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While the Chicago region’s population grew by 18 percent since 1980, the traffic increased by 66 percent in the same period.

Safe streets are much more than crosswalks and bike lanes

Jun 1, 2020 | by Active Trans

The murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others continue to demonstrate our society’s systemic devaluing of Black lives.

Safe streets mean so much more than crosswalks and bike lanes. We cannot have mobility justice without racial justice.

As we advocate for healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities through walking, biking, and transit, we must be centered around efforts to dismantle white supremacy and structural racism.

As a majority-white organization, we know that our actions mean more than our words and we will continue to address racial equity inside and outside our organization.

As the public responded to these crimes by exercising their constitutional rights, we were deeply dismayed by images and reports of Chicago police driving vehicles that were endangering the lives of peaceful protesters.

Furthermore, by raising bridges and shutting down transit during mass protests the city imperiled protesters by limiting their ability to peacefully assemble and disperse. On Sunday, the city announced that CTA, Metra, Pace, and Divvy service have both been suspended indefinitely. These actions unfairly burden residents who rely on transit to take essential trips as well as peaceful protesters trying to get home safely before curfew.

Update (6/1/20): CTA and Pace resumed limited service Monday. Metra and Divvy service remain suspended. Check agency websites for more details and further updates.

We urge the city to immediately address these misguided responses. We cannot achieve public safety by eliminating freedom of movement.

We likewise urge our members and supporters to considering supporting these Chicago organizations on the frontlines of the work for racial justice in our city:

 

Photo courtesy of Evan Garcia/WTTW News.