The man disregarded the train signal, Chicago police said. He was identified to the Cook County Medical Examiner as Clarence D. Walton, 49, of Chicago.
The incident occurred at about 5:10 p.m. near East 71st Street and South East End Avenue, about a half mile from the Bryn Mawr station.
A South Chicago Branch outbound train No. 8325 hit the bicyclist.
Service was shut down for about an hour.
Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report