during the first six months of 2026, compared with one during the same period the previous year.
These numbers should cause Chicago transportation officials to carefully examine not simply rider behavior, but also how streets are being designed for the rapidly increasing number of people traveling by e-scooter, e-bike and bicycle.
Chicago cannot encourage alternative transportation while designing streets that unexpectedly funnel those riders into moving traffic.
Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. Represents Injured Chicago Bicyclists and E-Scooter Riders
The attorneys at Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have extensive experience representing people injured while riding bicycles and e-scooters in Chicago.
These cases can involve negligent drivers, commercial trucks, dangerous roadway conditions, poorly designed intersections and other hazards that place vulnerable road users at risk.
When a serious bicycle or e-scooter crash occurs, determining exactly why it happened can be just as important as determining who struck whom.
If you or a family member has been seriously injured while riding a bicycle, e-bike or e-scooter in Chicago, Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. can investigate the circumstances of the collision, identify potentially responsible parties and pursue compensation when the evidence establishes negligence or other legal responsibility.
Chicago streets should be designed so that bicyclists and e-scooter riders can travel in a predictable path without suddenly having to choose between a concrete obstruction and moving traffic.