Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Chicago Policy

Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) argues for his ordinance to allow 9 mph speeding at today's City Council meeting.

Traffic safety advocates helped defeat ordinance to allow deadly speeds near parks and schools

By John Greenfield | Jul 20, 2022 | No Comments

Now that Beale's ordinance has been defeated, there's more work to be done to make Chicago's speed camera program, and traffic safety strategies in general, more equitable and effective.

Public comment: Why alders should vote no on the ordinance to allow 9 mph speeding

By John Greenfield | Jul 20, 2022 | No Comments

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.

A wheelchair user waits to cross 79th Street near Pulaski Road by Bogan High School. Currently speed cameras ticket drivers who speed by more than 6 mph at this location. Image: Google Maps

BLU, Better Streets fight ordinance to allow 9 mph speeding near schools, parks

By John Greenfield | Jul 19, 2022 | No Comments

"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.

Still from the video showing the unmarked police SUV after the driver struck the teen who was filming from his bike. The wheel and pedal of his bike is visible in the frame. Image: Facebook

Video shows CPD officers confronting, striking teen on bike and fleeing the scene

By John Greenfield | Jul 15, 2022 | No Comments

This is the second disturbing incident this month in Chicagoland involving teens of color, bicycles, and alleged police violence.

Rendering of an affordable TOD by 43rd Street Green Line stop.

Connected Communities equitable TOD ordinance headed to zoning committee

By Courtney Cobbs | Jul 13, 2022 | No Comments

The proposed Connected Communities ordinance has been released. We looked at some of the changes the ordinance proposes.

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.

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