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Chicago Traffic Safety: New Attempts to Change Bus and Bike Lane Violations

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In the early months of 2020, Mayor Lori Lightfoot took another step in her administration’s attempt to curb what many Chicagoan’s have come to expect when entering downtown; traffic congestion. Just like any other densely populated city in the world, Chicago has long dealt with the ramifications of traffic congestion. Recently, we discussed the public outcry arising from what is known as “Blocking the Box” in high traffic areas throughout the city; blocking intersections in attempts to turn left on yellow and red traffic lights. While that global issue is certainly in need of a comprehensive approach that looks to a multitude of factors, the reality is that Chicago has a variety of other pressing issues that continue to plague downtown traffic.

In light of these concerns being in the press recently, many expected for an announcement to soon come on how the City would handle such issues. With the news of Lightfoot’s announcement, many should be looking forward to what appears to be a strong plan to curb another critical area that Chicago has been dealing with; bike and bus lane violations. As part of the announcement, Lightfoot proposed a new city ordinance that allows for ticketing agents of the city to take photos of cars or other vehicles that are illegally parked in bike and bus lanes. This approach is in response to what has long been a loophole for violators who simply drive off before ever receiving an actual ticket. At the City Council news conference, Lightfoot stated “there have been instances where people are about to get a ticket and they drive off, so all this does is essentially allow the ticket the ability to take a photograph and use that as evidence is support of a ticket.”

The logistics of the new ordinance are simple. Ticketing agents for the city would be allowed to take pictures of vehicles that are in violation by being parked in bike and bus lanes. The agent would then mail the violation and the photograph of the vehicle to the license holder of the vehicle within 30 days and no longer than 90 days after the Secretary of State’s office establishes who the owner of the vehicle is. If the vehicle happens to be leased, then this deadline would increase to 210 days. As for the cost of violating the ordinance, violators can expect a fine of $60-$150, which is the same amount as the previous law; however, the sole goal with this new ordinance is to ensure that drivers cannot get away with the violation by driving away prior to receiving the ticket.

Chicago’s Recent Uptick in Traffic Congestion Crackdown

For our team, this city ordinance appears to be a long time coming; however, the reality is that while Chicago’s traffic congestion struggles are bad, many individuals are likely going to be wondering just how far the city will go to attempt to resolve issues such as bus and bike lane violations. Lightfoot’s announcement comes on the heels of her administration’s implementation of the Ride-Share Tax that went into effect in the beginning of January. We have written countless times on the reasoning behind such laws and once again we remain optimistic, that these approaches by the City are calculated decisions to benefit the safety of its residents. Based on Chicago Comptroller, Reshma Soni’s interview with The Chicago Sun Times, this once again appears to be the administration’s motivation, and for good reason. “There’s so much of this in the central business district area. We’re trying to do whatever we can to curb congestion. And it’s a safety issue as well. People are opening doors in bike lanes. Also, in bus lanes. Accidents are happening. We’re trying to rectify that,” stated Soni. However, Soni’s statements will likely be met with some criticism as the administration has also had a track record of minimizing fines and violations for non-moving vehicles in an attempt to “create a level playing field, so people in heavy debt can have a clean slate and hopefully stay in compliance.” This understanding and philosophy is in response to the administration’s hardline stance on minimizing scofflaws by what the Chicago Sun Times stated was “expanding payment plans and stopping drivers’ license suspensions for non-moving violations.” So, the question then must be asked, if Lightfoot’s administration is determined to stand for alleviating the burden that non-moving traffic violations have on those in debt, is the new city ordinance the exception or the rule?

In light of the new policies the City is establishing, the clear hope is that resident safety will be put in a far better situation. It cannot go unsaid that having vehicles in bus and bike lanes is a serious issue with serious consequences. Although Lightfoot and her administration have made it well known that they are looking to lessen the burden that such scofflaws have on residents, we should be clear in stating that when it comes to the road, your safety is what is most important. Let’s hope the City maintains that reasoning for good and continues to work to make the streets safer and less congested.

In the News – Week of June 8th

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City Seeking Feedback on Pilot Scooter Program

In light of the city’s recent start to its four-month pilot scooter program, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) is asking for residents of Chicago to report any scooter issues they see. According to Curbed – Chicago, individuals may use the 311 website or mobile app to report their concerns. To report an issue, go to the website and find the “E-Scooter” category, from there you will be able to report your issue.

As we have previously written, the introduction of Chicago’s pilot scooter program has gotten off to a very troubled start. Not only have there been countless reports of misconduct with the scooters, but the scooters are already proving to be far more dangerous than many believe them to be. Last month, just within weeks of the launch of the scooter program, a pedestrian was actually hit by an e-scooter rider in the city. As a result of the accident, he was found unresponsive and now has trouble speaking after being forced to undergo a procedure to his jaw. Ultimately, this is to say that the scooters are continuing to pose a significant risk not only scooter riders, but pedestrians as well. Be sure to report if you see any issues in your neighborhood as the more we can make city officials aware of misconduct, the safer both riders and pedestrians will be.

Divvy Set to Expand to the Far South Side

As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Divvy bikes in now set to begin expanding to the Far South Side after Lyft invested $50 million into the bike-sharing system. In addition, Lyft has decided to add 10,500 new electric-assist bikes to the city. This is big news for the entire city as it means that bike-sharing will now seek to cover each area of the city, essentially providing forms of transportation sharing ranging from ride-share, bike-share, and more recently, scooter-share. What’s more, it appears the city is inclined to ensure that these bikes are appropriately placed and integrated into new areas throughout the city with specific intent, rather than just to provide a mere presence.

The Chicago Tribune had the opportunity to speak with Sue Hofer, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Department of Transportation. Sue stated, “We’re going to community meetings, where people will say, ‘I think it makes more sense in front of the grocery store than in front of the bar.’” Overall, we can hope that the more communities are involved prior to the installation of these docking stations, the safer the process will be. At this time, the initial community meetings have yet to secure select dates and times for the community to gather.

Should Chicago Treat Scooter Sharing Like Bike Sharing?

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Scooters are coming to Chicago this summer.

Beginning on Saturday, June 15, 2019, the day before Father’s Day, a bunch of electric scooters will start popping up in parts of Chicago’s West, Northwest, and Southwest Sides. The city will be experimenting with a four-month long pilot program to test whether or not scooters will improve access to transportation in Chicago. 

Other major cities, including Detroit, Indianapolis, D.C., and San Francisco have already introduced scooter sharing to their streets with mixed reviews. Last year, a couple of scooter companies pulled their fleet from Indianapolis after the city sent them cease-and-desist letters. City officials wanted them off the road until they passed regulations which would grant licenses to companies allowing them to operate within city limits. 

The Detroit Free Press reported last year that less than three months after Detroit introduced its first deployment of Bird scooters, countless near-miss accidents had already occurred, with several accidents actually taking place. All of this was prior to two additional scooter companies, Lime and Spin, entering the fold. By late August of last year, Detroit had roughly 500-600 active scooters on the streets. While that number may not seem daunting or pose a significant threat to road safety, it’s important to acknowledge that these scooters are in addition to the thousands of pedestrians, bikes, and cars already making up a significant portion of city streets. While it has been some time since Detroit experienced how difficult it is to maintain these scooters, Chicago is going to quickly learn if they can handle the new additions.

Chicago Must Be Prepared

According to a Chicago Tribune Article penned by transportation reporter, Mary Wisniewski, Chicago wants to avoid people riding drunk or throwing scooters into the river, as they have in other cities. And they absolutely should. Unlike Detroit’s smaller integration of scooters into the city’s transportation options, Chicago’s addition of 2,500 electric scooters into the city is significant. It’s not out of question that incidents will occur. With a population of 3 million people and a city that already boasts a significant amount of bike lanes for a city of its size, the scooters are going to take time for all pedestrians and drivers to get used to.

As everyone in the city will experience growing pains due to the new mode of transportation, there is another critical aspect that should not be overlooked. Who’s responsible? As the CBS Chicago reported, “the terms of service for the scooter companies that are coming to Chicago specifically say that they bear no responsibility for injuries.” From a liability standpoint, any individual injured or involved in any sort of accident with these scooters, will be unable to effectively hold the scooter companies liable, causing those inflicted to be entirely responsible if the scooter user fails to have insurance. With the city and users already aware of the lack of responsibility scooter companies are taking for potential accidents, what more can be done to ensure safety among drivers and pedestrians? The answer may be to look at how individuals have handled bike sharing.

Taking Precaution

As bicyclists in the city already know, biking in such a populated area can be very dangerous. With that being said, as the CBS report acknowledges, the Divvy bikes seen all throughout Chicago have a no-liability clause as well, essentially rendering them the same as the scooters. The biggest difference, which the report cites, is that most individuals know how to ride a bicycle. The same can not be said for scooters. Making matters worse is the fact that the scooters will have a maximum speed of 15mph and be limited to the bicycle lane. This not only makes it critical that bicyclists riding in the bike lane are aware of any quickly approaching scooters, but that scooter users ensure they do not weave between bicycle traffic. Now, imagine being a driver in the city. As we all know, it is illegal to drive in the bicycle lane; however, there are countless areas in the city where right turn lanes require an individual to legally cross through these lanes. With the introduction of the scooters, drivers must be aware of scooters approaching in their blind spots as they turn. Again, the city has had to deal with this for many years, especially since the introduction of Divvy bikes. While it would be great if these scooters could be treated similarly, we must use more caution on the roads and understand that potential problems lie ahead. Keep an eye out this weekend and be aware of your surroundings.

Are helmets a false sense of security?

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While the public continues to scrutinize the world of football for its high concussion rates, one thing’s clear: the development of safer equipment is finally catching up to the modern era. But these new developments often neglect that helmets aren’t foolproof; no matter how much impact a helmet might absorb, the fact remains that helmets are mostly a false sense of security.

Now let’s take a closer look at cyclists. The perception that cycling is safe as long as you wear a helmet is a scenario similar to that of football players, perpetuating a false sense of security and ignoring the need to learn safe-riding skills; you wouldn’t give a driver’s license to a teenager simply because they know how to use a seat belt, so why should it be different for those riding bikes?

Controversy swirls around the debate over whether helmets actually benefit cyclists in the long run. In the 1990s when helmet usage began to increase in the U.S., the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that head injuries among cyclists increased by 51 percent, despite the fact that the total number of riders decreased. While it’s not clear what caused the spike, the statistics underline the idea that helmets, while beneficial, are not foolproof or even effective. More important is the need for cyclists to understand and put to practice the techniques of defensive riding.

As more people study the types of problems associated with helmet use, football seems to have found a way to address the issue by changing how the game is played. It’s notable that football coaches are beginning to take a page from the book of rugby and force their players to tackle opponents without making head contact, as if they had no helmets at all. Many speculate that it would change the game for the better, eliminating or at the very least minimizing severe head injuries by discouraging helmet-to-helmet contact.

The same type of techniques should theoretically apply to cyclists by prioritizing safe-riding skills instead of creating a dependency on helmets alone. The state legislature continues to pass bike helmet laws that, ironically, draw attention away from the need to teach safe-riding skills. If we’re serious about making the roads better, it starts with better education.

Remember these safety tips during National Bike Month

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We outline a small refresher for cyclists and drivers

With National Bike Month officially underway and warm weather on the horizon, we’re dusting off our seats, tuning our wheels, and getting ready to enjoy the best of what cycling offers: an unmitigated sense of freedom. But it also means that we (along with other cyclists) are taking precautionary measures to remind ourselves of the dangers amongst us and how to combat them. We’ve outlined a few best-practices for both cyclists and drivers.

For Cyclists: Bike lanes are your friends

The city of Chicago has at least one proponent of safe cycling in Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Since Emanuel took office, the city has added an additional 200 miles of protected bike lanes in and around Chicago, which has consequently improved people’s driving habits. In 2011 for example, the city completed the construction of the Kinzie Street Protected Bike Lane. A survey found that 49 percent of respondents felt that driving habits had improved since then. That’s the good news. The bad news: Bike lanes, while exponentially beneficial, are not a failsafe. Some drivers overlook them, which can lead to problems like “dooring” and illegal parking. The bottom line: Remain on high alert.

For Cyclists: Check for flats

It might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many cyclists forgo the necessary tune-up to get back on the road as quickly as possible. Despite having sat in a garage for the better part of four months, bikes and their tires deteriorate at a slow but steady rate. Jump-starting your ride is akin to running a marathon without having trained in the first place, meaning your legs are bound to give out in a hurry. Tires are no different. The best option: Take your bike for for a pre-spring tune-up at your local bike shop, where rates are as low as $20.

For Cyclists: Wear your helmet

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that less than half of cyclists wear bike helmets while riding, putting their chances of survival in the event of a crash at a measly percentage. The CDCP also pointed out that kids are particularly averse to wearing helmets for fear of being teased, and amazingly, a 2011 poll by the BMJ found that 68 percent of its readers opposed mandatory helmet laws.

But teasing or not, fashionable or unfashionable, skeptical or not, helmets are indisputably a last line of defense that can’t be ignored. Some studies try to promote the idea that helmets are largely inconsequential, but if you need further evidence that they indeed save lives, we point you to the law firm of attorney Steve Gursten in Michigan, where a helmet quite literally saved the eye (and possibly the life) of a longtime receptionist. Countless stories like this exist, and they are not as few and far between as you might believe. For more perspective on helmets, read Jay’s opinion.

For Cyclists: Know your hand signals


Some cyclists underestimate or flat out ignore the importance of using proper hand signals, yet it’s one of the simplest ways to declare your intentions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a handy (pardon the pun) guide illustrating the proper indicators, and Active outlines eight of the basics by way of a slideshow. Of strong importance: The “Stop” and “Left Hand Turn” signal.

For Drivers: Employ the “Dutch Reach”

In our last blog post, we noted that more than 300 local cyclists crashed into car doors in 2015, a 50 percent increase from the previous year, according to statistics provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation. That’s a staggering statistic. One of the solutions that we, along with many others, proposed was promoting the Dutch Read, a concept developed in the Netherlands. The idea is this: Always open the car door with the hand furthest from the door (e.g. U.S. drivers open their doors using the right hand), forcing you to turn your body in the direction of oncoming traffic, thereby giving you a better vantage point of oncoming traffic. Simple. Easy. Necessary.

For Drivers: Avoid distractions

This may be stating the obvious. Stay off your cell phones and other handheld devices. I don’t think we need linkage to any studies or statistics on this one. Nothing’s more dangerous or consequential for those who ignore the basic safety tenements of the road. It’s also illegal, which means a conviction could end up costing you anywhere from a traffic violation to jail time depending on the severity of a crash.

For Drivers: Proceed with caution

It’s inevitable that you’re going to pass a bicycle at some point while driving. Give as much room as possible at a relatively slow speed, exacting a great deal of patience as you do. If you can’t pass right away, wait until the moment’s right, and whatever you do, don’t honk. Honking can induce panic, causing cyclists to make unpredictable decisions. Don’t put either you or the cyclist in that situation.

Chicago surpasses NYC as best bike-friendly city in the U.S.

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Divvy

It’s official: There’s no better place to ride your bicycle than the city of Chicago, according to the prominent Bicycling magazine. It’s the first time the Second City has claimed the publication’s top spot since it began appearing in the magazine’s top ten list six years ago.

Chicago beat out perennial contenders like New York and San Francisco after a steady rise in the ranks. One of the reasons the Windy City claimed the top spot this year, says the Tribune: it emphasizes an infrastructure that separates cyclists from motorists. That includes the establishment of better bike laws, the implementation of dedicated bike lanes, and working to provide progressive legal protection for cyclists.

The Divvy bike-sharing program also earned kudos from the magazine’s editors for spreading the Divvy concept to lower-income communities and providing alternative means of transportation to places that have high-density populations. Also something to note from the Trib article: Chicago has added roughly 148 miles of bike lanes—108 of which are buffer-protected—in the city since 2011. Numbers from the U.S. Census also point out that the number of bike commuters in Chicago has jumped 157 percent over the past decade.

Though the distinction should prove to be a nice boon to the city and its cyclists, many continue to raise concerns about the long-term protection of riders. Several recent collisions, two of which proved to be fatal, have brought cycling safety back into the public’s general awareness. One of those collisions involved a city tour bus that witnesses have described as avoidable.

The shout out in Bicycling mag is a nice reminder that we’re making progress. But let’s not kid ourselves: we can and should do more to protect riders and make cycling in the city as safe as possible.