John Greenfield
In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John writes the transportation column for the Chicago Reader weekly paper. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city on foot, bike, bus, and 'L' train.
Recent Posts
Public comment: Why alders should vote no on the ordinance to allow 9 mph speeding
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Here are John's prepared remarks for the public comment period of today's City Council meeting in advance of the vote on Ald. Anthony Beale's (9th) ordinance to raise the speed camera ticketing threshold.
BLU, Better Streets fight ordinance to allow 9 mph speeding near schools, parks
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"Speed cameras can and should play an important role in maintaining safe streets for all users, but this must be met with investments in redesigning our streets to prioritize safety," Better Streets said.
Video shows CPD officers confronting, striking teen on bike and fleeing the scene
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This is the second disturbing incident this month in Chicagoland involving teens of color, bicycles, and alleged police violence.
Road widths aren’t to blame for Chicago’s racial disparities in speed cam ticketing
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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.
CDOT releases more details on the “Bike Chicago” free bicycle program
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Update 7/12/22, 11:00 AM: CDOT provided the following info to Streetsblog about what kind of bikes will be given away: “The bikes are the Fyxation Pixel in various sizes and colors, both the step-through and the standard model, the State Azure and the State Ellison, both in the single-speed version. The city has not committed to using […]
ProPublica gives ammunition to alders who want to let motorists drive at deadly speeds
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it's frustrating to see ProPublica, a news outlet that's supposed to be working for the public good, come out with yet another windshield-POV piece on Chicago's automatic enforcement program.
What can we learn from the tragic bike-pedestrian crash that injured Meilani Francis?
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We can keep everyone safer if we build a connected network of physically protected bike lanes, so all bike riders will feel safe cycling in the street.
Hit-and-run Jeep driver killed man walking in Little Village early in the morning on July 4
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The victim was the 18th pedestrian killed on Chicago Streets this year.
A witness discusses how a negligent postal worker killed Joshua Avina, 15, on his bike
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"This is yet another tragic example of one of Chicago's children not being able to ride safely in the city's streets," said an attorney from a local bike-focused firm.
Equity-focused Chicago Mobility Collaborative meeting takes place at inequitable time of day
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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.
Stop the child killings. Joshua Avina-Luna, 15, hit by van driver on bike, is 4th kid to die this month.
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Chicago has lost four children to traffic violence this month, but the response to the crisis from some aldermen and media outlets has been totally irresponsible.
WBEZ retracts claim that speed cams “don’t slow down” drivers, have “little safety benefit”
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It's not surprising when right-wing publications run garbage articles about traffic cameras. But it's disappointing when progressive news outlets approach this issue with a windshield POV.