Cycling Accidents on the Rise in Chicago Amidst Booming Bike Culture

Chicago, Illinois – Bicycling has surged in Chicago in recent years. According to data from the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), cycling in the city has increased by up to 119% in the last five years.

While the movement towards sustainable and healthy transportation is applaudable, there’s also an increased risk of accidents—more bikes on the busy roads translate to more potential serious injuries.

Growth Outpaces Infrastructure

Chicago added over 27 miles of protected bike lanes in 2023 alone. Regardless, most of the city’s bike network is still painted-only bike lanes, especially in busy neighborhoods such as Lincoln Square along Damen, Lawrence, and Lincoln Ave.

While these painted lanes raise awareness, they offer minimal physical protection to cyclists from fast-moving, turning, or sometimes unpredictable vehicles.

“While the growth in cycling is by all means encouraging, the infrastructure is still lagging behind this rapid rise,” said a representative from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. He said, “We strongly advocate for safer street design and more awareness among drivers and bikers.” 

The spokesperson then addressed safety, “Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and our team of lawyers is fully equipped to protect our citizens by providing advice in any legal proceedings that may follow a bike-related accident.”

The firm’s legal team, which handles numerous bicycle injury cases, has observed a noticeable rise in accident claims in recent years. This particularly refers to common crash types such as dooring, intersection collisions, blind-spot incidents during right turns, or left-turn crashes where drivers fail to yield to oncoming cyclists.

Common Dangers Facing Chicago Cyclists

Based on current data (2025), the most impactful risks for Chicago’s cyclists are:

• Dooring Accidents—When a driver opens a door without checking for passing cyclists, the result is a frontal collision, in which the cyclist can suffer severe injuries depending on the speed of the impact.
• Right-Turn Collisions—Due to blind spots or negligence, drivers can fail to notice approaching cyclists in the bike lane, resulting in collisions or a cyclist being run over.
• Left-Turn Collisions—Similar to the previous point, drivers who fail to yield to approaching cyclists before making a left turn can cause a serious accident.
• Night Visibility—Bicyclists without lights and reflective gear are often invisible until it’s too late, particularly at night or in poorly lit areas.
• Unprotected Bike Lanes – Painted-only bike lanes cannot prevent vehicles from entering the cyclist’s path. 

All the above issues are worsened during high-traffic hours and in commercial areas where traffic might be more hectic and chaotic, resulting in less focus and awareness from drivers.

RIL’s Safety Recommendations

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers encourages all cyclists to assume drivers don’t see them. By always riding defensively, riders are more protected, which is the most important thing.

Based on numerous years of experience in bike-related injury cases, the firm offers the following safety tips:

• Front/Rear Lights – Always use them (even during daytime, especially during rain).
• High-Visibility Clothing – Always wear reflective vests or jackets, especially in low-light conditions.
• Protective Gear – Safety first; wear helmets at all times while cycling. 
• Hand Signals – When making a turn, use your hand to signal which way you’re going, so that oncoming traffic can react accordingly.
• Slow Down At Intersections: Ride slower and stay alert. Also, avoid riding beside cars preparing (signaling) to turn.

“We, unfortunately, represent too many people who were injured in accidents that could’ve been prevented with more awareness, better driving culture, and improved infrastructure.”, said the RIL spokesperson, furthering, “While we do take care of all our clients, it is sometimes simply best to prevent an accident altogether.”.

A Safety Net for Chicago’s Cyclists

Any cyclists injured due to negligent drivers have legal rights, and regardless of the type of accident, we at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will help secure the maximum possible compensation for all our clients.

This is possible thanks to our experienced legal support for injured cyclists throughout the Windy City. The firm has handled thousands of personal injury cases and is committed to protecting the legal rights of all our clients as well as ensuring the statute of limitations for bike accidents is being met.

You can get a free consultation with one of our Chicago bicycle accident lawyers to better understand your rights after a cycling accident.