Chicago Needs To Make Roads Safer
I was out walking the dogs the other day for about 30 minutes through the Lincoln Park neighborhood. We were cut off several times by drivers who didn’t slow down as we were in the crosswalk, and almost got hit by a driver who was attempting to turn right on red and didn’t see us. Luckily, I was able to get his attention by yelling. But this happens everyday. And I’ve been fortunate so far that my wife or I haven’t been injured.
But that is not the case for others in the city of Chicago.
In 2024, drivers struck and killed 38 pedestrians and 5 cyclists. Roads are incredibly dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, and even drivers these days, due to a variety of factors that include increasing vehicle size & speeds, distracted & reckless drivers, among others.
Before we dive into this, let be up front : my wife and I do have a car. We like to drive. We also like to walk, bike, and take public transportation when possible.
This is not a far-left strategy to eliminate cars. This is simply a way that we can make roads safer, and improve drivers behaviors while on the road. In a survey study conducted by the National Institute for Health (NIH) that looked at drivers behaviors since the pandemic, the report concluded that aggressive driving, traffic fatalities, and collisions are up since pre-Pandemic levels.
We have noticed, and often discuss, that drivers are more aggressive, and we feel less safe that we used to while walking across the street. If you find yourself reading, and don’t agree that drivers are more aggressive on the road lately, I think you may need to pay closer attention next time to your surroundings. Everyone that we’ve talked to about this agrees. It’s not just a Chicago problem. This is a problem across this country. However, we want to make positive changes in our communities and make it safer for everyone.
Those statistics are staggering. The city needs to work to make its roads safer, and they can do so in a variety of methods that would make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and everyone who needs to use the road.
Reduce Speed Limits Across The City
This is a simple one. Travel at lower speeds, and in the event of a collision, the chances of survival go up. New York City recently lowered their city-wide speed limit to 25mph. Chicago needs to follow suit immediately.
Chances of Survival For A Pedestrian Being Struck By a Vehicle
Install Speed Cameras, both on the Streets and Interstates
Mayor Johnson recently proposed adding new speed cameras. Some see them as a cash grab (I don’t necessarily disagree), but there’s an easy solution……STOP SPEEDING! Drive the speed limit, and you don’t get a ticket. It’s not that difficult.
Install Red Light Cameras
I cross the intersection of Halsted Street & Armitage Avenue every single day when I’m walking my dogs. In addition to the small sidewalks, small curbs, and fast driving cars, cars frequently run red lights while I’m waiting to cross. It’s simple : there needs to be a disincentive for driving dangerously and making it dangerous for everyone else who shares the road.
Install Stop Sign Cameras In High-Traffic Areas
One of the intersections at Halsted & Dickens, has cars rolling through stop signs, often cutting off pedestrians. I know this is not the only intersection in the city where this happens, and I’m guessing it’s not even in the top 10 most dangerous intersections.
It’s simple : just come to a complete stop.
Ban Right On Red
Right-on-red spread across the country in the 1970s in response to the Arab oil embargo against the United States and oil rationing. States introduced it as a gas-savings measure: The theory was that it would reduce idling at red lights.
But cities are souring on right-on-red, proposing or passing laws banning it in parts of their busy downtowns or citywide. They believe it will protect people walking and biking amid the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in more than 40 years.
Chicago needs to follow suit.
Build Fully Protected Bikes (Not Just Paint)
By simply shifting the bike lane to the right of parked cars and right off the curb, it accomplishes two things:
It provides a barrier between bikers and automobiles
Visually, it narrows the road for the driver, even though the size of their lanes that they are driving in are not changes. The “narrowing” road will cause drivers to reduce their speed as they don’t feel that they have as much space.
On Top : Fully Protected / Barrier Bike Lane
On Bottom : Non-Protected (Just Paint)
There is no reduction in parking lanes, traffic lanes, turning lanes. It is simple re-design of the road for maximum efficiency and safety.
Pedestrian Scrambles At Certain Intersections
Has anyone tried crossing at the intersection of Halsted, Fullerton, & Lincoln and felt safe? Or any other major intersection with a similar set up? I didn’t think so. Drivers race to beat lights and oncoming traffic with little regard for crossing pedestrians, who have the right of way.
I mean, just look at the choas of this intersection. And this is what is on Google Maps!
By changing these to be pedestrian scrambles, it allows pedestrians to cross in any direction while cars remain at their lights. This will allow cars to move freely throughout the intersection without pedestrian obstruction when they have the green light, and the same for pedestrians when they have the cross signal.
Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo
This is one of, if not, the most popular pedestrian scramble in the world. There are as many as 3,000 people using the intersection at one time during rush hour!
Shorten Pedestrian Crossings & Re-Design Intersections
Ideally, we wan drivers to reduce their speeds as they approach intersections, to make it safer for oncoming traffic and crossing pedestrians. But many intersections dont have large enough curbs, and allow vehicles to make fast, sharp turns right near the curb. We need to redesign intersections that allow traffic to flow through while making it as safe as possible for pedestrians and other drivers.
This is your average intersection in the city of Chicago, as well as across the United States.
If re-designed properly, it would look like this.
Vehicles don’t have any movements restricted from the image above, they are just forced to do it at slightly slower speeds.
Curbs are expanded to shorten crossing distances for pedestrians.
Bump-outs and curb extensions allow for daylighting, which increase driver visibility that is often blocked by double parked cars.
If Chicago were to make these changes, no roads would be off limits to drivers that currently are available. No road directions would be changed. These are simply minor traffic changes that when added up, can help drivers follow the laws (including speed limit), making it safer for them, cyclists, and pedestrians. That is how roads in cities need to be designed. For everyone.
The streets in Chicago, and our country are getting more dangerous. It’s time for our elected officials and leaders to build roads that serve drivers and allow them to get from Point A to Point B, while increasing road efficiency, and safety for other drivers and pedestrians.