Recently Slow Roll Chicago, a group that promotes biking on the south and west sides, called for more black and brown input on Chicago’s Vision Zero traffic fatality prevention plans. In the wake of this pushback, city officials detailed efforts to collect perspectives on the program from residents of the current Vision Zero focus communities of North Lawndale, Garfield Park, and Austin.
The city has hired four community organizers to do outreach and collect data on the west side this year, including tabling at farmers’ markets, health fairs, and block parties. At the MBAC meeting, organizers Brittanii’ Batts, DeAndre Bingham, and Antonio Redmond discussed their data-collection strategies. These include community maps where residents can indicate hot spots for dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and red light running, as well as hot spots for crime.
CDOT is hosting three Vision Zero open houses on September 26 in North Lawndale, September 27 in Garfield Park, and September 30 in Austin, with free food and activities for children. Presentations on neighborhood concerns and priorities around dangerous driving will begin a half hour after doors open. v
