Chicago group stages die-in to demand safe cycling network

On Sept. 22, World Car Free Day, a group of Chicago cycling activists led by the group Chicago, Bike Grid Now took over an intersection and staged a die-in sending a message to local government officials that people want safe cycling infrastructure and they want it right now.

“The goal with direct action, as with all of our actions, is to highlight and demand safe streets infrastructure in Chicago and the systemic failings of city officials, alderpeople, the mayor, and our DOT,” says Rony Islam, an organizer with Bike Grid Now. “We are demanding a bike grid in Chicago and our actions show the sheer number of people who support such a plan all across Chicago. We know there are thousands of Chicagoans who share our vision and hundreds of Chicagoans who wish it was safer to walk, bike, transit, and move in our city.”

The action was dubbed Jamapalooza, and saw six smaller bike bus groups from across the city stage rides in Hyde Park, Bridgeport, Pilsen, West Loop, Wicker Park, and Lincoln Park before converging in The Loop — Chicago’s central business district. The group, which swelled to nearly 300, circled the neighbourhood for an hour before moving to Bucking ham Fountain and occupying the intersection on DuSable Lakeshore Drive.

“We occupied the intersection and staged a die-in for three minutes,” Islam explains.

As Islam explains, there is good reason for such actions, including the 30 pedestrians and cyclists who have been killed on Chicago streets this year, as well as 168,000 involved in traffic crashes in general — an astounding six per cent of the population.

“Earlier this summer there were several children killed in examples of traffic violence,” Islam says. “We had more hit-and-runs than I can keep track of. Most cyclists would share the sentiment that every time we roll out from our homes we are fearful for our lives and the lives of our loved ones. The community has mourned so much loss this year and that keeps us fighting.”

Bikegridnow.org is calling for: “10% of Chicago streets at 10mph. That’s 450 miles of streets, primarily on residential streets. Use temporary infrastructure to slow down traffic for rapid deployment. Follow up with more permanent infrastructure, including planters, jersey barriers, traffic diverters, chicanes, curbs, bump-outs, and speed humps.”

To get this, Islam explains the need for the following from elected officials (mayors and alders):
1. Sponsor/vote to change Illinois State Vehicle Code to allow for 10mph speed limits, the current minimum settable limit is 20mph.
2. Sponsor/vote to change Chicago Municipal Code to reflect the new state code.
3. Sponsor/vote to allow ‘Bike Grid Streets’ and require CDOT commissioner to designate 450mi of streets as part of the Bike Grid Network.
4. Require CDOT to report the rollout of the Bike Grid on a monthly basis.

Islam says it is the lack of political will and accountability that is holding Chicago back from joining other large cities like San Francisco and Boston in embracing a safe streets network.

“The mayor doesn’t share a vision for safer streets,” Islam explains. “CDOT has no accountability when they design and build our streets without the appropriate safe streets infrastructure that community members demand. Alderpeople have a long history of blocking safe streets or transit access.”

Bike Grid Now have been holding weekly Bike Jams since early June and multiple Bike Buses on Wednesday mornings since August, and there are no problems to slow down now.

“We aren’t going to be stopping our direct actions,” Islam says. “As the temperature plummets we will be shifting our strategy and actions but we certainly will not be stopping.”

Islam says Bike Grid Now takes inspiration from the successes in other cities both in the United States as well as internationally.

“We are inspired by cities all across the world who are making dramatic and rapid changes to their cities to make them more liveable and safer,” he says. “Manila put in 310 miles of separated and signed bike infrastructure in under a year. Milan has a 15-year bike plan underway that will extend its bike network to rural farmland outside the city. Paris has ambitions to have bike infrastructure on 100% of its streets. This is the kind of vision we need in Chicago.”