Bike Riders Face New Dangers on Chicago Streets

Chicago - While there are benefits of biking, there are also pedaling perils. Courier Paul Watkash, who works for Don't Hit the Messenger, never thought trying to make a living would almost cost him an arm and a leg.

"I've been hit before, been hit and run before, definitely taken one to the head, and had cognitive problems one time which is pretty scary," Watkash said.

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE:

STORY: Illinois Bicycle Accident Statistics

STORY: Chicago Bicycle Accident Statistics

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What's even scarier is how many people in Illinois have been in accidents on their bikes. In 2008, the last year on record, 27 riders were killed; over three thousand were seriously injured.

With more people trying to save money and save the planet, this summer could be as dangerous as ever.

Doctor Marilyn Hallock from Rush Medical Center said she sees as many as four or five injured cyclists a week.

"Typically, clavicle fractions, broken bones, lots of abrasions, lacerations, head injuries are the most common injuries we see," Hallock reported.

Traditionally, most of the accidents involve collisions with vehicles or car doors being opened in front of bikers. But recently, doctors said they've had to treat increasingly more riders hit by distracted drivers talking on their phones, or texting behind the wheel.

Riding has been risky this year. In March, a Chicago teenager was killed downstate when an 86-year-old driver crossed the center line and struck her. This past Sunday, a 12-year-old boy died on the south side after he collided with a pickup truck near west 60th Street.

Remembering every rider hit and killed in the city has become a mission for Howard Kaplan. Since 2006, he's placed a white spray painted bicycle - as a ghost bike - as a memorial at the scene of the incident.

"I want to make sure people know when they get on a bike they become part of a bigger community, they become part of something bigger and aren't just forgotten or fighting battles on their own," Kaplan said.

The city of Chicago is doing its part to protect bikers.

Brian Steele with CDOT, the Chicago Department of Transportation, said that since 2004 the city has been averaging about five fatalities and just over a thousand accidents a year.

To increase safety, Steele says new laws have been written. 110 miles of marked bike lanes have been added. He also informs us there is a master plan which possibly includes raising bike lanes so bikers will be more visible and building special streets called bike boulevards.

But accommodating so many new cyclists won't be easy. It's not even summer, and already motorists are sweating it out. Attorney Brad Loberg, who has taken on a number of cases for cyclists, said he's seen an increase in road rage due to bikers.

"I have cases where things have gone beyond out of bounds so a lot of my cyclists who come seeking legal help are those who have been physically accosted by car drivers," Loberg said.

Watkash agreed. He hopes as more riders reduce their carbon foot prints, it will only increase awareness.

"There’s always going to be a huge influx of riders so you’re just tossing up the probability of accidents happening."