| April
2006 |
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Oregon Law Shows How Complete Streets Fit In 'Healthy Roads' Spring Up in DuPage Getting the Ball (and Wheels) Rolling in Suburban Communities Minorities Travel Dangerous Routes |
Minorities Travel Dangerous Routes Statistics show a disproportionate number of pedestrians getting injured or killed in communities of color. In underserved neighborhoods many fewer people own cars than those
in more affluent areas. As a result people in underserved communities
more frequently walk, bike or take public transportation. Households that do have a car often use it for commuting to and from work leaving the rest of the family to get around by other means. But the streets and intersections they use have been redesigned to facilitate motor vehicle traffic flow, making them unsuitable for their original purpose, which was to facilitate pedestrian and transit traffic. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation recently organized a focus group to learn about Chicago families’ transportation habits. One participant said she seldom walked because she would have to bring along her small children and was afraid to take them across large intersections. In large cities like Chicago, motorists often violate speed limits, making large streets more like highways. This behavior leads to aggressive forms of driving such as sudden lane changes and whipping around corners. To address this behavior, CBF last month launched a campaign called Drive with Care, which uses community outreach and public advertising to stigmatize aggressive driving. But addressing behavior is just one step in our campaign for Healthy Streets. CBF is also working with state government to craft Complete Streets policies that would help to make roads safe for all modes of transportation. What else explains the high level of traffic deaths in diverse communities? Some studies conclude that newly immigrated people often don’t know local traffic laws. For example, how often have you seen adult bicyclist riding against traffic? In an attempt to curb such unsafe behaviors, CBF’s Healthy Streets campaign has been using such outreach programs as Safe Routes to School to teach children to walk and bike safely. These are vital programs to make public life safe and enjoyable for everyone regardless of how they choose to get around. CBF will work to address incomplete streets, which are found often in the most neglected neighborhoods. We’ll do this by winning better places to walk and bike. Through the Healthy Streets campaign the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is working to knock down the obstacles felt by people of color when they choose to use alternative modes of transportation, thereby improving communities for everyone.
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