Letters to the Editor: Can we reduce pedestrian deaths while keeping right turns on red?
We all know that right turns on red, or turn through traffic on red, have been a source of pedestrian fatalities for decades. But in recent years, fatalities in the city have been down, despite the increased number of pedestrians on the streets of Chicago.
The question isn’t whether pedestrians are dying, but whether they are being killed by the cars that kill them or whether they are dying because they are crossing against traffic on red that is backed up or on the sidewalks that are backed up by people walking in the crosswalk.
Pedestrians are dying because they are being killed on red that is backed up by parked cars that are blocking the sidewalks and are not allowing us to cross.
If more pedestrians were out on the streets, accidents would be less frequent.
If more traffic signals were on, accidents would be less frequent.
If more police were visible on the streets, accidents would be less frequent.
If more residents were walking, accidents would be less frequent.
If more police on the streets were patrolling the neighborhood, accidents would be less frequent.
Pedestrians are dying because they are being killed in crosswalks, not on red that is backed up, because I am not sure why it is not an accident to be in a crosswalk when we can’t move.
I used to be an avid and avid bicyclist, but even I have my limits.
I still ride by choice, but with my children in the car on Sundays or when I want to go shopping at the mall (which I do), I find the bike ride makes it more safe to get around.
I have seen an increase of bicyclists during the rush hour, but it does not make me safer.
I still ride by my car, but I choose not to do it during the rush hour.
What I’ve noticed: When crosswalks are not as wide as they should be, I get scared. I don’t see anyone approaching me who is going to do me any harm. I just see cars backing up.
I have had my children ride next to me, but I don’t always cross the street for them.
I don’t see any cars following us. I see many bikes and walkers on the streets,
