Tag Archives: crash

During Chicago Bike Week, let’s recommit ourselves to safer streets

Jun 29, 2020 | by Jim Merrell

As we begin the annual celebration of Chicago Bike Week, we are faced with tragic reminders of how far our region still has to go before people of all ages and abilities are able to enjoy the benefits of biking. Over the past several weeks, two teenagers have been killed and one adult seriously injured while biking in our region. Each and every fatality and serious injury is preventable. We have long had the knowledge necessary to create streets that are truly safe, but tragedies like those that have unfolded recently continue to happen because our elected leaders and public officials continue to fail to take action. Protected bike lanes. Side-guards on trucks. Streets designed for safety, not speed. And...

Brother of crash victim advocates for safer streets

Nov 20, 2019 | by Maya Norris

Andrew DeMott is channeling his family’s tragedy into a catalyst for change. Since his brother was killed in a car crash while bicycling home early this year, DeMott has been advocating to improve the walking and bicycling infrastructure in Tinley Park, where his brother was killed. On Oct. 27, his family held a ghost bike ceremony as a memorial to his brother, Douglas DeMott, 52, near the crash site where his brother was struck by a car on Jan. 24. Instead of giving flowers as a memorial, DeMott’s family generously asked that donations be made to Active Trans. Douglas Demott was bicycling home along Harlem Avenue just north of I-80 in Tinley Park at about 5:30 p.m. when a 93-year-old...