Bicyclist hit, killed by vehicle on South Side identified as CDOT employee

CHICAGO (WGN) - The 35-year-old bicyclist who was hit and killed by a vehicle on the city's South Side Friday afternoon has been identified as a Chicago Department of Transportation worker. According to Chicago police, the man was riding a bicycle in the 3200 block of South Halsted Street in the Bridgeport neighborhood around 4:40 p.m. when he was hit by a vehicle in traffic. The man, who has since been identified as Riley O'Neil, was taken to Stroger Hospital where he died. CDOT issued the following statement Saturday afternoon regarding O'Neil's death: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved colleague, Riley O'Neil. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. Riley was a cherished member of CDOT's Complete Streets team and previously led Chicago's bike parking program for several years. He was a dedicated public servant who devoted his career to making Chicago's streets safer and more accessible for everyone. His loss is being felt deeply across the department, and he will be greatly missed." CDOT Asst. Commr. David Powe also wrote the following statement on social media: "CDOT lost the best of our team yesterday. We're heartbroken. In memory of Riley O'Neil, please refer to these bike racks as "Riley Racks". He led Chicago's bike parking program for several years. Our hearts are broken, but we want to make sure his legacy lives on 💙🚲 Please spread the word" Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson paid his respect to O'Neil on X, writing: "Riley O’Neil was an incredible public servant who contributed deeply to the work of making our city a safer and more sustainable place. A member of the Complete Streets team, Reilly was a valued colleague and dedicated advocate whose work touched communities across Chicago. This loss is felt across City government. My condolences to Riley’s family, friends, loved ones, and all those at CDOT who worked alongside him over the years. Chicago is grateful for his service."