Avid 81 Year Old Bicyclist Killed By CTA Bus

Heart and legs pumping, at age 81 Lane Swanson, an avid cyclist, was pedaling in the bike lane on Dodge Avenue at around 10:15 a.m. on September 12th when a CTA bus collided with him.  He was pronounced dead the following afternoon at St. Francis Hospital having suffered a head injury.  TribLocal reporter, Jonathan Bullington, reports that the force of the collision cracked Mr. Swanson's bike helmet.

The cause of the accident is not entirely clear.  According to the Tribune report, Mr. Swanson was riding in the designated bike lane when he was passed by the bus.  Allegedly, a witness saw the cyclist swerve into the right side of the bus as it passed.  The vantage point of the witness has not been reported.  If he did swerve, it is not clear whether he was attempting to avoid an obstacle in the bike lane.