Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about equity

Clockwise from top left: Speed cameras on a two-lane street next to Sherman Park in a majority-Black census tract in Englewood; on a four-lane street next to Warren Park in a majority-Asian-American tract in West Ridge; on a four-lane street Next to Curie High in a majority-Latino tract in Archer Heights; and on a four-lane street next to Welles Park in a majority-non-Hispanic white tract in Lincoln Square. Images: Google Street View

Road widths aren’t to blame for Chicago’s racial disparities in speed cam ticketing

By John Greenfield | Jul 12, 2022 | No Comments

While ProPublica recently wrote that "wider streets with more lanes that lend themselves to speeding... seem to contribute to the [racial/ethnic] disparities in ticketing," the data doesn't support that theory.

A slide stressing the importance of diverse community engagement, at a meeting that was impossible for working-class people to attend. Image: CDOT

Equity-focused Chicago Mobility Collaborative meeting takes place at inequitable time of day

By John Greenfield | Jun 30, 2022 | No Comments

The transportation department could take one very simple action to help more broaden the demographics of who has a say in Chicago mobility projects, but for some reason it has resisted doing so.

Riding non-electric bikes in the Loop. While blue bike rides are still free for members, all e-bike trips now carry a per-minute charge, and eventually they will be the only type of bike available. Photo: John Greenfield

Divvy’s new pricing is unaffordable to many residents, and therefore inequitable

By Ruth Rosas and John Greenfield | Jun 14, 2022 | No Comments

Perversely, CDOT's and Lyft's community outreach plan was to explain to the public how the new pricing system works after members were already being charged the new e-bike fees.

Riding one of the new Divvy scooters at the Thompson Center ribbon-cutting. Note the silver triangle at the front of the scooter for securing it in a docking station. Photo: CDOT

Divvy launches scooters and new pricing, but some members aren’t happy with the latter

By John Greenfield | May 11, 2022 | No Comments

It would be much better if the city and Divvy come up with a pricing structure that encourages ridership, rather than suppressing it.

Rendering of a Divvy station with bikes and dockable scooters.

Divvy’s getting scooters, but will eliminating the fee waiver zone make the system less equitable?

By John Greenfield | Apr 11, 2022 | No Comments

Charging per-minute fees and out-of-station parking surcharges all over the city may make the system inaccessible to lower-income residents on the South and West sides.

The State/Lake 'L' station in the Chicago Loop. Photo: John Greenfield

50 groups ask Pritzker to focus federal funding on sustainable, equitable transportation

By John Greenfield | Mar 2, 2022 | No Comments

"You have a historic opportunity to change the status quo of transportation planning to build good zero emissions public transit systems and construct infrastructure for safe walking and biking."

A person biking past the Crawford power plant site in April 2020. Photo: Mia Park

How can we make life on the Southwest Side safer, healthier, and more enjoyable?

By Ruth Rosas | Feb 18, 2022 | No Comments

On the Southwest Side, factories degrades the air quality and heavy truck traffic makes the streets more dangerous. Environment justice advocates are working for a future with good jobs, and safe, healthy, walkable communities.

A red light camera near Graceland Cemetery in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Photo: John Greenfield

Podcast: A conversation with UIC researchers about Chicago’s traffic camera program

By John Greenfield | Feb 14, 2022 | No Comments

During the conversation, the UIC researchers discussed potential equity issues with the program, as well as sharing the nitty-gritty of their methodology.

GPTC Route R1 and other buses wait at the Adam Benjamin Metro Center, the main GPTC transfer hub that doubles as the downtown Gary South Shore Line station. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Gary, Indiana considers a switch to all-electric buses

By Igor Studenkov | Jan 19, 2022 | No Comments

GPTC bought four electric buses that are expected to be delivered by late spring/early summer. They will primarily be used on the Broadway, one of Gary’s main commercial thoroughfares.

Carlos, un residente de Cicero que depende de la CTA. Foto: Ruth Rosas

Los retrasos de la CTA están haciendo los viajes al trabajo más difícil

By Ruth Rosas | Jan 17, 2022 | No Comments

La atrición en la agencia de tránsito refleja la tendencia creciente que los trabajadores en EE. UU. están cansados de ser devaluados y de no tener seguridad suficiente en el trabajo.

A red light camera in Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood and a paint-and-post sidewalk extension in the Austin community. Photos: Jeff Zoline, CDOT

How should we respond to the UIC and ProPublica reports on Chicago traffic cameras?

By John Greenfield | Jan 14, 2022 | No Comments

There's no question that the cams are preventing injury and fatality crashes, but Black and Latino motorists and racking up more tickets and suffering financing hardship. Should we reform or abolish it.

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