What Is a Ghost Bike?

What is a ghost bike, and why do they appear at busy intersections across Chicago and cities around the world? A ghost bike is a white painted bicycle placed at the site where a cyclist was killed or severely injured in a traffic crash.

More than just a simple art installation, these bicycles serve as solemn memorials, locked to a street sign or pole near the scene of the collision, to remind drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians of the shared responsibility for safe travel.

A ghost bike often marks the exact point where someone lost their life while riding, giving local communities a visible symbol of traffic violence and a space to honor those lost loved ones.

The History of Ghost Bikes

The history of ghost bikes began in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2003, when cyclist Patrick Van Der Tuin placed a white-painted bicycle at the scene where another rider had been struck by a car. The metal frame, locked to a street sign with a note reading “Cyclist killed here,” became the first ghost bike, a simple act that soon grew into a global movement.

Within a year, similar memorials began appearing in Philadelphia, New York, and other cities. Volunteers collected old bikes, painted them white, and installed them where cyclists had been killed or seriously injured, transforming places of tragedy into spaces of remembrance and awareness.

By 2005, online communities and Facebook groups helped spread the idea worldwide. In Chicago, the first ghost bikes appeared at dangerous intersections, honoring fallen cyclists and calling attention to traffic violence. Today, bicycles painted white stand in cities across the world, marking the lives lost and urging safer streets for all who ride.

What Is the Significance of Ghost Bike Memorials?

A Visible Symbol of Loss and Love

A ghost bike memorial is a public expression of loss, love, and remembrance. Each bike marks the exact site where a cyclist was hit and killed or seriously injured, giving families, friends, and local communities a place to grieve and reflect. The white frame and wheels, often adorned with flowers or photos, transforms an ordinary intersection into a place of meaning and connection.

A Reminder of the Human Cost of Traffic Violence

Every ghost bike stands as a silent protest against traffic violence. Its white-painted frame catches the eye of passing drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, reminding all road users of the real human cost behind roadway crashes. It represents a fallen rider as well as an urgent need for safe travel, slower speeds, and shared responsibility on our city streets.

A Tool for Awareness and Safer Streets

In Chicago and other cities, advocates and volunteers install ghost bikes to keep the conversation about bicycle safety alive. These memorials often inspire public events, vigils, and advocacy efforts calling for more protected bike lanes, improved infrastructure, and better intersection design. Each installation becomes a visual appeal to protect cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike.

A Collective Call to Action

Ultimately, ghost bike memorials serve as both tributes and calls to action. They honor those who were lost, unite communities in shared mourning, and remind us that each white bicycle represents a story, a life, and a hope for safer streets.

Mapping Chicago’s Ghost Bikes

For those wishing to explore where these memorials stand, an interactive map shows current Chicago ghost bike locations, highlighting how widespread the impact of fatal bicycle crashes has been across the city.

How Frequent Are Bicycle Accident Casualties in Illinois in Recent Years?

Bicycle crashes remain a consistent public safety issue across Illinois. Despite new bike lanes, awareness campaigns, and urban safety initiatives, cyclists continue to face significant risks on shared roads. Understanding where and how these accidents occur helps highlight the ongoing need for safer infrastructure and stronger protection for those who ride.

Statewide Illinois Bicycle Crash and Fatality Data

According to the 2023 Illinois Crash Facts & Statistics, 2,599 bicyclists were injured across the state, and 41 were killed in traffic crashes. These figures show that while cycling remains a popular and eco-friendly way to travel, it still carries significant risks, especially on urban roads, where 37 of the 41 deaths occurred, and for male cyclists who constituted 38 out of 41 fatalities.

Statewide Overview

In 2023, there were:

• 2,599 total cyclist injuries
• 354 classified as serious (A-injuries)
• 41 cyclist fatalities

This means that cyclists represented about 3.3% of all traffic fatalities in Illinois last year, a small but persistent share that underscores the vulnerability of cyclists compared to motorists.

Urban vs. Rural Trends

The data shows that 1,753 cyclists were injured on urban roads, while 910 were injured in rural areas, meaning that roughly two-thirds of all accidents occurred in urban surroundings.

When it comes to fatalities, 37 casualties, or nearly 90% of all fatal crashes, occurred in urban areas, particularly on local roads, arterials, and principal streets, the same types of routes where ghost bike memorials are most often installed. Only 4 fatalities took place in rural zones, reinforcing that most deadly bicycle collisions happen in cities like Chicago, where vehicle traffic is dense and bike infrastructure is uneven.

Gender Breakdown

Of the total number of injured cyclists, 2,104 were male and 492 were female, showing that men represent roughly 81% of all bicycle injury victims. Fatality data show an even greater imbalance: 38 of the 41 deaths (about 93%) were male, while 3 were female.

Age Breakdown

Cyclists between the ages of 35 and 74 faced the highest fatality rates statewide:

• 4 or Younger: 0 fatalities
• 5–9: 0 fatalities
• 10–14: 2 fatalities
• 15–19: 4 fatalities
• 20–24: 2 fatalities
• 25–34: 2 fatalities
• 35–44: 8 fatalities
• 45–54: 6 fatalities
• 55–64: 6 fatalities
• 65–74: 7 fatalities
• 75 or Older: 2 fatalities
• Unknown age: 2 fatalities

This pattern reflects a concerning reality: middle-aged and older persons make up most of the riders killed in Illinois bicycle crashes, often those commuting, exercising, or recreationally riding in urban environments.

County and City Bicycle Accident Data in Illinois

Bicycle safety challenges vary widely across Illinois, with dense urban centers, suburban corridors, and smaller cities each facing distinct risks for cyclists. Examining county and city data helps reveal where serious crashes most often occur and which communities are most affected, providing insight into how local infrastructure, traffic volume, and street design influence bicycle safety statewide.

Cook County

Cook County reported 1,975 total bicycle crashes and 14 fatalities, accounting for more than one-third of all such incidents in Illinois. Within the county, Chicago recorded 1,410 crashes and 7 fatalities, Oak Park had 22 crashes with no deaths, Schaumburg saw 11 crashes and no fatalities, Skokie reported 30 crashes and 1 fatality, and Cicerodocumented 43 crashes with no deaths.

Chicago’s 7 cyclist deaths represent roughly 1 in 6 fatalities statewide, underscoring the importance of continued investment in protected bicycle lanes, improved intersection design, and other safety measures outlined in the city’s Vision Zero initiative.

DuPage County

DuPage County recorded 157 crashes and 4 fatalities, ranking second among suburban areas after Cook County. Within the county, Naperville (partly in Will County) reported 28 crashes with no fatalities, while Wheaton documented 8 crashes and no deaths. Despite DuPage’s extensive trail system, most collisions occurred along busy arterials and commercial corridors where cyclists must share lanes with faster-moving vehicles.

Will County

Will County reported 47 total crashes and no fatalities, suggesting comparatively safer outcomes than more urbanized regions. Joliet had 15 crashes with no fatalities, and Bolingbrook (partly in DuPage County) recorded 5 crashes and no deaths.

Kane County

Kane County experienced 89 crashes and 3 fatalities, concentrated in areas with heavy commuting traffic. Elgin (partly in Cook County) reported 20 crashes and 1 fatality.

Kendall County

Kendall County had one of the lowest totals in Illinois, with only 7 crashes and no fatalities. The city of Aurora, which also spans Kane, DuPage, and Will Counties, reported 47 crashes and 1 fatality, reflecting the challenges of cross-county coordination in bicycle safety planning.

Winnebago County

Winnebago County saw 35 crashes and 1 fatality, most of them in Rockford, which alone accounted for 21 crashes and the sole fatal outcome.

Sangamon County

Sangamon County recorded 38 crashes and 3 fatalities, almost all occurring in Springfield, which reported 32 crashes and 3 deaths. Its higher fatality rate relative to total crashes points to the need for better lighting, signage, and intersection safety measures.

Peoria County

Peoria County reported 26 total crashes and 2 fatalities, all within the city of Peoria (23 total, 2 fatalities).

Lake County

Lake County recorded 101 crashes and 2 fatalities, with Waukegan reporting 13 total crashes and no deaths.

Champaign County

Finally, Champaign County experienced 48 crashes and 1 fatality, with Champaign city reporting 28 crashes and no fatalities.

Additional Public Efforts to Increase Awareness and Prevent Fatalities

Illinois continues to expand efforts aimed at reducing bicycle crashes and preventing future ghost bike memorials through infrastructure improvements, education, and policy initiatives. Both state and local programs focus on creating safer conditions for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers, recognizing that every improvement made can help save lives.

Bike Lanes and Infrastructure Improvements

The City of Chicago’s Vision Zero initiative continues to transform dangerous streets through speed management, daylighting at intersections, and the addition of protected bicycle lanes intended to provide ample space for child and adult riders, separating cyclists from vehicle traffic, and preventing incidents such as hitting car doors and sideswiping. These targeted improvements are focused on areas with the highest concentrations of serious and fatal crashes, where ghost bikes often appear.

At the state level, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) leads ongoing efforts through its Bike Transportation Plan. The agency funds protected bike lanes, intersection safety upgrades, lighting enhancements, and accessibility projects aimed at connecting regional trails with local road networks. These programs support both large urban centers like Chicago and smaller municipalities seeking safer infrastructure for cyclists.

Community Education

Beyond engineering, education remains central to improving cyclist safety. Organizations such as the Active Transportation Alliance and Ride Illinois play vital roles in promoting bike safety classes, raising awareness, and advocating for fairer enforcement of traffic laws protecting cyclists. 

These groups also partner with schools, employers, and city agencies to encourage safe cycling habits, teach road-sharing etiquette, and push for legislative changes that prioritize vulnerable road users.

Through these combined efforts, stronger infrastructure, targeted education, and statewide coordination, Illinois continues to work toward a future where ghost bikes no longer need to mark the sites of preventable tragedies and more people can start riding bikes knowing they’ll be safe on the road.

Legal Options for Families Who Have Lost Loved Ones in Bicycle Accidents

When a cyclist is tragically killed in a crash, the pain for their family and community is immeasurable. Each ghost bike placed on a street corner tells a story of love, loss, and the need for accountability. At our firm, we stand with families who have lost their loved ones in bicycle accidents and help them understand their legal rights under Illinois law.

Civil Wrongful Death Claims

Families may be entitled to pursue a civil wrongful death claim against the driver or party responsible for the crash. These cases seek to recover compensation for the emotional and financial harm caused by a preventable death, including medical costs, funeral expenses, and the loss of companionship.

In cases involving fatal bicycle accidents, families may file a wrongful death lawsuit under 740 ILCS 180/ within two years of their loved one’s death. If the crash was caused by a criminal act, such as reckless driving or driving under the influence (DUI), the filing period can be extended to five years, or up to one year after the conclusion of the related criminal case, whichever is later.

How Our Firm Can Help

We know these cases are about honoring a life cut short and helping families find closure. Our legal team investigates every detail of the crash, from police reports and video footage to witness statements and accident reconstruction, to ensure the truth is fully uncovered. We also collaborate with cycling safety experts and medical professionals to build a strong case grounded in facts and empathy.

Compassionate, Contingency-Based Representation

Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We also offer a free, confidential consultation so you can discuss your situation and learn your options without pressure.

You’re not alone in this process. We believe in your case, and we’re committed to seeking justice for every family impacted by a preventable cycling tragedy. Contact us today to speak with one of our compassionate attorneys and take the first step toward accountability and healing.