(Above) Water Tower Place in 2006, near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and East Pearson Street.

February 6, 2013 – The author of a popular blog about Chicago’s transit system published by the Chicago Tribune online community ChicagoNow says he was assaulted last week on Michigan Avenue.

Writing on Wednesday on CTA Tattler, Kevin O’Neil said he was in front of Water Tower Place, walking south on Michigan Avenue on the right side of the sidewalk when a man approached directly in his path.

“I expected him to veer over, but he didn’t,” wrote O’Neil. “So at the last second I moved out of his way. He stopped, punched me hard in the chest, and screamed, ‘Watch where you’re walking, mother f--ker!’”

He says he started to call 911 but changed his mind. “I’m already dealing with the hassles of a big home insurance claim. The last thing I need is to deal with the police and the judicial system. I know I probably should have had him arrested, but I just didn’t want to deal with it.”

O’Neil told Loop North News the incident happened on January 30 at 7:30 a.m.