Transit Advocacy Group To Address Dangerous Street Crossings

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 11, 2014 7:40PM

Photo credit: Eileen Dougharty/Facebook

For countless Chicagoans the photo above is an example of what it’s like crossing the street across the city. Motorists pass pedestrians who have the right of way, shrieking profanities like an old Maxwell Street undergarment busker at them. Pedestrians enter the intersections as drivers or cyclists observe the stop signs and nearly become mush. Cyclists with no clue Illinois isn’t a “slow stop” state speed into the intersection, twisting their front wheels to avoid children crossing the street or oncoming perpendicular traffic.

As Bruce Springsteen sang, it’s a death trap.

The Active Transportation Alliance is putting together a list of dangerous intersections in the city and suburbs, and are looking for your accounts of dealing with these real-life Frogger playing boards so they can advocate fixing them to local governments. Since no one knows a neighborhood’s intersections like the people who live in them, this would be a great opportunity to let your voice be heard.

Active Trans has an online form to fill out where you can list the intersection, city, ZIP code and what makes these crossings fakakta. We’re huge fans of what Active Trans does and you should see for yourself.