Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about safety

Cyclists on Dickens Avenue in Lincoln Park. Photo: John Greenfield

Cyclephobia: Fears of Reckless Bike Riders May Be Overblown, but Empathy Is Still Needed

By John Greenfield | Aug 8, 2019 | 15 Comments

Reckless driving is an exponentially bigger threat, but a person with a disability's stories of being struck by sidewalk riders is a reminder that bike-pedestrian crashes are no laughing matter either.

A scooter rider (not Lynda) on Milwaukee Avenue in River North. Photo: John Greenfield

My Experiences Test-Riding Scooters in Chicago

By Lynda Lopez | Jul 8, 2019 | 12 Comments

Streetsblog reporter Lynda Lopez gives the new technology a spin and says smoother-riding devices, and more education and outreach are needed.

The June 10 crash near the Diversey bridge. Photo: Jeff Linder via Twitter

Guardrails Installed on South Lakefront; 2nd Crash in 2 Weeks Reported Near Diversey

By John Greenfield | Jul 3, 2019 | 6 Comments

The park district says railing have been installed 41st Street and the point, but after two recent crashes near Diversey advocates say more protection is needed near the North Side as well.

An Update on Chicago Scooter Injuries During the first 2 Weeks of the Pilot

By John Greenfield and Igor Studenkov | Jul 3, 2019 | 6 Comments

There have been at least 21 injury crashes, or about one case per 5,714 trips, a similar rate as in Austin, Texas.

Proper scooter protocol, from the city of Chicago's new scooter flyer.

Ready or Not, 10 Different Scooter Companies Hit the Streets Starting Saturday

By John Greenfield | Jun 11, 2019 | 21 Comments

Will the scooters be an asset to Chicago's sustainable transportation network, or will they introduce a new set of dangers and annoyances to urban life? Only time will tell.

Been in a Crash? Active Trans’ Crash Support Website Can Help

By Lynda Lopez | Jun 4, 2019 | No Comments

About ten years ago, the Active Transportation Alliance launched its Crash Support Helpline to provide support and resources to people who have just experienced a crash on foot or by bike. According to deputy director Melody Geraci, it was established in response to a steady flow of calls to the office from people who had […]

A mural honoring Marlen Ochoa-Lopez in Pilsen. Photo: Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune

Why Violence Against Women on the South and West Sides Is a Mobility Justice Issue

By Lynda Lopez | May 23, 2019 | 11 Comments

The murder of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, and other recent missing-person cases, have made women walking and riding transit in lower-income communities of color feel less safe.

Test-riding a scooter in Chicago. Image: WTTW

Geofencing Will Stop Scooters If Users Leave the Pilot Zone

By Lynda Lopez | May 15, 2019 | 2 Comments

At last week's Mayor's Pedestrian Advisory Council meeting, city officials discussed other details of the upcoming scooter pilot.

This food delivery cyclist in River North did an "Idaho Stop," stopping at the red light, checking to make sure the intersection was clear, and then proceeding before the light turned green. This move is technically illegal in Chicago, but two-thirds of local cyclists ride this way, according to a DePaul study. Photo: John Greenfield

Breakin’ the Law: What Should We Do About Cyclists Who Don’t Play By the Rules?

By John Greenfield | Apr 11, 2019 | 32 Comments

While some kinds of lawbreaking on two wheels are truly inexcusable, most should be addressed with better infrastructure rather than enforcement, and some shouldn't be illegal at all.

CDOT’s Vision Zero Program and U. of C. Quiz Motorists on Their Driving Habits

By John Greenfield | Mar 6, 2019 | 2 Comments

The city wants to learn about Chicagoans' driving behavior and attitudes to help inform crash-prevention programs.

Ghost bike memorial for Anastasia Kondrasheva, who was fatally struck by a flatbed truck driver at Addison and Damen in September 2016. Photo: John Greenfield

After Recent Tragedies, Ride Illinois Adds Truck-Bike Safety Info to Online Quiz

By John Greenfield | Jan 14, 2019 | No Comments

The advocacy group plans to reach out to trucking companies to ask them to encourage their drivers to take the test.

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