Great Lakes - Bicyclist killed on Lake Shore Drive

After poking along in unusually slow traffic while on the north-bound #147 bus on Lake Shore Drive (I usually am biking home, was lazy today), we eventually drove past the gaper's block. There was a bike in the south-bound lanes, and fire trucks and police cars had blocked all but one lane going south. I was a little confused, after all, bikes aren't allowed on Lake Shore Drive.

ABC 7 (http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6299968) says that the biker was going north on the Inner Drive, and was hit and thrown into traffic on the other side, where he was hit by a truck going south.

A very sad and sobering story!

The ABC story from the link above has been updated and there is now no mention of a bicyclist, only a pedestrian trying to cross LSD. This Tribune article (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-lake-shore-drive-fatalaug01,0,5084601.story), however, still has a picture of the bike.

Wow, I know that area! Those are not narrow lanes, if I recall - a really careless motorist I assume.

Was it a hit and run?

Cyclist was probably going north on Inner Drive?

Shame on ABC!

I drove past this accident going southbound on LSD shortly after it happened. Bike was completely mangled in the southbound lanes of the outer drive. There is a lot more information in the comments section of the Tribune story including some eye-witness accounts who say that the cyclist was originally on the inner drive when he got hit by a taxi and was catapulted out onto the outer driver where he was then creamed by a south-bound pickup truck.

[edit] The tribune is now reporting that this guy was trying to walk across the lanes of outer LSD while carrying his bike. Damn, that's insane.

the cabbie should be pretty easy to identify then with scratches and maybe blood from the biker on the cab.

I drove past this accident going southbound on LSD shortly after it happened. Bike was completely mangled in the southbound lanes of the outer drive. There is a lot more information in the comments section of the Tribune story including some eye-witness accounts who say that the cyclist was originally on the inner drive when he got hit by a taxi and was catapulted out onto the outer driver where he was then creamed by a south-bound pickup truck. Apparently the cabbie fled the scene. Pretty grim scene.

HOLY CRAP! YOU'RE STILL HERE! We were just talking about you on the last ride wondering where you were this season. To much playing/working?

Happened about Belmont, is that right?

Happened about Belmont, is that right?

Yep

I live right by there but didn't see anything, I must have gotten home right before it happened. I was reading all the tribune comments and the news coverage this morning...seems like the news sources really need to get their facts straight!

I think it happened right at Aldine, and I know there is that split right there for the buses to pick up at the Sheridan/Belmont stop, wonder if a cab was taking a wide left there and broadsided the bicylcist. Who knows, all we can do is speculate at this point.

I do get nervous sometimes riding on inner LSD because there is practically no barrier between you and the south bound traffic. A curb and standard guardrail does not suffice, maybe it will be a call to action to get higher guardrail along these sections...we'll see.

HOLY CRAP! YOU'RE STILL HERE! We were just talking about you on the last ride wondering where you were this season. To much playing/working?

I'm still around, but I have a 4-week old newborn on my hands right now. Been a little hectic :eek:

I'm still around, but I have a 4-week old newborn on my hands right now. Been a little hectic :eek:

Been there...I understand.

I'm still around, but I have a 4-week old newborn on my hands right now. Been a little hectic :eek:


congrats. did you get married too? congrats on that if so. later.

RIP fellow Chicago rider. That is scary stuff, I was riding on the inner drive the other day going north from around Grand to get to a spot to cross under LSD to get to the bike path. It was quite scary having just a curb and small guardrail separating me from high speed LSD traffic. After I found a place to cross, I reflected that my choice to ride on inner drive was probably unwise. I haven't done it since

RIP fellow Chicago rider. That is scary stuff, I was riding on the inner drive the other day going north from around Grand to get to a spot to cross under LSD to get to the bike path. It was quite scary having just a curb and small guardrail separating me from high speed LSD traffic. After I found a place to cross, I reflected that my choice to ride on inner drive was probably unwise. I haven't done it since

I think Clark or LaSalle are suitable northbound routes from Grand. There is an underpass at Division.

But, even at Grand, there's an entrance to the bike path underneath the LSD viaduct, before you get to Navy Pier.

Ok, I haven't lived in Chicago that long. What is "Gaper's Block"?

I think Clark or LaSalle are suitable northbound routes from Grand. There is an underpass at Division.

But, even at Grand, there's an entrance to the bike path underneath the LSD viaduct, before you get to Navy Pier.

Yeah in retrospect I should have taken the Grand underpass, but I was slightly north of grand and at the time I didn't want to backtrack a block. I think the underpass I took was just a couple blocks north of Grand, it was one of the pedestrian underpasses with no ramp, but just that short ride was quite unnerving.

Gapers block is when everyone slows down to check out something on the side of the road; pulled over car accident, a car on fire, police car/ambulance/ fire truck, whatever. Natural, albeit morbid, human reaction, "whoa you see that?! Dude slow down so we can check it out!"

So the story has been revised for about the 100th time, now it's being said that the victim was walking his bike across LSD (outer) when he was struck by a pick up truck. Still a tragedy and you won't find me saying anything bad about this guy. But the whole thing makes a lot more sense now that we know it wasn't a hit and run and he wasn't thrown from inner to outer LSD.

Almost exactly two years ago had the urge to go for a night ride on the lakefront path & was only a few secs from being in front of that light pole. This was near the Diversey bridge & it was surreal seeing a car suddenly jump the curb heading towards you. Thank goodness for the tree & light pole there to stop the car.

Ok, I haven't lived in Chicago that long. What is "Gaper's Block"?

It's what most other people call "rubberneckin'" or "gawkin'." Or it's the name of a great Chicago-based culture and events webzine, www.gapersblock.com

It's what most other people call "rubberneckin'" or "gawkin'." Or it's the name of a great Chicago-based culture and events webzine, www.gapersblock.com

Most other people :rolleyes:? Must be a Chicago thing cause I never heard the term before.

It's what most other people call "rubberneckin'" or "gawkin'." Or it's the name of a great Chicago-based culture and events webzine, www.gapersblock.com

It's especially annoying in rush hour traffic. The f'n accident is way on the other side of the highway, about 10 lines across and people are still trying to catch a glimpse of a severed leg or head or something. Drives me crazy.

Most other people :rolleyes:? Must be a Chicago thing cause I never heard the term before.

Apparently, it is a Chicago thang - I've used it all my life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gapers_block

Most other people :rolleyes:? Must be a Chicago thing cause I never heard the term before.


DEFINITELY a Chicago thing! Since growing up in Chicago I've moved to St. Louis, Denver, Dallas, Detroit, and Ann Arbor, and I've only heard that phrase in Chicago!

The sounds of home ...

Road Fan