What's the scariest intersection in the Chicago region?

By Karin Sommer
January 6, 2010
3 comments

Does the traffic in your neighborhood make it impossible to cross the street? The Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans) is hosting a video contest to find the scariest intersection in Chicagoland. Videos submitted should show an especially busy intersection to illustrate the need for a law requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.

The best video will be selected at the end of February from those posted on YouTube. The videos should show a vehicle failing to yield to a pedestrian in an intersection that lacks stop signs or traffic lights, and be no more than five minutes in length. The winner will receive a one-year premium Active Transportation Alliance Membership and T-shirt. This is a great opportunity to draw attention to scary intersections in your neighborhood! Visit the Active Trans website for more information about the contest.

MPC and Active Trans are advocating for the Pedestrian Safety Bill (HB43), which would require Illinois drivers to stop rather than just yield for pedestrians crossing the street. The bill passed the Illinois House of Representatives last year, but did not receive enough support to pass the Senate and will be up for vote again in 2010. MPC believes streets that are safe for pedestrians have benefits that ripple through neighborhoods and urban areas. Complete, safe streets stimulate economic development by activating the street with shoppers and customers; create valuable public spaces for neighbors to build community; and encourage people to walk and bike, reducing pollution from cars and improving public health.

MPC Research Assistant Annie Lambla contributed to this blog post.

Keywords

Community building initiative, Placemaking, transportation planning

Comments

1. Josh from Hyde Park on January 6, 2010

Alas, I have no video camera... but the intersection of Ashland, Cermak, and Blue Island is a nightmare. In addition to three busy streets, there are also train tracks, parking lots with curb cuts on three of the corners, this weird island thing, insufficient street lights, and fast traffic.

Tread with care.
2. Lee from Chicago, Streeterville. on January 6, 2010

All of them are scary! if you teach your kid to wait and cross when he sees the picture of a little man, he will most certainly be mushed by a turning taxi trying to beat the pedestrians through.
May this bill pass! and perhaps we should reconsider the right to "right on red" in urban areas?
How many tourists get knocked out, crossing on what should be called the "walk if you dare" signal?
3. Kirsten from Elmhurst on January 7, 2010

North Ave. and Wolf Rd. in Northlake, or North and 83 in Elmhurst. Lack of sidewalks in areas like Warrnville (near the Cantera movieplex), even though residential apartments sit less than 1/4 mile away across the street. The suburbs have a billion "pedestrian unfriendly" intersections, forcing residents to choose between safety and being dependent on their cars.