Yesterday, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) lost one of the best people I've ever known.
Riley O'Neil led Chicago's bike parking program for several years and completely transformed it. More recently, he was helping lead both CDOT's school zone safety work and bus priority projects. He cared deeply about making biking, rolling, walking, and riding better for everyone.
But what I'll remember most is his passion. Riley could get anyone excited about making Chicago better. He never met a person he couldn't immediately connect with. His enthusiasm and love for bikes, transit, infrastructure, and public service was contagious.
In his memory, CDOT is going to start referring to these bike racks as "Riley Racks."
We'd appreciate everyone's help carrying his legacy forward. If you see one of these racks around Chicago, call it a Riley Rack.
Our hearts are broken, but we want to make sure Riley's legacy lives on.
by david_powe
8 Comments
No.
They’re bike staples and I will continue to call them bike staples.
Find some other way to honor your guy.
I’m afraid they will always be Sheffield stands to me.
I know them as Inverted U Rails.
nice tribute, will do! 🫡
They are called nietjes (staples) for obvious reasons.
We call them “staples.” RIP Mr. O’Neil.
Please don’t park like this. 4 bikes can be locked on this rack if you don’t “rest” your other wheel on it. Thanks
If you feel particularly passionate about continuing to call them whatever variant of name you have for them, you don’t have to comment actually. This is a colleague and friend of a man who just passed away trying to honor that person so yeah I’m for sure calling them Riley Racks.