Two Chicago Area Bicyclists Killed One Day Before Remembrance Ride

On a day when bicyclists around the world will honor fellow cyclists killed by drivers, the Chicago area is mourning the death of two cyclists.  A woman in her 30s and an 83 year old man were killed in separate incidents about 12 hours apart yesterday.  Both were riding their bikes when they were struck by motorists.

At around 9:00 a.m. yesterday the woman, whose name has not been reported, was struck and killed "crossing Higgins Road at the exit ramp from northbound Route 53" in Schaumburg, according to the Daily Herald.  The Herald reported that according to Illinois State Police "witnesses differed as to whether the driver had exited the ramp and turned east or had been driving on Higgins" at the time of the crash.  The intersection is close to the Busse Woods Bicycle Trail.

Leonard Ratajczyk, 83, was struck and killed at around 9:10 p.m. by the driver of a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu as he rode his bicycle in the 7800 block of West Irving Park Road, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.  Both cyclist and driver were traveling westbound at the time of the crash, the Sun-Times reported.  The driver was cited for "for failure to reduce speed."

Tonight is the 10th Edition of The Ride of Silence.  Started in 2003, the event, which takes place at locations all around the world, consists of a slow remembrance ride in honor of bicyclists killed and injured by motorists.  Chicago's edition begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Richard J. Daley Center.  The ride will depart at 6:45 p.m. and proceed about 8 miles past the several ghost bikes installed around the city.  All are encouraged to attend.