Community Spotlight
Chicago takes action to keep its pedestrians safe in alleyways
New Rubber Speed Bumps are the solution to pedestrian safety concerns
An alleyway is a publicly dedicated, secondary means of access to a property (usually in the rear). Alleyways are common in older parts of the City, but are rare in the newer parts. In the past, it was popular for developers to plan out narrow deep lots. As a result, alleyways were needed in order for people to put up free standing garages or parking slabs in their back yards. In short, alleyways provide for a tremendous amount of community activity; be it children playing, garbage collection, garage sales, bicycle riding or simply pedestrian traffic.
In a recent article written in the Chicago Sun Times, transportation committee member, Alderman Tom Allen and his colleagues put the mayor on notice: “Alderman will rush to solve a speeding problem that generates more complaints than almost any other neighborhood issue.” Allen proclaims that “there’s a thirst out there….I’ve got more speed bumps in my ward than probably any other ward in the city. Why? Because people want ‘em. I send them a petition. 80% of the residents have to sign to affect a solution. 90% come back with signatures! People are tired of cars flying down the street…….We’ve got to change behavior.”
How do we keep our citizens safe from vehicle traffic speeding while helping to prevent 4,000 deaths annually?
Signage, flashing lights and police enforcement can all be solutions that prompt a certain sense of awareness. Unfortunately, human behavior is such that people often ignore these sensory devices and often take their chances with the police enforcement making all of the above ineffective.
CDOT (Chicago Department of Transportation) has taken the matter in hand.
Physical measures, namely Speed Bumps, were selected as an ultimate solution for traffic calming in alleyways.
The department has done extensive studies comparing traditional methods of applying asphalt speed bumps against rubber speed bumps (Easy Rider) manufactured by Traffic Logix. These rubber speed bumps fabricated from recycled tires carry large visible highway safety taped molded stripes and built in reflectors for night time vision. The product slows traffic down to 5 mph. Easy, quick installation and transportation has drastically reduced labor cost while the product is removable or storable, if need be.
Keith Weaver (Traffic Calming Director for CDOT) is thrilled about how this product has facilitated all of the above. It even permits his crew to install on rainy days (unlike asphalt). Response time in meeting the ongoing demands of the public for traffic calming devices has been 100% improved with products that are ready to install or re-locate.
The Safety of Chicago’s citizens is the #1 goal, and as a bonus has also saved the tax payer valuable dollars!
For this and all other traffic calming solutions offered please refer to Traffic Logix’ website www.trafficlogix.com.
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