Thursday, March 30, 2023
Green Reporter
  • Home
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Filmmaking
  • Food
  • Investment
  • Management
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Transportation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Filmmaking
  • Food
  • Investment
  • Management
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Transportation
No Result
View All Result
Green Reporter
No Result
View All Result
Home Transportation

In the wake of Kevin Clark’s death, will we enact real change to fix Chicago’s streets? – Streetsblog Chicago

GrR by GrR
June 17, 2021
in Transportation
0
In the wake of Kevin Clark’s death, will we enact real change to fix Chicago’s streets? – Streetsblog Chicago
57
SHARES
246
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


On Saturday morning a vigil was held to honor the life of “School of Rock” drummer Kevin Clark, 32, fatally struck by a driver on May 26 in Logan Square, and demand safer cycling and walking infrastructure. Frankly, I’m pessimistic that safety upgrades to the intersection of Logan Boulevard and Western Avenue, where Kevin was killed, will actually happen.

During the vigil Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle said the county, which shares jurisdiction of the dark, complex junction with the city and state, plans to study the intersection. Chicago Department of transportation spokesperson Mike Claffey previously said CDOT is doing the same.

Whenever I hear about plans for a study of a problem, it strikes me as something that delays the the solution. In 2018 the Active Transportation Alliance and others published a report on Logan/Western that recommended a road diet, bike lanes, a new crosswalk, and other changes, and government officials took no action. In the meantime Clark was killed, the second person to die on a bike at this location since a motorist struck and killed Tyler Fabeck, 22, in 2008.

We don’t need another study of this intersection. We need changes that will slow drivers down and protections for people walking and biking, and we needed them years ago.

On Saturday I arrived at the intersection after the ghost bike installation, and I was told a driver shouted, “[Expletive] bikers!” as folks stood by a sign posted in the viaduct reading, “Protect Bikers!” I wish I was surprised but anyone who rides a bike on Chicago’s streets knows that plenty of drivers express disdain for people biking either verbally or with their actions behind the wheel. They are emboldened by city, county, and state leadership that has not prioritized sustainable transportation.

Sign in the Logan/Western viaduct. Photo: John Greenfield
Sign in the Logan/Western viaduct. Photo: John Greenfield

There’s an old saying that a budget reflects a city’s values, and the same goes for our streets. The current state of our streets in Chicago says that the city values people driving over people walking, biking, and riding transit. Our city lacks a cohesive and comfortable bike network due to constant compromises to appease drivers. City officials are often unwilling to provide physically protected bike lanes, or any bikeways at all, if it means it will become even slightly less convenient to drive and park motor vehicles. Even on streets with bike lanes, the city receives thousands of 311 reports of blocked bikeways, and there has been little action to address the problem. 

One would hope that a preventable death would spur needed action to create safer streets but I am unconvinced. I do not doubt local alderman Daniel LaSpata’s desire and efforts to see substantive improvements to the intersection where Kevin Clark was killed. It appears the Illinois Department of Transportation has been the biggest barrier to improvements. IDOT’s historic prioritization of motor vehicles has directly contradicts any effort to create safer streets. Even if IDOT comes to the table, the need to allocate funding for safety improvements is another challenge. 

As I pondered what it would take to create the sustainable, equitable, and safe streets we need, I kept coming back to a bold vision. Given that the majority of Chicagoans drive to get around, their support will be crucial to moving forward.  Aldermanic prerogative, the de-facto ability of Council members to veto projects in their wards, continues to be a problem. But even if that wasn’t the issue, we’d still need the backing of the public to allocate the proper funding for safe, sustainable, and equitable streets.

Sure, a strong visionary mayor could create a top-down approach to improving walking, biking, and transit, but mayors face re-elections.  While lots of change can happen in four years, we’d need to maintain and exceed our progress. A bold and visionary plan for Chicago’s streets that prioritizes sustainable and efficient modes of transportation, space for people, and safety will need to speak to more than current transit riders and cyclists. The question is, do we have the infrastructure and will to create such a vision in Chicago? That remains to be seen.



Source link

Previous Post

Why the EU renewables target needs to be (a lot) higher

Next Post

Climate Change Batters the West Before Summer Even Begins

GrR

GrR

Green Reporter is a global source for news of sustainability, green industry, green technology, clear energy, sustainable food production, and green investments. Our aim is to deliver the best news and information to you.

Next Post
Climate Change Batters the West Before Summer Even Begins

Climate Change Batters the West Before Summer Even Begins

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Climate change in our backyard: Manitoba begins to grapple with the consequences – Winnipeg

Climate change in our backyard: Manitoba begins to grapple with the consequences – Winnipeg

August 10, 2021
Repsol starts marketing debut sustainability-linked bond sale

Repsol starts marketing debut sustainability-linked bond sale

June 29, 2021
Sustainability Ambitions Soaring at KCI

Sustainability Ambitions Soaring at KCI

December 6, 2021
Chris Pratt explains where the White Spikes originated

Chris Pratt explains where the White Spikes originated

July 3, 2021
Stop burning our rights! What governments and corporations must do to protect humanity from the climate crisis – World

Stop burning our rights! What governments and corporations must do to protect humanity from the climate crisis – World

Biden said to mull dropping corporate tax hike to fund jobs plan

Biden said to mull dropping corporate tax hike to fund jobs plan

Global investors pressure Asian utilities to cut emissions

Global investors pressure Asian utilities to cut emissions

Global inequity could derail path to net zero

Global inequity could derail path to net zero

What’s With A24’s Religious Obsession?

What’s With A24’s Religious Obsession?

August 12, 2022
Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $16 Million Affordable Housing Development in Monroe County

Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $16 Million Affordable Housing Development in Monroe County

August 12, 2022
EU ban on Russian coal enters into force

EU ban on Russian coal enters into force

August 12, 2022
Immune system insights and Thai climate calculator: News from the College | Imperial News

Immune system insights and Thai climate calculator: News from the College | Imperial News

August 12, 2022

Recent News

What’s With A24’s Religious Obsession?

What’s With A24’s Religious Obsession?

August 12, 2022
Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $16 Million Affordable Housing Development in Monroe County

Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $16 Million Affordable Housing Development in Monroe County

August 12, 2022
EU ban on Russian coal enters into force

EU ban on Russian coal enters into force

August 12, 2022
Immune system insights and Thai climate calculator: News from the College | Imperial News

Immune system insights and Thai climate calculator: News from the College | Imperial News

August 12, 2022

Recent News

What’s With A24’s Religious Obsession?

What’s With A24’s Religious Obsession?

August 12, 2022
Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $16 Million Affordable Housing Development in Monroe County

Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $16 Million Affordable Housing Development in Monroe County

August 12, 2022
EU ban on Russian coal enters into force

EU ban on Russian coal enters into force

August 12, 2022

Browse by Category

  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Filmmaking
  • Food
  • Investment
  • Management
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Transportation

Follow Us

  • Privacy & Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

© 2021 Copyright Green Reporter

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Filmmaking
  • Food
  • Investment
  • Management
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Transportation

© 2021 Copyright Green Reporter